How will the roof on your home hold up in the event of a fire? As a licensed Minnesota roofing contractor, we believe this is a question everyone who owns a home should ask themselves.  One of the best times to engage that question is when you're considering replacing your roof.  The roofing materials you choose can make a major difference in the outcome should the unthinkable happen.  Fire resistance is one of the main reasons we recommend metal roofing.  In fact, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) recommends replacing wood or asphalt roofing with a fire-resistant material such as steel or other metal roofing.  Metal, tile, and slate roofing are the only materials that are 100% noncombustible.  Asphalt and wood shakes both burn.

But before we discuss metal roofing's resistance to fire, first let's take a look at some relevant statistics.

One of the most devastating things that can happen to a homeowner -  here in the Twin Cities or any other part of the country - is a fire.  While many of these fires are minor, substantial property damage, loss, and death are not uncommon.
Fact:  In the U.S., a fire in a home occurs every 87 seconds Fact:  In 2018 over $8 billion in property damage occurred as a result of home fires Fact:  Nationwide, someone dies in a home fire about every 3.25 hours* Fact:  About one in five fires caused by lightning occurs in homes, and those fires result in the majority of property loss due to lightning strikes
So you might wonder why we recommend metal over slate or tile for homeowners interested in making their houses more fire-resistance.  First off, both tile and slate are heavy materials; in many areas, it is recommended that fire fighters not even entire homes that have tile or slate roofs because of the likelihood of collapse. (The roofing itself may be fire resistant, but unless the other structural materials are, the weight of the roof on a weakened structure is a very real threat.)  Metal roofing by contrast is extremely lightweight.

Many homeowners' insurance companies recognize the value of metal roofing for fire protection, and you may find your company offers a discount on your insurance premium if you've got a metal roof.  This is just one of the many benefits metal roofing offers; we'd love to discuss more of them with you.   We also install seamless steel siding, one more product that could make your home safer in case of a fire.  For more information, contact us today to set up a personal consultation.

(*Source:  National Fire Protection Association)