Is Your Metal Roof Safe During a Lightning Storm?

So, you are planning to upgrade your roof from traditional asphalt shingle into high-end metal roofing system. However, you are anxious how safe is your metal roofing system during thunder storms. Indeed, metal can attract thunderstorm and it is the number one conductor of electricity but it does not necessarily mean that your home is at risk if it is installed with metal roofing.

• Metal improves the value of your home
• It is durable that can last up to 80 years or even more which is a good investment
• Recyclable material as an Eco-friendly choice
• Fire resistance which means insurance companies may reduce premiums
• Decreases your annual property tax from the federal government.
• Energy efficient roofing system which is beneficial for locations with extreme heat during summer season.

With all these advantages, there is no doubt while lots of residential home owners are turning their interest to upgrade roofs and find metal roofing contractors northern Virginia.

When it comes with the thunderstorm issue, the answer is pretty much simple. Your metal roofing is guaranteed safe during this type of weather. Yes, metal conduct and attracts electricity but your metal roof won’t attract lightning and this is a fact. Also, lightning strikes rarely to buildings. Instead, lightning can potential strikes to tall structures such as trees, poles and towers.

If worse comes to worst which the lightning strikes to your metal roofing system, the roof will actually help to keep you safe by dispersing the energy throughout the building. It is extremely fire resistant so you don’t have to worry about such myths.

Stay safe with lightning storm

When you are outside and thunderstorm strikes, the best you can do is to find shelter but not to the tallest objects. It is also recommended not to go to an open field or park. In order to be safe, find sturdy shelter but be cautious. You can find more details about the lightning issues here in this FAQ.

Recently we were taking a training class so we could be certified for a certain manufacturer’s stone coated metal roofing. We were working on a mockup roof, seen below, and were being trained on how to do chimney flashing. We noticed they were using a 3 piece flashing instead of the single unit flashing we use. After the session, we asked if we could make the flashing we use so we could see if they would approve it. My son, Paul, and our foreman, Walter, made our flashing. After we installed it the trainer asked: “what else do you do that is different?” We showed him a whole variety of specialty flashing. He acknowledged ours were better but that he didn’t know of any metal smiths that had the skill to duplicate our flashing. We were pleased but not surprised.

For more information about metal, asphalt or solar please visit our website or call us at 540-222-1642.

In our last post, we shared our first version of a cool roof ventilation system that automatically vented the hot air through a custom vented ridge vent and replaced it with cooler air through a custom eave vent.

The photo below shows our latest improvement that not reduced the labor cost but also introduced a thermal break as well as a radiant barrier. This latest improvement not only addresses all 3 ways heat is transferred, it works on any roof style including asphalt shingles.

For more information please call 540-222-1642 or visit our website at AlphaRain.com.