That’s a pretty common concern, honestly. The whole “metal roof equals lightning magnet” thing gets tossed around a lot, but the science doesn’t really back it up. Metal’s just a good conductor, so if lightning does strike, it’ll usually channel the energy straight to ground—assuming your grounding is up to code. Sounds like you did the right thing getting an electrician to check it out.
I’ve seen a couple of cases where a metal roof took a hit, and the damage was surprisingly minimal compared to what you’d expect with wood or asphalt. Usually it’s just some scorched paint or minor pitting, nothing structural. The real risk is if the house isn’t grounded properly—then you could have bigger problems.
Insurance companies can be weird about this stuff. You’d think they’d give more of a break for metal, since it’s fire-resistant and holds up better in storms, but I guess they have their own logic. At least you’ve got some peace of mind knowing your setup’s safe.
Had a tenant freak out about this exact thing once—she called me in the middle of a thunderstorm convinced her new metal roof was basically a lightning rod. I had to reassure her (and myself, honestly) that, like you said, metal’s just a good conductor.
Totally lines up with what I’ve seen. The real headache for me is always the insurance paperwork... they’ll raise an eyebrow over a metal roof, but never mention the 60-year-old wiring. Go figure.“the damage was surprisingly minimal compared to what you’d expect with wood or asphalt.”
