Can Stone Coated Metal Roofs Loud in the Rain?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we hear from homeowners interested in metal roofing. We’ll get right to the point–no, Stone coated metal roofs are not loud in the rain.

Preventing sounds from hitting hard, flat surfaces is key to noise reduction. A flat, uncoated sheet of metal–like the smooth surface of a drum–has no way to shorten the prolonged sound reflection, known as reverberation.

The structure of a roof plays an important role in noise reduction, as well. If you've ever been in a garage, shed or structure that lacked a complete roof assembly, you likely noticed noise and reverberation from the rain. Without the roof deck, insulation and underlayment, an uncoated sheet of metal will sound loud in the rain. But as soon as those building components are added, noise levels return to what could be generally expected with any other roofing material.

But stone coated metal roofing products are more advanced than a flat, uncoated sheet of metal. The thicker the coating and the more irregular the surface texture, the more effective a roof is at disrupting and dampening the reverberation of sound waves.

For example, stone coated metal roofing products are peacefully quiet in the rain due to their intricate textures and sound-absorbing cushion of roofing granules.