I need a new roof and I'm leaning toward a metal roof (I live in an area where a roof that can withstand 150mph wind is a good thing).
Then two days ago, one friend told me that metal roofs really mess up getting cell reception (seems reasonable for that to happen - not worried about it, I use WiFi-calling).
But another guy told me that it messes up WiFi within the house. I can't readily perceive how that happens. And he couldn't explain to me why WiFi bouncing off the roof back into the house is any worse than my neighbors WiFi coming in.
Anyone here have a metal roof? Has it messed with any smart home tech?
I live in an older mobile home (AKA tin can) It does interfere with cell phones but I have it switch over to wifi if available. Little over 1000 square feet and no Wifi issues. I do have one corner that has a problem with Wifi on my Bose speakers (ST 10s) but that is due to a large decorative mirror on the wall (think mid 60s, thick metal coating)
My Wifi range is about 20 feet outside max.
I was lucky - 3 ft of standing water, but my roof came through Katrina without a shingle missing. It was 5 years old at the time. It's finally time for a replacement - few missing shingles and a slow leak in the living room.
@aaiyar, before you go metal, take a look at the new FL or SC building codes. As I understand it, they're requiring an adhesive backed "tar paper" to be applied to the roof deck prior to shingling. This bonds the structure together as a solid unit. Personally, I'd add a layer of chicken wire, then the adhesive paper, then the shingles.
I have a lot of concerns about a modern residential metal roof. These are not the old 20 gauge rolled-standing-seam roofs we saw when we we kids. They're using 26 -even 29 gauge metal now (Yeow!). So far as lift-off, the strength is is the number of clips per seam and I'll bet they're skimping.
My other concern is denting from flying debris. A big dent in the middle of a roof plane is going to be a real PITA to replace and the reality is it'll never match exactly.
My daughter is restoring her home after they were hit hard last year. They're telling me that the insurance companies are now offering 20-25% discount if they'll urethane foam the attic. That idea intrigues me.
I'm 19 miles inland from the Atlantic behind the Outer Banks but the house faces 45 miles of open water across the sound.
Well, it could increase multipathing, and if you spend time walking around on your roof, you might have issues with wifi reception up there.
I would try to keep your hotspot on the ground floor if you have a 2 story house. That should reduce the effect of multi path interference from the roof I would think.
I suppose there could be multipath interference, but outside signal blockage is the bigger issue.
I lived in an aluminum sided house a while back and it also had an attic radiant barrier (mylar foil). I could not get TV or radio reception in the house, and cell signal was pretty weak too.
The building I work in is a newer "energy efficient" building with thick masonry walls and metal roof. The windows also have metalized solar film on them. You used to stand at a window and could barely get phone reception. Any deeper in the building and you had no reception. They added indoor cell repeaters (after 10 years of suffering) to resolve the issue. Wireless inside the building works fine though, I have never seen an issue even with many hundreds of people on phone or wireless at the same time.
While I none of this is Zigbee or Zwave, radio waves are radio waves. I wouldn't expect an issue with the metal roof.
Agreed. Considering all the other metal in a house, the roof would seem to be a minor consideration!
Interestingly some of the things you pointed out might even be beneficial from a wifi perspective...blocking out external wifi would seem to be a net positive....
And blocking cell phones...well, there some positives there too! Lol
