That’s pretty much how I see it too—leaks are what keep me busy, not lightning strikes. I’ve managed a few buildings with metal roofs and honestly, the only real headaches have come from missed fasteners or poorly sealed flashing, especially after a rough winter. One thing I do wonder about: has anyone here actually had to deal with insurance after a lightning strike on a metal roof? I’ve only seen claims for water damage, never fire from a strike. Maybe it’s just not as common as folks think.
Leaks are way more of a headache in my experience too. I’ve had metal roofs on a few properties and, honestly, lightning just isn’t something that’s come up with insurance. Like you said, it’s water damage that gets the calls. I’ve seen some scorched wiring from a nearby strike once, but never a full-on fire. Seems like the risk is way overblown compared to the actual issues we deal with—flashing, fasteners, and winter ice dams.
I’ve had a standing seam metal roof on my main place for about 12 years now, and honestly, lightning just hasn’t been an issue. I get why people worry—metal seems like it’d attract strikes—but in practice, it’s not any more likely than other materials. What’s actually kept me up at night is water sneaking in around the chimney flashing or those tiny screws backing out over time. Had to patch a couple spots last spring after a nasty ice dam too. If anything, the metal roof has held up better than the old asphalt ever did during storms.
That’s reassuring to hear, actually. I’ve read a lot of mixed opinions about metal roofs and lightning, but it seems like the science backs up your experience—metal doesn’t really increase the odds of a strike, just helps conduct it safely to ground if it does happen. I’m way more concerned about leaks too, especially around roof penetrations like chimneys or vent pipes. Did you end up using any particular flashing technique or sealant after your ice dam issue? I’ve noticed some folks swear by certain tapes or membranes under the metal, but I’m not sure how much difference they make long-term.
Interesting that you mention screws backing out—I keep hearing about that with exposed fastener systems, but didn’t realize it could be an issue on standing seam too. Do you do a yearly check, or just wait until you spot a drip? Metal seems like a solid investment for storm-prone areas overall, but yeah, nothing’s maintenance-free... Curious if you’ve tried any “green” upgrades, like adding solar or rainwater catchment, since you’ve already got the metal up there?
Leaks are honestly the bigger headache in my experience, especially around chimneys and vents. I usually see folks have better luck with high-quality butyl tape under the flashing, plus a good self-adhered membrane—cheap caulk just doesn’t cut it long-term. As for screws, even standing seam can have issues if the clips aren’t installed right or if there’s a lot of thermal movement. I always recommend at least a quick visual check every spring, just to catch anything before it turns into a mess. Haven’t seen many rainwater setups on metal roofs around here, but solar’s getting more popular—just make sure your installer knows what they’re doing so you don’t end up with more holes than you started with...