Relentless UV Rays
Relentless UV Rays | Metal Roofing | Roofing | Knoxville
Beneath Knoxville’s blue-sky summers and sudden storms, HEP keeps homes protected with metal roofing that shrugs off relentless UV rays, high winds, and pounding hail. Our premium steel and aluminum panels are coated with advanced reflective finishes that deflect heat, resist fading, and maintain their bold color decade after decade—helping you enjoy lower energy bills and a cooler attic even in August’s swelter. Every panel is precisely measured, cut, and seamed on-site by factory-trained installers who treat your home as carefully as their own.
Choose HEP and you’re choosing a roof engineered for 50-plus years of confidence, backed by industry-leading warranties and a local team that’s on call 24/7. From the first free inspection to the final walkthrough, we make upgrading to metal roofing simple, affordable, and surprisingly fast—so you can spend more time enjoying Knoxville’s sunshine and less time worrying about what it’s doing to your roof.
FAQs
How do Knoxville’s relentless UV rays affect traditional roofing materials, and how does metal roofing perform differently?
Asphalt shingles and other conventional materials absorb ultraviolet radiation, which breaks down the binders that hold the shingle together. Over time this leads to brittleness, curling, granule loss, and leaks. Metal roofing, by contrast, reflects a substantial portion of UV energy and is protected by factory-applied paint systems such as Kynar 500® or Hylar 5000®. These coatings contain UV-resistant pigments and resins that prevent degradation, so the panels stay structurally sound for decades even under Knoxville’s strong summer sun.
Will installing a UV-reflective metal roof lower my cooling bills during Knoxville’s hot, humid summers?
Yes. A light-colored or “cool” coated metal roof can reflect 25–40 % of incoming solar radiation and re-emit most of the absorbed heat quickly. Independent studies and ENERGY STAR® data show Knoxville homeowners often see summer air-conditioning savings of 10–25 %. Adding an appropriate attic ventilation system or an integral radiant barrier beneath the metal panels can boost savings even further.
Does the color of a metal roof fade when exposed to constant sunlight?
All exterior finishes gradually weather, but high-performance PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) coatings used on quality metal roofs are engineered to resist Knoxville’s high UV index. They carry color-fade warranties of up to 30 years, limiting visible change to 5 Hunter units or less—an amount most homeowners cannot detect from ground level. Routine rinsing with a garden hose and an annual mild-soap wash help the coating maintain its original vibrancy.
How long can I expect a UV-resistant metal roof to last in Knoxville’s climate?
A properly installed, 24- to 26-gauge steel or aluminum roof with a premium UV coating typically lasts 40–70 years in East Tennessee. Unlike shingles, metal does not become brittle or lose protective granules under sun exposure. Manufacturers back their products with 30- to 50-year limited warranties, and many local roofs first installed in the 1990s show minimal wear today despite three decades of UV exposure.
Are special coatings or finishes available to enhance UV protection on metal roofing?
Absolutely. The most common premium finish is a PVDF resin (marketed as Kynar 500®/Hylar 5000®) that combines ceramic pigments for color stability with UV-blocking polymers. For maximum solar reflectance, “cool roof” versions incorporate infrared-reflective pigments that bounce heat-producing rays even from darker colors such as bronze or dark green. Your Knoxville roofing professional can provide solar reflectance (SR) and thermal emittance (TE) data so you can choose the optimal coating for both energy efficiency and aesthetics.
Is metal roofing more expensive upfront, and how does that cost balance out when factoring UV damage prevention?
Metal roofing generally costs 2–3 times more than architectural shingles at installation. However, shingles in Knoxville may need replacement every 15–20 years due to UV degradation, while a metal roof can last 50 years or more. When you spread the initial investment over its service life—and include lower cooling bills, reduced maintenance, and often a discount of up to 35 % on homeowners insurance—the life-cycle cost of metal frequently beats shingles. In many cases homeowners recoup 60–85 % of the additional cost in resale value thanks to the roof’s longevity and energy-saving reputation.