I was wondering about that too. We're in our first home now, and the roof is gonna need replacing soon. Metal roofing sounds appealing for durability, but I'm a bit skeptical about noise levels. I've stayed in a cabin once that had a metal roof, and I remember the rain sounding pretty loud—though to be fair, insulation there was probably minimal.
"Had a metal roof installed a few years back, and while I love its durability, those stormy nights definitely aren't quiet."
This makes me curious—does the type or thickness of insulation make a big difference? Or maybe certain types of underlayment work better than others? I'd hate to invest in something that ends up keeping me awake every time we get a storm rolling through. I guess it's one thing if you're used to the noise (or even find it relaxing), but for someone sensitive to sound or with young kids sleeping nearby... could be tricky.
We had a similar concern when we replaced our roof about five years ago. We ended up going with metal, but we made sure to invest in good insulation and a quality underlayment. Honestly, it made a huge difference. Our neighbors went with metal too, but skimped a bit on insulation, and you can definitely tell the difference when it rains hard.
From what I've experienced, thicker insulation (like spray foam or dense fiberglass batts) really helps dampen the noise. Also, the underlayment matters more than you'd think—something like a sound-absorbing synthetic underlayment or even a rubberized membrane can significantly cut down on noise. We used a synthetic underlayment specifically marketed for sound reduction, and storms are actually pretty mellow now. You still hear the rain, but it's more of a gentle background noise rather than that loud drumming you get in cabins or sheds.
If you're sensitive to noise or have little ones, I'd say don't skip on insulation or underlayment quality. It costs a bit more upfront, but it's worth it for peace of mind (and sleep).
That's interesting, I've been considering metal roofing too, but the cost of premium insulation has me hesitating. Did you notice any significant energy savings after upgrading your insulation? I'm wondering if the upfront investment might balance out over a few years with lower heating or cooling bills... Curious if anyone else saw a noticeable difference on their utility costs after going that route.
We upgraded to metal roofing with premium insulation about four years ago, and honestly, the energy savings have been noticeable but not exactly life-changing. Our summer cooling bills dropped maybe 15-20%, which definitely helps offset the initial cost over time. Winters haven't shown as dramatic a difference, though. Still, for us, the real value has been peace of mind—no more worrying during heavy storms or hail. If you're strictly crunching numbers, it might take a while to recoup your investment...but comfort-wise, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
We went with a metal roof too, about two years back. Honestly, I haven't tracked energy bills closely enough to notice a huge difference...maybe a small drop in summer AC costs? But the biggest relief for me has been the noise—or rather, lack of it—during storms. We used to get crazy loud hailstorms that kept us up half the night, but now it's more like a gentle tapping. Worth every penny just for the better sleep alone, haha.
