Are Metal Roofs Susceptible to Lightning?
The Greatest Myth About Standing Seam Metal Roofing
The most perpetuated myth, by far, about metal roofing is that it leaves your house susceptible to lightning strikes.
Before we cover why metal roofing absolutely does not increase your home’s risk of being struck by lightning, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what standing seam metal roofing is.
Standing seam metal roofing raises the seams of the seams between each panel slightly above the roof. Most newer metal roofs installed today are standing seam metal roofing. The alternative to having each seam raised above the the level of the metal roofing is having flush-mounted seams.
The reason flush-mounted seams have given way to standing seams is that they leave you more susceptible to water damage. Since seams are the weakest part of any roof, having standing seams raised above the roof reduces the chance of moisture getting in between panels.
Standing seam metal roofing also involves fewer total seams than its counterpart. The standing seam metal panels run unhindered from the top to the bottom of the roof, meaning there are no horizontal seams.
The Truth About Standing Seam Metal Roofing
As a matter of fact, metal is actually safer than other roofing options in the rare event of a lightning strike.
One of the most common sayings about lightning, after “lightning never strikes the same place twice”, is “lightning always strikes the tallest object”. While always is a bit strong, the saying still holds true.
The material of an object, be it a cup or a house, does not influence its probability of being struck by lightning. Its height and size do.
Electricity from a lightning strike will be transferred through houses with metal roofing down to the ground the same as it would a house with any other roofing. Lightning is seeking the path of least resistance from the sky to the ground. That’s it.
As a matter of fact, metal is actually safer than other roofing options in the rare event of a lightning strike. Metal is inflammable, so it would reduce the risk of your house catching on fire. We should note that having metal roofing doesn’t prevent any risk of the rest of your house catching fire. It certainly helps, though.
There are no known materials that reduce your home’s risk of being struck by lightning. However, the odds of your house being struck by lightning is close to one-in-a-million on any given year.
Image Source: https://www.olympiabuildings.com/standing-seam-roof/
A building’s chances of being struck by lightning depend on its height and size.
The building materials used are irrelevant, be they for its floors or its roof. When deciding between metal, asphalt shingle, or tile roofing, don’t let the fear of being struck by lightning be a factor in your decision. If you do choose to buy metal roofing, however, go with standing seam metal roofing.
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For the best Austin Roofing, choose our roofing company Austin experts at Bluebonnet Roofing. As a premier roofing company, we use quality-driven materials when installing your roof. From providing you with an estimate or walking you through your repair details, we’ve got you covered.
Are Metal Roofs Susceptible to Lightning? | Bluebonnet Roofing – Austin, TX
