- Metal roofs and lightning come up a lot with clients.
- Here’s the thing: metal doesn’t attract lightning, but if it does get hit, it actually disperses the energy better than wood or asphalt.
- Grounding’s key—sounds like you did that right.
- I’ve seen a few insurance companies ask about it, but most don’t care as long as it’s up to code.
- Only downside I hear is the noise in heavy rain, but honestly, most folks get used to it.
- Personally, I’d take metal over old shakes any day, especially after seeing a cedar roof smolder... not worth the risk.
Had a client’s lake house get hit by lightning a few years back—metal roof, fully grounded. The strike fried some electronics, but the roof itself was totally fine. No fire, no structural damage, just a few blown surge protectors. Compare that to a neighbor with an old wood shake roof who lost half his attic to smoldering embers after a similar storm... I’ll take the noise over that risk any day. Grounding really is the game-changer here.
Grounding really is the game-changer here.
That’s the key, honestly. Metal roofs get a bad rap for lightning, but if they’re properly grounded, they actually help direct the strike safely away from the structure. I’ve seen similar cases—electronics take a hit, but the roof itself just shrugs it off. Wood shake or asphalt can be way riskier in terms of fire. The noise during storms is real, though... not everyone loves that part. But from a safety standpoint, I’d rather deal with some loud rain than worry about embers in my attic.
I was pretty nervous about this exact thing when we bought our place last year. The house came with a metal roof, and I kept picturing lightning just zapping straight through it. After talking to a couple of electricians and reading up, I realized it’s not really the roof itself that’s the issue—it’s whether or not it’s grounded right, like you said.
Here’s what I did, step by step, just in case it helps anyone else:
1. First, I checked if there was already a grounding system in place. Turns out, there was a copper rod driven into the ground near the foundation, with a thick wire running up to the roof. If you’re not sure what to look for, it’s worth asking an electrician to take a peek.
2. Next, I made sure all the connections were tight and not corroded. I had no idea how much difference a little rust could make, but apparently, it can mess with the whole system.
3. I also unplugged sensitive electronics during big storms, just in case. Surge protectors are good, but they’re not magic.
I do agree about the noise—rain on metal is LOUD. The first thunderstorm we had, I thought the roof was going to cave in. You get used to it, though, and honestly, I kind of like it now. It’s weirdly cozy.
One thing I’m still not totally sure about is insurance. Some companies seemed a little weird about the metal roof at first, but after I showed them the grounding setup, they were fine. Maybe it depends on where you live? We’re in the Midwest, so storms are just part of life.
If I had to do it over, I’d still pick metal. The fire risk with wood or asphalt freaks me out way more than lightning at this point. Plus, I haven’t had to worry about replacing shingles every time the wind picks up, which is a huge relief.
That’s wild, I always thought metal roofs were basically lightning magnets too. Did your insurance actually ask for proof of grounding, or just want to know it was there? I’ve heard some companies in my area (southeast) are picky about metal roofs, but mostly for hail damage, not lightning. The noise is a whole thing though—my cousin’s place sounds like a drumline in a downpour. Do you notice any difference with snow or just rain?
