Steel is the primary material for these types of roofs, but it doesn’t stop there. It’s possible to find stone coated steel roofing. As you might expect, these types of roofs are incredibly sturdy. A stone coated steel roof is typically installed directly over the existing shingles. Although many people originally worry that the additional weight of the steel coated roof could cause a problem, this new material actually weighs between 1/3 and 1/8 of the weight of a standard roof. Additionally, homeowners can take solace in the fact that it’s possible to find manufacturers that offer a 50 year warranty, which means their house will be protected from the elements for as long as they own the home and sometimes even longer.

Metal roofing is an environmentally friendly option for a number of reasons. First of all, because the existing shingles are left on the home, it keeps them out of landfills. Each year, 20 billion pounds of old shingles are left in landfills across the U.S., even though recycling options are available. Another reason is that stone coated steel options are made out of 25 – 90% recycled material. They also contain no petroleum products and are 100% recyclable whenever they’re eventually removed from a house. Lastly, because this material is so durable, many homeowners find that it doesn’t need to be replaced even long after the 50 year warranty is over. This means no new raw materials need to be sourced.