I’ve seen lightning do weird stuff—one neighbor’s metal roof took a hit and their TV basically melted, but the house didn’t catch fire. Turns out their grounding was ancient. Metal’s fine, but yeah, double-check your surge protection or you might be shopping for new appliances.
“Metal’s fine, but yeah, double-check your surge protection or you might be shopping for new appliances.”
I get the concern about surge protection, but honestly, I’ve seen just as many issues with asphalt roofs and lightning. Metal actually tends to disperse the strike better if it’s grounded right. The real problem is old or poorly installed grounding—doesn’t matter what your roof’s made of. I’d focus more on getting a licensed electrician to check the whole system, not just the surge protectors. Sometimes people forget about the panel bonding or even the ground rods themselves... that’s where things go sideways.
- Metal roofs get a bad rap for lightning, but I’ve seen more blown electronics in houses with old wiring than anything else.
- Grounding’s the big issue. If the system’s up to code and the rods are solid, metal just acts like a shield.
- Surge protectors help, but if the main panel isn’t bonded right, you’re still at risk. Had a tenant lose half their kitchen appliances after a strike last summer—turns out their ground rod was basically rusted away.
- I’d be more worried about water leaks or ice dams with metal than lightning, honestly.
- Anyone ever had insurance push back on claims because of “improper grounding” after a storm? Curious how common that is...
I get the whole “metal roof = lightning magnet” thing, but honestly, my neighbor’s old farmhouse with a shingle roof took a hit last year and fried their TV, fridge, and even the garage door opener. Meanwhile, my metal roof just makes rain sound like a drum solo. I’m way more paranoid about leaks around the chimney than lightning strikes. Maybe it’s just beginner’s luck, but so far, no sparks here… just the occasional squirrel Olympics.
Honestly, the “metal roof attracts lightning” thing is way overblown. Metal actually helps disperse the energy if you do get hit, and it’s not like shingles are immune—like you said, your neighbor’s house proves that. I’d take a metal roof over asphalt any day, especially for durability and recyclability. Have you noticed any difference in your attic temps since switching to metal? That’s the one thing I was surprised by—my place stays cooler in summer now.