Steel roofs and steel siding have come a long way. Once primarily a practical choice geared to boxy industrial buildings, today’s steel roofs and siding boast a versatile aesthetic appeal that spans a range of architectural styles. Add that to the multitude of other benefits, from energy savings to environmental advantages to expected lifespan, and you’ve got what some might call a no-brainer the next time you notice your shingles are curling.
Prized for their tailored, high-end appearance, standing seam and shake roofing and board-and-batten siding are favourites in Muskoka, and with good reason. Standing seam’s wide, flat panels, concealed fasteners, and vertical ribs make for a sleek, minimalist look that equally complements traditional and modern cottage styles. It’s a product that Steelridge Metal’s owner-operator Jason Watpool and his crew are putting on more and more buildings in the area. “With standing seam you have a roof that is clean and contemporary but still visually compelling thanks to the raised seams that run along the panels and draw the eye,” says Jason.
In contrast, shake-style steel roofs, as seen at left, are a perfect choice for the more traditional architectural styles of cottage country, visually capturing the essence of cedar tiles with their rustic profile and historic charm. According to Jason, they’re the perfect complement to many of Muskoka’s favourite architectural features, such as gables, dormers, porches, and cupolas. “For a lot of our customers, the shake-style roof is a must-have to achieve that pastoral, almost New-England Muskoka charm,” he says. “The draw is aesthetic, but the material choice is important in terms of longevity and practicality.”
Similarly, steel board-and-batten siding evokes the centuries-old appeal of the fabled country cottage, but brings the style into the 21st century with its strength, durability, and low-maintenance attributes.
Together, these options and others at Steelridge deliver long-lasting visual allure and enduring protection without requiring extensive maintenanc on the part of the homeowner.
Metal roofs – especially standing seam metal roofs like the one featured above – promote energy conservation in homes and are considered cool roofing. Cool roofs can reduce energy costs by as much as 40% due to their cool paint pigment coating’s reflective properties.
Solar energy panels can easily be installed on metal roofs. Attachment solutions that do not penetrate the roof system are readily available with Steelridge Metal roofing products. Since the service life of the metal outlasts the service life of the solar energy system, installations can be done even on existing metal roofs. The ease of installation, roof cooling maximization, and long-lasting durability of metal roofing under your solar panels make solar an easy upgrade for your home, with countless benefits.
Metal roofs promote energy conservation in homes and are considered cool roofing. Cool roofs can reduce energy costs by as much as 40% due to their cool paint pigment coating’s reflective properties.
With its own production facility locally, Steelridge is a compelling choice from an environmental perspective, too. Local production of steel roofing materials means fewer trucks on the road, fewer transportation-related emissions, and a reduction in the carbon footprint associated with shipping materials over long distances. Similarly, the longevity of a steel roof is a powerful incentive for its use from an environmental perspective. Steel roofs can last 50 to 60 years, far outlasting traditional shingle roofs, which, in our climate, generally require replacement after, at best, 15 to 20 years. This extended lifespan also reduces the demand for raw materials and the energy-intensive production processes and shipping emissions associated with more frequent roof replacements.
Recent years have made clear that our warming climate brings with it increased risk of forest fires. Roofs are an obvious area of vulnerability for drifting sparks and burning debris. From a disaster-preparedness perspective, the non-combustibility of steel offers significant risk-reduction. When steel roofing is combined with steel siding, the protection is further enhanced, dramatically mitigating the danger of structural damage and helping safeguard lives and property. These effects may also yield savings in home insurance premiums as insurance providers look to promote the use of fire-resistant materials.
Until recently, many raised cost as the main reason they had chosen asphalt shingles over steel roofing. However, when considering all the relevant variables, the comparison is much less cut and dried. “Steel roofing offers substantial economic benefits that extend beyond its initial price point,” says Jason. Cottagers may see savings in their electricity bills in the hot summer months, for example, because steel efficiently reflects heat away from the building, keeping the temperature inside as much as two or three degrees cooler. Similarly, a steel roof’s superior R-value means it insulates well, keeping heating costs lower in the winter. While a steel roof may still involve a somewhat higher initial investment, for those able and inclined to complete the installation themselves, that cost discrepancy is marginal. Moreover, as governments continue to impose carbon taxes to discourage the use of petroleum-based products like asphalt shingles, that difference is likely to get even narrower. And by far the most important cost factor is life cycle. “With a steel roof offering double or even triple the life span of asphalt shingles,” says Jason, “realistically comparing prices means multiplying the cost of shingles by a factor of two or three.” Additionally, some insurance companies offer discounts for qualifying metal roofs.
Selecting Steelridge for your steel siding and roofing needs in Muskoka offers numerous advantages. Unlike big box stores, Steelridge operates its own local production facility, minimizing transportation costs and emissions. Their advanced machinery allows for on-site cutting and fitting of your steel products, ensuring a precise fit and reducing the expense of transporting pre-made materials. And all orders are custom and manufactured on demand, reducing waste.
As these details suggest, Steelridge is committed to efficiency. Thanks to their rapid manufacturing process, all materials are generally produced within two days of order placement. “We provide same-day quotes,” explains Jason “and once we’ve delivered the product, we give existing customers preferential treatment, meaning if a steel sheet is dropped or damaged on site, we’ll put other tasks on hold to get a replacement sheet out to the job site immediately.” Most importantly, with their extensive experience and expertise, Steelridge can guide you in selecting the ideal roofing or siding solution, tailored to your unique requirements and the aesthetic vision you have for your home or cottage.
Whether you’re building a new cottage or thinking about replacing the roof or siding on your existing one, you have more choices now than ever before. Giving Steelridge a call is a good first step to making that decision an informed one.