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How long does a zinc roof last
Gemma Anderson
May 21, 2021
One of the most outstanding benefits of a zinc roof is it’s lifespan. Compared to our other metal roofing materials that last around 60 years, zinc lasts 100+ years. You don’t have to just take our word for it, the long history of our manufacturer VMZinc provides examples of projects where zinc has been in place for over 100 years, and this is also supplemented by the BRE EN15804 Environmental Product Declaration that references a service life of 100 years – very impressive!
The longevity of zinc is also evident on the rooftops of Paris, where it has been used for a few centuries. Zinc can be seen on more than 80% of the roofs and they age so well, it really isn’t easy to tell which have been there the longest and which have been recently replaced!
The reason zinc is so long lasting is its naturally occurring patina. Unlike aluminium or steel which have a coating applied to protect the core of the material, the natural surface of zinc provides outstanding protection, meaning that no coating is needed! The natural surface self heals scratches, so if your roof were to get scratched, after some weeks the zinc would have oxidised and repaired itself, with the scratch gone! I’m sure you’ll agree this is really impressive and can give you great confidence in the longevity and robustness of your roof.
Perhaps you’re thinking, “I’m not going to live for 100 years, so why does it matter?” Importantly, the fact that your zinc roof will last so long means that you won’t have to worry about maintenance at all! There will be no need to spend time, money or effort on upkeep to maintain the perfect finish – removing moss from tiles or patching in thatch will be a distant memory! We’ve also heard it said that houses with a zinc roof command a higher resale price, because it’s well known that they’re low maintenance and long lasting. Furthermore, the long lifespan and the fact that 90% of architectural zinc is recycled makes zinc top of the class from a sustainability perspective.
This long lifespan is of course dependent on correct installation and build up of your roof. Be sure to use a contractor who is approved by the main manufacturers and registered with the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors (FTMRC). As members of the FTMRC, we have regular vetting and were most recently rated “Excellent”, the highest possible rating. As an approved contractor of VMZinc we offer an up to 30 year warranty on the material, installation and build up. We are also part of the VMZinc@Work partner programme which delivers additional training to our already highly skilled team.
We would highly recommend choosing zinc if it suits your project and budget so that you (and many future generations!) can enjoy a zero maintenance, stunning roof.
Please give us a call or request a quote, we’d love to discuss your project. If zinc isn’t best suited for your budget, we also offer aluminium or steel which are cost effective alternatives with lifespans of 60 years and some great benefits of their own – more to come on those in future blog posts!
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