Built to withstand winter’s worst

By Emma Peterson. 

How Unified Steel™ Stone Coated Roofing protects against wind, hail, snow and ice. 

While any season can present challenges for a roof system, winter brings a unique combination of wind, ice, snow and other severe weather, putting roofing materials to the test. Westlake Royal Roofing Products’ Unified Steel™ Stone Coated Roofing rises to pass them all. 

With a Galvalume® steel core and the acrylic polymer adhesives that bind the stone granules to the steel, Unified Steel offers year-round protection and performance with durability that ensures a lifespan around three times longer than traditional asphalt shingles. Keep reading to learn more about Unified Steel and how it performs in the face of a winter storm. 

Fighting wind uplift 

Unified Steel has been tested to meet strict building codes and ratings like Miami-Dade County HVHZ Approval, the most stringent hurricane resistance standard in the country. When installed properly, it combines industry-leading Very Severe Hail (VSH) Impact resistance and 120-mph wind warranty with a lightweight design and a 50-year limited warranty, making it an excellent option for those looking for roofing that holds up against severe weather. 

Jason Mathiesen, president of Smart Roofs for Smart People in South Dakota, shared, “The Great Plains region of this country, where I am based, has an abundance of extreme weather spanning bitter cold and snow during the winter to wind and hailstorms in the spring and summer. I have discovered that the stone coated steel roofing panels I install hold up to all of it.”

Withstanding hailstorms  

Speaking of hailstorms, Stone Coated Roofing comes with an "industry leading ASTM (Class 4 Impact rating) and options rated to FM-VSH (Very Severe Hail) impact ratings with the ability to withstand 2-inch hail stones at a minimum of 53 joules.” In other words, it is one of the best roofing materials on the market to protect against devastating hailstorms. 

Guarding against snow  

Snow blanketing roofs, trees and streets might look magical, but heavy snowfall can cause serious structural damage. Homes that use traditional materials like asphalt shingles typically have a moderate snow load capacity. Meaning, it can support the weight of light snow, but may struggle to keep its integrity with larger capacity snow loads. As the amount of accumulated snow begins to outweigh that capacity, homeowners can face issues like leaks, shingle damage, moss and algae growth, gutter damage and even potential roof collapse.

These issues can be minimized by investing in roofing products designed to withstand a heavier snow load capacity. The steel core of Unified Steel not only extends its lifespan on the roof, but it also increases its ability to support heavier loads. When installed correctly, Unified Steel provides homeowners with reassurance about their roof’s ability to mitigate snow load issues such as delamination, fracturing or breaking.

Additionally, Unified Steel’s stone granules guard against another common snow issue – avalanching. Because these granules add more surface texture and friction, “snow will not slide off a Unified Steel roof as is common with alternative standing-seam metal roofs, creating a safer roof perimeter.” 

Minimizing ice dams 

Ice dams are a common issue that occurs when warm attic air melts snow at the peak of the roof. That snow then melts down the surface of the roof, eventually making it to the roof’s edge, which is colder as it doesn’t get warmed up by the attic. It then refreezes there and accumulates into an ice mound that traps water that can eventually leak into the roof system. This can cause extensive and expensive damage to a roof if left unaddressed. 

Contractors can help homeowners avoid this mistake by installing Stone Coated Roofing in combination with an elevated or “above-sheathing ventilation” (ASV). Because ASV creates horizontal and vertical air space and insulation, it is able to “help equalize the temperature between the snow and the structure, minimizing the effects of freeze/thaw cycles and reducing ice dams.” 

Learn more about Stone Coated Steel at www.westlakeroyalbuildingproducts.com/roofing/unified-steel.