How to Quiet a Metal Residential Roof
December 16, 2022 | By Mike Gonet | Filed under: Blog
Soundproof Your Residential Metal Roof
Metal roofing is one of the most popular roofing systems due to its ability to withstand harsh climates, its easy installation, and its extended longevity. However, the downfall that many homeowners dread is the noise factor that comes with a metal roof.
Tricks to Quiet the Noise
When a storm hits, you may find yourself with a headache due to the loud sounds of the outside climate connecting with your noisy metal roof. We’re here to help you remedy this inconvenience, so you can go back to enjoying the sounds of a storm in a less invasive way.
The Benefits of Soundproofing Your Metal Roof
• Eliminate the stress of having to yell to communicate with your family during a storm.
• Get the blissful sleep you need, even during a storm.
• Enjoy the benefits of your durable metal roof without the side effects of amplified noise.
• Soundproofing your roof can contribute to keeping your home cool during warmer months.
Metal Roof Soundproofing Methods
If you’ve had enough of the banging and crashing sounds against your metal roof or are about to install a new metal roof and want to eliminate the possibility of dealing with unwanted noise, here are several tried and true metal roof soundproofing methods.
Roofing Fasteners
The unpleasant sounds of your metal roof are directly linked to how secure the metal sheets of your roof are. If your roof has an insufficient number of fasteners, the fasteners are not firm, or the fasteners were installed in the wrong place, they will be more likely to shift when a storm hits, causing noise.
How to Correct Roofing Fasteners
If you believe your roofing fasteners are the culprit behind the noise, you can have a metal roofing contractor inspect and replace the fasteners. A metal roofing contractor will be able to determine if the fasteners used are equipped for the job of securing your roof and correcting any mishaps. This will lower the volume of any future storms.
Finishing and Insulation
A barrier is needed to reduce noise transmission from the roof to the inside of your home. If you do not have proper finishing and insulation, it may get noisy in your home during a storm. Luckily, a lack of finishing or installation is a treatable problem with the help of a professional.
Adding Finishing or Insulation
You have options when it comes to reducing the noise level through the addition of insulation, such as:
• Installing a finished drywall ceiling to a room with an uncompleted vault ceiling or a fenced porch.
• Add insulation to your attic.
• Add a glass wool insulator explicitly made for metal roofing.
• Use foam gap filler.
• Use spray foam insulation.
The Shape of Your Metal Roof
If your roof is already installed, this tip will not apply to you. However, homeowners looking to install a metal roof should keep in mind that flat or vertical seam metal roofing will vibrate less, creating less noise. Complex shapes may be stiffer and less loud. Metal roofs with a rounder shape tend to be the noisiest.
Roof Underlayment
A roofing underlayment will help soundproof a metal roof; in fact, it may be the most effective noise-reduction method. This may be challenging for an existing metal roof, but it can be done. If you’re building a new roof, be sure to include a roofing underlayment in the plans.
How a Roofing Underlayment Helps
When installing a roof, install plywood or OSB at the lowest level of your roof, underneath the metal sheeting. This added layer of protection serves as an additional sound barrier that separates the loud noises against the metal roof and your home.
Precautionary Measures
If you’re considering redoing your current roof to make the switch to a metal roof, you may be able to cover your current roofing materials, depending on your local building code. In cases where you can cover your asphalt roof with a metal roof, you will have a built-in sound barrier that will help minimize the noise.
In Conclusion
The best way to reduce noise is to create a solid barrier between your metal roof and the rest of your home. Whether it’s through drywall ceilings, added insulation, or underlayment, the only way to eliminate the headache of rain or hail crashing on your roof is a barricade. However, metal roofs will always be noisier than other roofing materials.
Contact Our Metal Roofing Contractors
Whether you’re interested in having a new metal roof installed with an underlayment or you want an experienced metal roofing contractor to come to inspect the state of your roofing fasteners, the experts at Classic Metal Roofs are here to help. Contact our friendly team today with your metal roofing questions and concerns, and one of our experts will be happy to help you!
