Metal roofing is popular for commercial and industrial applications — and for good reason. Durable, long-lasting and affordable to maintain, there are many benefits that metal roofing provides to a business owner or manager. 

Let’s take a look at the main metal roofing materials available to you, along with their commercial applications and benefits. 

What are the types of metal roofing? 

Copper metal roofing

Pros: Soft, malleable and lightweight, copper can easily be moulded to fit different architectural features and roofing shapes. It has excellent natural properties too, such as strong resistance to corrosion, weather and fire without the need for additional coatings. To top it all off, copper is also incredibly long-lasting, with some roofs reaching lifespans of 50 to 100 years. 

Cons: Due to its softer nature, copper can scratch or dent more easily than other metals, meaning that its aesthetic appearance could be more difficult to maintain. Because of its desirable qualities, copper may also have a slightly higher cost than other metals. 

Zinc metal roofing

Pros: Like copper, zinc is also very malleable and easily shaped. It’s also strong, durable and able to last up to 100 years in some cases. You get all these benefits for a reasonable price too, making zinc a cost-effective choice for commercial projects. Also, if robust green credentials are a priority for you, then be reassured by the fact that zinc is a fully recyclable material. 

Cons: A drawback of zinc is its vulnerability to corrosion in conditions that haven’t allowed a protective patina to form. 

Tin metal roofing

Pros: Tin is a fairly rare choice for metal roofing, even though it’s lightweight, simple to install and long-lasting like other roofing types. 

Cons: Tin is an uncommon and hard-to-find roofing metal, probably because it’s not quite as durable as other options. For this reason, it will be more difficult to source for your project, and its prices may be highly variable. 

Steel metal roofing

Pros: Affordable yet incredibly high strength, it’s easy to see why steel is a popular choice for roofing. Boasting a long lifespan and low maintenance costs, it’s also the perfect choice for businesses who want to keep their expenses down in the future. Steel is also the most highly recycled material on the planet, meaning it can be an eco-conscious choice for your business. 

Cons: The downside of steel is that it does rust, but this can easily be kept at bay with anti-corrosive coatings, so just ask your supplier for more details. 

Aluminium metal roofing

Pros: Is your business in a coastal location? Aluminium offers incredible resistance to rust and salt corrosion, making it ideal for the seaside, thanks to the patina that aluminium quickly forms when reacting with the environment. This patina has led some to believe that aluminium rusts quickly, but that isn’t true. Aluminium is also lightweight, easy to install, and easily recyclable. 

Cons: The patina of aluminium isn’t the most attractive and so might require a coating. Aluminium may also cost more than other material choices. 

Here at Docherty Roofing, we’re leading the way in industrial roofing for East England. As a fully accredited and insured roofing company, we provide full supply and fitting of robust roofing for all budgets. Simply get in touch for your free quotation.