Don’t overlook metal when shopping for a roof
If the timehas come to invest in a new roof, it might be worth taking a close look atmetal roofing as an option. Metal roofing is far more attractive than you mightthink and is available in a surprising number of colors and patterns. And whileit is a more expensive option than many other types of roofing, you’ll enjoythe benefits of a roof that is virtually maintenance free and that willprobably last the life of house. For most people, it truly is the last roofthey will ever have to buy for their home.
Besides itsdurability, metal roofing has some other advantages as well. In areas with coldwinters, snow and ice tends to slide off the roof much more readily then itwill with other types of roofing, preventing potentially dangerous snowbuildups. And since a typical metal roof installation has virtually nohorizontal seams, problems with ice damming are eliminated. This lack ofhorizontal seams also makes metal roofing ideal for low-pitched roofs, and itwill work very effectively on roofs with pitches down to three in 12, andsometimes even less.
Most metalroofing applications are also relatively lightweight, when compared with othertypes of roofing. If you have an existing home that needs a new roof, in manycases metal can be installed directly over your old shingles without concernsabout structurally overloading the existing framing, which saves you the costof removing and disposing of the old shingles. Metal roofing is also very fireresistant, and carries the highest fire rating – something that may even helpwith your homeowner’s insurance rates.
A couple ofthe advantages of metal roofing can also be disadvantages. Its ability torapidly shed large amounts of snow and ice can be a danger, particularly withhomes with steeper pitched roofs in areas that are prone to high snowfalls. Tominimize snow-slide problems, most installers will add snow guards, which arebars, clips or other products specifically designed to break the snow up as issettles on the roof and as it slides off, causing it to fall to the ground insmall pieces instead of large heavy chunks.
Anotherconcern about metal roofing is the potential for noise in a rainstorm. Metal sheetswill certainly reflect a lot more noise then other types of softer, densermaterials such as asphalt or wood shingles, but this noise is greatly reducedby installing the metal over solid sheathing such as plywood, and wheninstalled over a well-insulated attic, rain noise on metal is rarely asignificant problem.
WHAT’SAVAILABLE
“Metal”is obviously a very generic term. In actual usage for roofing, metal can referto steel, aluminum, copper, and even stainless steel. Copper, which goes onshiny and then weathers naturally to a green patina, is one of the oldestmetals used for roofing. Still used in some high-end applications today, itsbeauty is offset by the disadvantage of prohibitively high cost. Stainlesssteel, which will not rust or corrode even under the harshest conditions,likewise is prohibitively expensive for all but the most demandingapplications.
Forresidential applications, aluminum is fairly common. It is lightweight,rustproof and is especially suitable for forming into shingle patterns. For themost part, however, when you talk about metal roofing you are talking aboutsteel, which is both heavier and sturdier than aluminum, and is the most commonmaterial for most residential and commercial applications. Both aluminum andsteel are coated with a baked-on primer and then a finish coat of paint in oneof about 10 standard colors. Many manufacturers also offer custom colors byspecial order.
Metalroofing is also rated by the gauge of the metal, which refers to its thickness.In another of those oddities of construction life, the larger the gauge numberis the thinner the metal will be. Most metal roofing is in the 26- to 29-gaugerange, with 26 gauge being thicker and heavier, and also more commonlyavailable.
Metal roofing comes in two basic forms – shingles andsheets. Singles may be individual pieces or may be longer strips that arestamped to look like several smaller shingles. The shingles may have theappearance of slate tiles, wood shakes or ceramic tiles, and come in several colors.
More commonare the sheet styles, which range from 12 to 36 inches or more in width. Theindividual sheets are custom-cut to the ridge-to-eave length of your roof, orthey may be fabricated right on-site. Either way, installation is fast incomparison to other types of roofing, and there are a number of matching ridgecaps, end caps, valley flashings and other components to finish off andweatherproof the installation.
Metalroofing material and installation prices can vary widely with the type, styleand color of the metal and the complexity of the roof. If you’re interested ina new or replacement metal roof, talk with at least two suppliers or licensedroofing contractors, compare their product offerings and ask for a couple ofrecent local references so you can see the roofing installed and talk to theircustomers.
Remodelingand repair questions? E-mail Paul at paul2887@hughes.net.
***
What’s your opinion? Send your Letter to the Editor to opinion@inman.com.
Copyright 2006 Inman News
