Metal roofs come in all types, from the simple, traditional standing seam to the more decorative ‘faux’ panels and shingles shaped to look like other materials.
People choose them because of their durability and long life expectancy, but what many don’t count on is how loud they can sound!
Roofers frequently get inquiries concerning what to do about the sounds these installations make when it rains, when it is windy out, or just from the natural movement of the structure.
Well, if you are thinking of installing metal and the noise level concerns you, or you have a metal installation that needs some quieting, read on.
Here are the top tips that metal roofing services use to make noisy metal roofs quieter so you can get some sleep!
1. Underlayment
The first line of defense against a noisy metal roof is the underlayment applied onto the decking.
This layer waterproofs the installation while also preventing the metal from touching the decking.
It also creates a sound deadening effect that reduces the resonance of metal.
The thicker the layer of underlayment felt, the quieter that roof will be.
If you are very concerned about the potential noise level, have your metal roofer install the thickest felt underlayment they can find.
2. Fasteners
The wrong fasteners, or incorrectly applied fasteners, can turn a beautiful metal roofing installation into a noise and maintenance nightmare.
Be sure the metal roofing service you hire uses the correct fasteners for the exact panels being installed and they use the proper technique.
Fasteners must be a specific size and put in very tightly to keep the panels flush against the underlayment to deaden any noise.
3. Insulation
If you have an existing metal roof and the noise is getting to you, one way to deal with it that does not involve tearing it off and starting over is insulating the attic.
Thick insulation foam can also deaden the sound that travels through the decking and into the building.
As with the underlayment, the thicker and higher quality of the insulation the better it will work for this.
An added benefit is that a well-insulated attic helps keep heating and cooling costs down.
4. Thickness and Texture
Another thing that can affect how noisy metal may be is the characteristics of the panels chosen for metal roofing services to install.
Thinner metal makes a louder ping while thicker makes a lower thud.
Similarly, some of the textured panels made to look like other materials produce a quieter sound since the raised parts of the texture prevents a direct hit, whether from a raindrop or hailstone.
To get the best result with thick and textured metal pair it with thick underlayment.
5. Overlayment
As a last effort when other means of quieting a noisy metal roof have failed or you want a foolproof way to prevent noise before it can happen, some metal roofers may be able to do an overlayment.
Overlayment is adding metal overtop of existing shingles.
This process is generally not recommended since it does not address the possibility of existing damage that could go unchecked, but a skilled contractor can do this type of installation after doing a thorough inspection of the existing materials.
Plan Ahead For Noise Reduction When Choosing A Metal Roof
Metal roofs are a wonderful choice for any home or building due to the many qualities they provide.
Before doing this installation, talk about the issue of noise with a metal roofing service and come up with a plan that will work for the materials chosen.
With this detail worked out ahead of time with the metal roofer you can prevent noise problems before they start and enjoy your new quiet roof for decades to come!