What is Stone-Coated Metal Roofing?

It used to be that there were only a couple of types of metal roofing — corrugated metal, which has certainly improved over time but aesthetically has always been limited in options, or the much more costly copper cladding, such as that seen on the dome of the Arizona Capitol building.

Photo courtesy of Gerard Roofing

Today, there are many more options, including the latest product – stone-coated metal roofing. Stone-coated steel roofing is combined with the look of tile, shake or shingle to give a strong, durable roof along with fantastic good looks. Whatever the style of your home or property, you will likely be able to find a metal roofing product to match your needs.

Perhaps the most amazing thing, besides the beauty of the products is its longevity. An asphalt or composite roof will need to be replaced every 10 to 20 years, while stone-coated steel is virtually good for a lifetime. In fact, Gerard Stone Coated Steel Roofs come with a lifetime warranty and that warranty is transferable to the next generation. This makes metal roof options particularly attractive for a commercial property. It may be more expensive than traditional roofing options, but it generally last forever with minimal maintenance.

Many of the products offer incredible protection:

• Graniteshield’s Stone-Coated Steel Roofing is warrantied for up to 2.5 inch diameter hail (that’s baseball size!).
• Steel roofing can withstand winds up to 170 mph, making it fantastic for hurricane prone areas.
• The interlocking panels make it exceptionally strong, which is extremely useful in earthquake zones.
• The roof panels won’t split, curl, crack, warp or absorb water making it great for areas with extreme climates.
• The stone coating is UV reflective, sending heat back into the atmosphere and not into your home or commercial property.
• In general, the product is 50% lighter than more traditional asphalt or built-up roofing, which means there is no need for additional structural reinforcement.
• Since everyone is concerned about the environment these days, the good news is that when the roof does wear out, the steel panels are 100% recycleable.
• Little or no maintenance is needed — generally, just hosing the roof clear of debris is enough.

There are a dozen or so manufacturers out there that offer a wide array of products — Union Corrugating Company, Allmet Roofing Products, Graniteshield, Gerard, Decra, Metro Roof Products and more.

Keep in mind that stone-coated metal roofing is significantly more expensive than more traditional products, until you consider the cost over time. Since it doesn’t need replacing and requires very little maintenance, the roofing will pay for itself over time and then some.