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Exterior Products Review: Metal Roofing
Home builder Gary Mevis doesn’t have much trouble selling metal roofs to buyers of the high-end custom homes he nestles under the towering Ponderosa pine trees in Prescott, Ariz. His sales pitch involves this likely scenario: “Say you’re away from your home and in comes a strong wind, which we get here, and one of those heavy limbs breaks off and falls on your roof and you have an asphalt shingle roof. That limb can go completely through that shingle and the roof decking, and now you’ve got a hole in your roof, and you may not know it for a couple of weeks because you’re away.” The same limb could crash onto a 28-gauge steel roof, he says, and “it may make a dent. But it’s a dent you won’t even notice.” Metal roofing, a traditional favorite for rural outbuildings and commercial structures, has a new and growing following among custom builders and urban remodelers—and their customers. Since 2000, sales of residential metal roofs have doubled along with market share for the product, thanks in part to a multimillion-dollar advertising blitz by the five-year-old Metal Roofing Alliance, a coalition of companies that make the roofing or supply materials to its manufacturers. The Belfair, Wash.-based alliance aims to debunk the widespread consumer perception that metal roofing is best suited for barns, where the plink-plink of raindrops on the roof won’t disturb occupants and the one-style-fits-all silver sheets won’t present an eyesore in a neighborhood of homes topped with earth-tone asphalt. The message seems to be sinking in, as roofers, remodelers, custom builders, and small production builders are crowning houses from California to the East Coast with roofs made of aluminum, steel, tin, and copper. The new appeal is largely aesthetic: Today’s metal roofs can be painted almost any color and can be patterned to mimic the look of cement tiles, wood shakes, and even asphalt shingles. Even subdivisions that once outlawed metal roofs are softening to the look-alike styles. Notes Tom Black, executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance: “A lot of times, if you have a wood shake-look metal and you’re standing at the curb, you’d be hard-pressed to tell its metal at all.” More Than Good LooksBut looks alone haven’t earned metal 8 percent of the residential roofing market. Roof-ravaging wind, hail, and snow have won metal some converts among homeowners paying for replacement roofs after hurricanes and storms. […]
Stone-Coated Metal Shingle Roofing
If you’re looking for roof shingles with a clean style and unparalleled durability, we have the answer. Stone-coated metal shingle roof panels offer all this, plus much more! When you install a sleek metal shingle roof, you get a clean roof-line and also the high-tech durability and strength of modern, stone-coated steel metal roof shingles. Traditional shingle roofing is vulnerable in harsh weather conditions. This is because it can separate after only a few years. It is also very susceptible to high winds and fires. But, out product features a Class A fire rating, Class 4 impact rating, 50-year material warranty* and the ability to withstand winds up to 120 mph. Consequently, our stone-coated metal shingles easily outlast and outperform standard shingle roofs. Because of this, we give your home or business total protection, from the roof to the foundation. Stone-coated metal shingle panels also come in a wide range of colors. Because of this, they will enhance the appearance and durability of your home. Metal Shingle Roof Maintenance vs. Traditional Roofing Eliminate virtually all required maintenance when you choose a stone-coated steel metal roof over a roof with traditional materials. Stone-coated metal shingle roofing panels keep their beautiful look year after year, and more importantly, reduce the cost of roof maintenance. When you invest in a new stone-coated metal shingle roof, the initial cost may be higher than the cost of a roof made with traditional materials, but you quickly recover your savings by eliminating the need for maintenance, repairs and the cost of future roof replacement. Stone-Coated Metal Shingle Colors Our technical innovation and commitment to a quality start with the computerized stone-chip grading and blending process. Our stone-coated metal shingle manufacturers use a finer, higher quality, non-oiled, natural granite stone chip, which provides one of the tightest industry stone-coating matrices available. Colors are either solid or flashed to provide a variegated non-patterned appearance. The finished result is a stone-coated steel panel roof product that carries a long-life and weather-proof warranty. With a stone-coated metal shingle roof overhead, your home will be ready to withstand nature’s toughest challenges.
Cool Roofs
A cool roof is one that has been designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Nearly any type of building can benefit from a cool roof, but consider the climate and other factors before deciding to install one. Just as wearing light-colored clothing can help keep you cool on a sunny day, cool roof material is designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Standard or dark roofs can reach temperatures of 150°F or more in the summer sun. A cool roof under the same conditions could stay more than 50°F cooler and save energy and money by using less air conditioning. Benefits of Cool Roofs A cool roof can benefit a building and its occupants by: Reducing energy bills by decreasing air conditioning needs Improving indoor comfort for spaces that are not air-conditioned, such as garages or covered patios Decreasing roof temperature, which may extend roof service life. Beyond the building itself, cool roofs can also benefit the environment, especially when many buildings in a community have them. Cool roofs can: Reduce local air temperatures (sometimes referred to as the urban heat island effect) Lower peak electricity demand, which can help prevent power outages Reduce power plant emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury, by reducing cooling energy use in buildings. Types of Roofs and How They Can Be Made Cool There are many types of roof systems available, but the surface exposed to the sun is the one that determines if a roof is cool or not. You can usually make a new or existing roof cool by selecting the appropriate surface. Cool roof coatings are white or special reflective pigments that reflect sunlight. Coatings are like very thick paints that can protect the roof surface from ultra-violet (UV) light and chemical damage, and some offer water protection and restorative features. Products are available for most roof types. Low Sloped Roofs Single-ply membranes are pre-fabricated sheets rolled onto the roof and attached with mechanical fasteners, adhered with chemical adhesives, or held in place with ballast (gravel, stones, or pavers). How they can be made cool: […]
Metro offers four unique roof profiles made from stone-coated steel that range from the graceful curves of MetroTILE® to the deep wood grain of MetroSHAKE®, the sleek low-profile finish of MetroSHINGLE® or the timeless beauty of MetroROMAN® all of which create a strong, weather-tight, environmentally-friendly metal roof that will beautify and protect virtually any property for years to come.
Whether your needs are focused on finding just the right roof for your home or a perfect color for an upcoming architectural or multi-family project, a Metro steel roof is the smart choice, and we’ve made the process simpler by providing an in-depth video online for you to view. Take a look at our “Why Metal? Why Metro?” DVD video, along with a brief explanation on the benefits of “Batten” vs. “Batten-Less” installations. Feel free to contact us for more information on Metro’s Smart Roofs for Smart People™.
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