Metal roofing is one of the most popular roofing materials on the market due to its many benefits, including durability, longevity, energy efficiency and high ROI.
There are two main types of metal roofing used for residential properties: stone-coated metal roofing and standing seam metal roofing.
Both provide homeowners with all of the benefits of metal roofing, but differ when it comes to appearance and features.
To help determine which type of metal roofing is the right fit for your project, keep reading to learn:
- What is stone-coated metal roofing?
- What is standing seam metal roofing?
- What is the difference between stone-coated metal roofing and standing seam metal roofing?
What is Stone-Coated Metal Roofing?
Made from steel sheets and coated with stone granules, stone-coated metal roofing combines the high-performance strength of metal roofing with the aesthetic appeal of traditional roofing materials like asphalt shingles, clay tiles and wood shake.
While stone-coated metal roofing offers industrial strength performance, the stone-coating process provides a diverse range of styles, textures and colors that can suit any style of home.
What is Standing Seam Metal Roofing?
Standing seam metal roofing has raised seams, or vertical legs, that rise from the flat roof panels, offering a distinctively sleek, modern look.
Like stone-coated metal roofing, standing seam metal roofing is durable, long-lasting, low maintenance, energy efficient and has a high ROI.
The Difference Between Stone-Coated Metal Roofing vs. Standing Seam Metal Roofing
Appearance
The main difference between stone-coated metal roofing and standing seam metal roofing comes down to appearance.
With stone-coated metal roofing, steel sheets are stamped into various shapes. At the same time, the stone-coating process allows for vivid colors and textures to replicate traditional roofing materials. As a result, the wide variety of styles and designs available from stone-coated metal roofing products are versatile enough to suit any style.
Although standing seam metal roofs come in a variety of sizes and colors, it has a distinct look that won’t work for every style.
For example, a Spanish-style home would look out of place with anything but a clay tile roof. And while a traditional clay tile roof is beautiful, it leaves much to be desired when it comes to durability. Clay tile is one of the most fragile and high-maintenance roofing materials on the market. It’s also extremely heavy and expensive. Stone-coated metal roofing products provide the same style as traditional clay tile backed by the strength that only metal can provide.
Stone-coated metal roofing products allow homeowners to reap the benefits of metal roofing without being pigeonholed into a specific look or style.
Energy Efficiency
One of the biggest benefits of any metal roofing product is that it reflects heat up and away from the home. This is what makes metal roofing one of the most energy-efficient roofing materials on the market. Both stone-coated metal roofing and standing seam metal roofing provide excellent energy efficiency, but stone-coating enhances energy efficiency even further.
Infrared pigments are embedded in the stone coatings to increase the natural solar reflectance of stone-coated metal roofing products, which enhances the energy efficiency of the building. In fact, a recent study by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), an acclaimed U.S. Department of Energy research laboratory, found that DECRA stone-coated steel roofs reduce heat transfer penetrating the roof deck by an additional 15%.
Noise Reduction
One of the most frequently asked questions about metal roofing is, "Are metal roofs loud in the rain?"
The answer is no, metal roofs are not louder in the rain. With advances in technology, production and installation, even a flat, standing seam metal roof will have little-to–no difference in noise compared to asphalt shingles or other roofing materials.
However, texture does play an essential role in noise reduction. The flatter and smoother the roof’s surface, the noisier it will be in the rain.
The texture of stone-coated metal roofing helps to reduce noise. For example, DECRA stone-coated metal roofs are so noise-reductive that they don't require any extra soundproofing materials and are peacefully quiet, thanks to the sound-absorbing cushion of granular stone coating.
Stone-Coated Metal Roofing and Standing Seam Metal Roofing: Which is Best?
At the end of the day, any metal roofing product is superior to traditional roofing materials.
Both standing seam metal roofing and stone-coated metal roofing can withstand nearly anything Mother Nature has to offer, including:
- Hail: The highest rating for hail impact.
- Wind: The ability to withstand hurricane-force winds.
- Fire: The highest rating for fire protection.
Both metal roofing options also have an extremely high ROI due to their:
- Longevity: A metal roof lasts two to three times longer than traditional roofing materials such as asphalt shingles.
- Energy Efficiency: Metal roofs are extremely energy-efficient and can reduce cooling costs by up to 25%.
- Desirability: Metal roofs are in high demand and can increase home value by up to 6%.
When you boil down the differences between the two, stone-coated metal roofing has an edge over standing seam metal roofing because of its design versatility and ability to meet the aesthetic needs of any home. In other words, stone-coated metal roofing provides all of the benefits of metal roofing without being tied to the "look" of a standing seam metal roof, and, for many homeowners, that makes all the difference.
See and feel the DECRA stone-coated difference for yourself by ordering a free sample today.
Editor's Note: This blog was originally published in December 2019, but has been updated with relevant information.
