For many homeowners, metal roofs represent a relatively new option when it comes to roofing their home. That fact has led to the proliferation of a handful of erroneous myths regarding metal roofs. If you are considering reroofing your home, and would like to get your facts straight regarding metal roofs, read on. This article will debunk two of the most common myths floating around today.

Myth: Metal roofs are more susceptible to lighting strikes.

Many people assume that a metal roof presents a serious liability where lighting strikes are concerned. They incorrectly believe that, by presenting a more attractive target for lighting, a metal roof increases the chances of a house fire. This is patently untrue--and for two good reasons.

First, in the event that lighting does strike your home, a metal roof will do a much better job of dissipating the resulting electrical charge than a lightning rod. That's because the charge will be dispersed over a much greater area. As a result, the risk of that electricity causing a fire is greatly mitigated.

Second, a metal roofing system has a natural vulnerability to the threat of fire, especially when compared to traditional roofs made of wood decking and asphalt shingles. This claim is reflected in the fact that the majority of metal roofs possess a Class A rating, according the fire resistance test methods outlined in UL 790. This is the highest possible safety rating a roof could have.

Myth: Metal roofs are significantly louder than asphalt roofs.

The metal roofing used to cover homes today is a far cry from the corrugated tin sheds of yore. Yet many people assume that contemporary metal roofs will be just as loud as those uninsulated sheets of tin. Fortunately, this is not true. That's because a metal roof is always installed on top of solid sheathing. In fact, many metal roofing systems are designed to be installed directly on top of pre-existing shingle roofs.

Not only that, but a metal roof frequently incorporates a layer of rigid foam insulation to help improve its heat retention in winter. Wooden 2x4s are then attached to the insulation, thus allowing a slight gap between the insulation and the metal roof. This not only increases air flow but also provides an additional sound buffer to help muffle the reverberant qualities of the metal. As a result, metal roofs are generally no more than 6 decibels louder than those composed of asphalt shingles.