Interesting you mention insurance not caring about metal roofs where you are. Around here (northern Kansas), I’ve actually seen a few carriers offer small premium reductions for metal because of the fire resistance and hail durability. Not a huge difference, but enough to notice over time. On the lightning side, I get the logic that metal isn’t more likely to attract a strike, but I’ve also read that if you don’t have proper grounding, a direct hit can still fry your electrical system. Some roofers recommend adding a lightning protection system just in case, especially if you’re in a high-strike area. Not cheap, but something to factor in if you’re already considering the big investment.
- Inspected a place last year with a metal roof, no lightning rods. Owner said insurance didn’t care, but he did have a surge protector on the panel—said it saved his fridge during a storm.
- I’ve seen more electrical damage from lack of grounding than from the roof material itself.
- Metal’s not magic, but it’s not a lightning magnet either. If you’re in a spot that gets hit a lot, grounding and surge protection seem like smarter investments than just worrying about the roof.
Metal’s not magic, but it’s not a lightning magnet either.
That’s spot on. I’ve seen plenty of houses with asphalt roofs take direct hits and fry everything inside because the grounding was a joke. Metal just spreads the energy out—if you’ve got solid grounding and a decent surge protector, you’re way ahead of most folks. The roof material is honestly the least of my worries when it comes to lightning.
I’m with you—metal roofs get a bad rap when it comes to lightning, but honestly, the real danger is lousy grounding. I’ve inspected homes after storms where the metal roof was untouched, but the wiring inside was toast because the surge had nowhere safe to go. If anything, metal can help direct the strike away from vulnerable spots... if your system’s set up right. I’d be way more worried about old wiring or sketchy surge protection than what’s on top of the house.
I get where you’re coming from. When we put a metal roof on our house a few years back, a bunch of folks warned us about lightning, but honestly, it’s never been an issue. We’re in a pretty stormy area too. The electrician who helped with our reno was adamant about upgrading the grounding and surge protection—said that’s way more important than the roof material. Haven’t had any problems since, even after a couple of direct hits nearby. I’d say old wiring is a bigger worry, especially in older homes like ours.
