No. A metal roof does not draw lightning to your home. Lightning picks where it hits by height and by what stands out, not by what a roof is made of. A tall house on a hill with no trees around it is more likely to be hit than a low house on a street full of trees, whether the roof is metal or shingles. If lightning does strike a metal roof, the metal will not catch fire, because metal does not burn. So if you are thinking about a metal roof in Crowley, Burleson or Fort Worth, lightning should not be the thing that stops you.
What makes lightning hit one place and not another
Lightning is a huge spark between a storm cloud and the ground. As it comes down, it takes the easiest path. That path usually ends at whatever sticks up the most in the area. Here is what matters most:
- Height. Tall things get hit more. A two-story house is a bigger target than a one-story house next to it.
- Being alone. A house out in open land, like many homes near Joshua or Cleburne, stands out more than a house in a packed neighborhood.
- Tall trees. A big tree next to the house is often hit before the roof is. That is why you should never stand under a tree in a storm.
- Pointed shapes. Chimneys, antennas and the peak of a steep roof stick up and give lightning a place to land.
What the roof is made of is not on that list. A metal roof is no taller than a shingle roof on the same house.
Where the myth comes from
We all know metal carries electricity well. So it feels like metal should "pull" lightning. But carrying electricity and drawing it in are not the same thing. Metal does not make lightning pick your house. It only changes what happens if lightning was already going to hit it.
People also see lightning hit poles and towers. Those get hit because they are tall, not because they are metal.
What happens if lightning hits a metal roof
This is where metal does well:
- It will not burn. Metal does not catch fire the way wood can. Stone-coated steel has a Class A fire rating, the top rating for fire.
- It spreads the charge out. Because metal carries electricity well, a strike can spread out across the panels instead of staying in one hot spot.
- The damage is often small. A strike may leave a small burn mark or a tiny hole in a panel. In many cases, one panel can be fixed or swapped.
Be honest about the limits, too. No roof makes a house safe from lightning. A strike can still travel into the house through wires, pipes or a chimney, and it can still hurt the things that plug into the wall. That is true with any roof.
Is a metal roof a lightning rod?
No. People sometimes think a metal roof will protect a house the way a lightning rod does. It will not. A lightning protection system is its own setup. It has short rods on the high points of the roof, heavy wires, and rods driven deep into the ground. It gives a strike a clear path down to the earth, away from the house.
A metal roof is not built to do that job. If you want lightning protection, talk to a company that puts in lightning protection systems. You can have one on a metal roof or a shingle roof. If you add one later, tell your roofer, so the parts can be fastened and sealed the right way and do not cause leaks.
Is it safe to be inside during a storm?
Yes. Being inside a house with a metal roof is no more risky than being inside a house with a shingle roof. Inside is where you want to be when you hear thunder. A few simple steps help:
- Stay off the roof. Never go up on any roof when a storm is coming. Lightning can strike miles ahead of the rain.
- Stay away from water and wires. Wait to shower, wash dishes or use a corded phone until the storm has passed.
- Unplug what you can. TVs, computers and game systems can be hurt by a power surge (a sudden jump in power on the lines).
- Think about surge protection. A surge protector at the outlet helps. An electrician can also talk with you about one for the whole house at the electric panel.
What to do if your house is struck
A strike is loud and close. If you think your home was hit:
- Check for fire and smoke first. If you smell smoke or see fire, get everyone out and call 911. Fire from a strike can start inside a wall or the attic where you can not see it.
- Look in the attic. Once it is safe, look with a flashlight for burn marks, smoke or a burnt smell near the roof deck (the wood boards under the roof) and wires.
- Walk around outside. From the ground, look for a hole in the roof, a cracked chimney, or a split tree nearby.
- Test your power. If outlets or lights stopped working, have an electrician check the wiring.
- Have the roof looked at. Even a small hole can let water in during the next rain.
Our 10-minute walk-around after a storm lists what to look for from the yard.
What really matters when you pick a metal roof
Lightning is not a good reason to skip metal. These are the things worth weighing:
- Hail. Stone-coated steel carries a Class 4 rating, the top rating for hail. No roof is hail-proof, but it is built to take a hit far better than a standard shingle.
- Wind. Stone-coated steel is rated for 140 mph wind.
- Life span. It is rated to last 50 years.
- Noise. A foam pad under the panels makes it as quiet as shingles. Our post on whether a metal roof is loud in the rain explains why.
- Cost. Metal costs more up front than shingles. It pays off most if you plan to stay in your home a long time.
What to do next
If you live in Crowley, Fort Worth, Burleson, Mansfield, Joshua or nearby and you are thinking about metal, see our metal roof page. Then call Legacy Roofing at (817) 602-2057. We will answer your questions plainly and price metal next to shingles, in writing, so you can weigh them and decide.
