If you’re evaluating your roof, be aware that shingles wear out faster on the south or west sides of your home where the direct sun can dry them out. High winds raise shingles and allow rainwater to seep through. Moss can rot your shingles and snow can wedge below them and force cracking.

Take time and be patient during roof installation. With the help of a garden hose, you can find a leak. There is some common cause for roof leaks clogged gutters, dry rot, wet ceiling. Make sure the roof boots fit snugly. Cracks may lead to big roof disasters. Valleys are familiar places for leaks as it is a place where the water from the entire roof goes to, and it will start sloshing back and forth.

Here are some home improvement tips for you.

Safety First

Fussing to try and find a leak as soon as it happens is something that could put you in danger. Interfere on a roof while it’s raining or covered with snow isn’t the ideal way to find a leak. Temporarily fixing a leak could be highly dangerous. If you want to fix it right, there is no quick way. Just take your time and be very patient and careful to wait for Mother Nature to give you the green signal for roofing.

Take Precautions

Don’t move or reposition a ladder while a person or equipment is on it. Being on a roof may put your body in positions that are not comfortable or safe. Always wear rubber sole shoes to prevent slipping. Also, use a harness and still work with a buddy who takes excellent care of you and understands your signals.

Spray The Roof

Garden hose is one of the best tools to spray on the roof, go up to the roofs and start spraying in different locations to find the leak. Wait if it’s winter season running because it’s not safe to run water on the roof when it’s freezing out.

Keep Gutters Clean

Clogged gutters are the most common areas and causes of roof leaks. Gutters that have not been cleaned can cause the water to build up during rain, make sure your gutter is clean. Hire professional gutter cleaners to fix this issue.

Avoid Dry Rot

Dry rot doesn’t relate to any water damage, but lack of ventilation. The roof will sag in or may cause the roof shingles to get brittle, crack, and leak afterward. Preventing dry rot consists of installing a ridge vent; it would only work if there is a soffit vent. Holes have to be drilled by the soffit vents, so fresh air comes in via the bottom and pushes the hot air out through the top.

Prevent Ice Buildup

In a cold, ice has no problem building up under the roof membrane, shingles, and gutters; the ice builds back up when it reaches the wall line where the house is heated, and it creates an interior drip. Proper ventilation, rain, and ice shields, along with installing a drip edge will help clog objects.

Fix Roof Boots

Flashing, roofing, ice damping, and skylights are all certain places for potential leaks. People often miss one thing, and that is the rubber boots. It is where the roof fence comes up that you find roof boots. If they dry up quickly, they will cause major leaks. It’s a quick fix; buy a new roof boot from a local hardware store. You may have to remove some of the shingles, lay a better tar under it, and put it back in the right place.

Inspect Materials

Sometimes shingles are defective and will start to break after they’ve been nailed down. Faulty installation with nails and shingles can have a significant influence on the leaks. Always make sure to check the merchandise before getting on the roof.

Check Valleys

A valley is a place where the crossing point of two rooftops meets up. It is also called the edge, which is again where two roofs meet at best. Valleys are favorite places for leaks since that is the place the water from the whole rooftop goes to, and it will begin sloshing back and forth.

Eliminate Leaks

It’s important not to get discouraged when a leak can’t be found. It’s a procedure of elimination. You’ve secured one zone, installed the shingles back, and sealed it watertight, so at least one spot is eliminated. Now, you can try different areas.…

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Rainy season is coming up soon, so it’s definitely smart to start looking for roofing contractors to help protect your home against floods. Choosing the right roofing contractor may seem like a daunting task, when in fact, it’s fairly simple. Here are a few steps you can follow to make sure you choose a legitimate and trustworthy roofing contractor.

1. Check for business licenses

Before choosing your roofing contractor, verify that they have fulfilled the business licenses required by the local and national government. You can check for their TIN (Tax Identification Number), their official business address and contact number.

2. Check for past clients

There’s no stronger proof of a legitimate roofing contractor than previous clients. If possible, check out recommendations online or feedback on Gawin.ph’s platform to see what past customers have to say about the service provider. You can also ask your contractor for a list of references of past clients and their contact details.

3. Ask for proof that the contractor is licensed by the roofing manufacturer 

In some cases, roofing manufacturers provide certification and training for contractors who are to install their products on customers’ homes. This is to ensure that quality is maintained during installation. If possible, ask for proof of training or certification to make sure that your potential contractor has been vetted by a trusted manufacturer too.

4. Ask about the scope and manpower needed

Don’t be afraid to ask for details about the project. Questions like “How long will the project take?” and “How many people will be working on the project?” are valid questions whose answers you need to know. This will help you figure out how the work will be supervised and the duration of time you can expect workers to be in your home.

5. Ask for a detailed contract laying down the details of the project and agreement between you and the contractor

Ask for a contract where you and the contractor (or the company that the contractor belongs to) can sign so that if things go south, there’s written proof on who’s accountable for what. This contract should include information about warranties, the timeframe of the project, daily start and end times, materials, equipment and tools to be used, safety protocols, payment amount and method, date of payment, and procedure for cleaning up.

6. Do research before signing

Before signing or agreeing to any payment scheme with contractors, ask your friends, colleagues or past customers how much roofing services typically cost, and how long the project usually takes. Research the company’s background and study their portfolio so you’ll have a very clear understanding of the quality of work and what you’re paying for.

Our service is for roofing contractors you can choose from. They are licensed, well-experienced and definitely vetted. You can even select contractors near you so you can conveniently stop by their office for a visit and check them out if you have time.…

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Icicles may be pretty but they can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up into your house. Learn these fast fixes for ice dam removal, long-term repair, and prevention tips.

Icicles hanging along the eaves of your house may look beautiful, but they spell trouble. That’s because the same conditions that allow icicles to form—snow-covered roofs and freezing weather—also lead to ice dams: thick ridges of solid ice that build up along the eaves.

Why are Ice Dams Bad?

Dams can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up and pour into your house. When that happens, the results aren’t pretty: peeling paint, warped floors, stained and sagging ceilings. Not to mention soggy insulation in the attic, which loses R-value and becomes a magnet for mold and mildew.

If you’re wondering how to fix an ice dam on your roof, here’s how you can prevent them altogether or remove them if they’ve already formed.

How to Prevent Ice Dams

Use Heated Cables

Attached with clips along the roof’s edge in a zigzag pattern, heated cables help prevent ice dams that lift shingles and cause leaks. This solution allows you to equalize your roof’s temperature by heating it from the outside instead of blowing in cold air from the inside (as we mention next in “Fast Fixes”). Just be sure to install the cables before bad weather hits.

How to Get Rid of Ice Dams Fast

Blow in Cold Air

Hacking away at ice dams with a hammer, chisel, or shovel is bad for your roofing—and dangerous for you. And throwing salt on them will do more to harm to your plantings than to the ice. Short of praying for warm weather, here are stop-gap measures we recommend.

Take a box fan into the attic and aim it at the underside of the roof where water is actively leaking in. This targeted dose of cold air will freeze the water in its tracks. “You’ll stop the leak in a matter of minutes,” says TOH general contractor Tom Silva.

Rake It

Pull off snow with a long-handled aluminum roof rake while you stand safely on the ground. A rake with wheels, like the one shown here, will instantly change the exterior temperature of your roof without damaging shingles.

De-icing Methods

You can also diminish the damage after the dam has formed with…pantyhose! Fill the leg of discarded pair of pantyhose with a calcium chloride ice melter. Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter.

If necessary, use a long-handled garden rake or hoe to push it into position. The calcium chloride will eventually melt through the snow and ice and create a channel for water to flow down into the gutters or off the roof.

Permanent Fixes for Ice Dams

Getting rid of ice dams for good is simple, in principle: Just keep the entire roof the same temperature as the eaves. You do that by increasing ventilation, adding insulation, and sealing off every possible air leak that might warm the underside of the roof.

By taking care of common trouble spots, listed here in order of priority, you should enjoy dam-free winters and use less energy to boot:

1. Ventilate Eaves And Ridge. A ridge vent paired with continuous soffit vents circulates cold air under the entire roof. Both ridge and soffit vents should have the same size openings and provide at least 1 square foot of opening for every 300 square feet of attic floor. Place baffles at the eaves to maintain a clear path for the airflow from the soffit vents.
2. Cap the Hatch. An unsealed attic hatch or whole-house fan is a massive opening for heat to escape. Cover them with weatherstripped caps made from foil-faced foam board held together with aluminum tape.
3. Exhaust to the Outside. Make sure that the ducts connected to the kitchen, bathroom, and dryer vents all lead outdoors through either the roof or walls, but never through the soffit.
4. Add Insulation. More insulation on the attic floor keeps the heat where it belongs. To find how much insulation your attic needs, check with your local building department.
5. Install Sealed Can Lights. Old-style recessed lights give off great plumes of heat and can’t be insulated without creating a fire hazard. Replace them with sealed “IC” fixtures, which can be covered with insulation.
6. Flash Around Chimneys. Bridge the gap between chimney and house framing with L-shaped steel flashing held in place with unbroken beads of a fire-stop sealant. Using canned spray foam or insulation isn’t fire safe.
7. Seal and Insulate Ducts. Spread fiber-reinforced mastic on the joints of HVAC ducts and exhaust ducts. Cover them entirely with R-5 or R-6 foil-faced fiberglass.
8. Caulk Penetrations. Seal around electrical cables and vent pipes with a fire-stop sealant.

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When it comes to hiring a roofing contractor, most homeowners make a mistake of hiring any random company they can get without researching enough. Not all roofers out there are to be trusted. Roofing installation, repair, or replacement requires a lot of skills that are not easily earned.

Therefore, hiring any roofing contractor you can find is not the smartest idea at all. Qualified and professional roofers in Essex suggest that you always seek the most popular, reputable, and experienced roofing contractor that can guarantee the best quality service. Below, we highlight the top 5 benefits of hiring a professional roofing contractor.

1. Enhanced Work Safety

Accidents and mishaps associated with roofing installations and repairs are not strange. During the construction of a house, working safety must be aptly maintained to keep unnecessary risks at bay. A certified and professional roofing contractor often maintains extreme safety by paying heed on the safety concerns of their team members during work. And even if any mishap happens, a professional roofing contractor is equipped with a valid insurance plan that saves you from unwanted consequences.

2. Quality Materials

More often than not, a professional roofing contractor has access to high-quality roofing materials, which ensure your repair lasts a long time. Many local hardware stores are filled with low-quality roofing materials that might not withstand harsh weather elements.

A professional roofer knows how to differentiate poor quality materials from higher quality ones that are suitable for your specific roofing project. Even more, most professional companies can source top-quality materials at wholesale costs.

3. Cost-Effective

Many homeowners tend to believe that they can minimize their cost expenditure by fixing their roofing. In most cases, homeowners who have little to no experience regarding quality roofing repairs may end up causing more harm than good. In reality, hiring professional roofing contractors can be cost-effective, considering that they have a good rapport with suppliers, and you will get raw materials at relatively lower costs.

Furthermore, they are equipped with the right tools suitable for every project. If you were to buy the required tools and roofing materials on your own, your expenses would significantly increase.

4. Quality Installation

Certified and experienced roofers have been in the industry for several years and have dedicated their entire time to learning and gaining expertise in the field. Having been in the roofing industry for quite a long time, they have worked on several projects with different clients.

When it comes to installations or repairs, they can deliver excellent results using the recommended techniques and products. Hiring a professional roofing contractor with adequate experience is a sure-fire way to avoid leaks and tiles falling off your roof.

5. Fast & Smooth Service Execution

Even though installing or replacing a roof is a time-intensive process, professionals will be able to provide fast and smooth service within the stipulated amount of time. Hiring an amateur involves a lot of risks, yet the job may not be completed at the right time.

For instance, a novice roofing company may not be able to provide a proper solution for a stubborn leak or crack. In this case, choosing the right contractor with a huge reputation in the market is a great way to ward off leaks, damps, and cracks for good without wasting much time.

When it comes to hiring a roofing contractor in Stamford, most homeowners make the mistake of hiring any random company they can get without researching enough. Not all roofers out there are to be trusted, however, some companies like Roofers Stamford CT are very professional. Roofing installation, repair, or replacement requires a lot of skills that are not easily earned.…

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Updating your existing roof allows you to add value to your home and communicate your home’s look and feel. While roof framing, preparation and proper installation are always important, the material you choose for your roof can bring the exterior of your home to the next level.

“It’s really an opportunity to upgrade your home in terms of look, style and color,” says Tom Bollnow, senior director of technical services for the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA).

When choosing roofing materials, consider the following questions.

• How heavy is this material and will it require special framing?
• Is the material available in a variety of colors and styles that complement your home?
• Does the material meet the fire codes in your local area?
• Are there special installation and maintenance issues to consider?
• Does this material offer good performance in extreme weather conditions that are common in your area?
• What is the cost, life span and warranty for this product?

The answers to those questions will help you determine the best choice for your home. There are lots of options for roofing materials available and here is a rundown of some of the most popular ones.

Asphalt Shingles

The most common residential roofing material used in the United States, asphalt shingles are popular because they are economical and easy to install. These shingles can be reinforced with fiberglass or organic materials (cellulose) without changing the appearance of the shingle.

Pros: Asphalt comes in a variety of colors, is widely available and is one of the least expensive materials.

Cons: Asphalt has a shorter life span than other roofing materials, doesn’t provide the insulation other materials offer, and the quality varies.

House Styles: Asphalt shingles work with many architectural styles, especially traditional suburban styles.

Cost and Life Span: Prices range from $70 to $120 a square and, if maintained properly, shingles will last 20 to 25 years.

Clay and Concrete Tiles

Clay and concrete tiles add texture and elegance to a roof. Genuine flat, ribbed or scalloped clay tiles are extremely durable but also very heavy, and must be installed by a professional. Concrete tiles are versatile and are less expensive than genuine clay, but also have a heavy weight.

Pros: Clay and concrete tiles are long-lasting and non-combustible, and concrete tiles are energy efficient.

Cons: Clay and concrete tiles are expensive, heavy and usually require additional framing.

House Styles: Clay and concrete tiles work well with Mediterranean, Mission, Southwestern and Spanish-style homes.

Cost and Life Span: Prices start around $300 to $500 a square and, if maintained properly, tiles will last around 40 to 50 years.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofs are resistant to extreme weather conditions. Available in two types, panels and shingles, metal roofs come in aluminum, copper, stainless steel and zinc.

“They’re sleek, lightweight, long-lasting and recyclable, and something to consider if you’re interested in rainwater harvesting,” says architect Amy A. Alper.

Metal Roofing: Everything You Need to Know 20 Photos

Interested in a metal roof? Get the scoop on this environmentally friendly option with helpful info from the professionals.

Pros: Metal roofing is durable, lasts longer than asphalt or wood, and offers high solar reflectance.

Cons: Metal roofing is relatively expensive.

House Styles: Metal looks great on bungalows, cabins, contemporary and cottage-style homes.

Cost and Life Span: Prices usually start around $100 to $300 a square, but some styles can cost $600 to $800 a square. Metal roofing can last 40 to 75 years.

Slate

Offering lots of beauty and a distinctive elegant appearance, slate colors include shades of black, green, grey, red and purple.

Pros: Slate is very durable, fire-resistant and a sustainable roof that can be recycled.

Cons: Slate is expensive, heavy, and requires extra framing and professional installation. The quality can vary with imported slate.

House Styles: Slate works well with Colonial, European and French chateau homes.

Cost and Life Span: Prices start at about $600 a square and up. Slate can last more than 50 years and sometimes 100 years or more.

Wood Shingles and Shake

The go-to roofing choice for hundreds of years, many homeowners love the look of wood shingles and shakes and how they weather to an attractive shade of gray. Wood shakes are handmade and rougher-looking than wood shingles, which are usually cut by machine.

If you live in a fire-prone area, look for Class A fire-rated wood roofing products that include shingles treated with a fire-resistant coating.

Pros: Wood shingles offer a rustic look and are a natural product usually made from cedar, redwood and southern pine.

Cons: Fire codes in some areas prohibit use. Wood shingles can be a concern in wet climates, and can mold, split or rot.

House Styles: Shake’s rustic aesthetic pairs well with bungalow, Cape Cod, cottage, Craftsman and Tudor-style homes.

Cost and Life Span: Prices start at around $100 to $150 a square and will last around 25 to 30 years.…

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A roof over our heads and a safe haven as a shelter to call home is one of the basic necessities for life. From moderate beginnings of baked bricks, mud, and hay, rooftops have evolved considerably through time. In modern architecture, rooftops have became advanced into much more than just instruments to provide shade.

If you’re planning to construct your own house or renovate it, then you should keep in mind that the rooftop design determines how the overall elevation looks. Similarly, modern rooftop designs aim to ventilate, strengthen, and even generate power for the household.

Here are some examples of contemporary roof designs which are sure to turn heads across your street.

1. Inverted Colors

source: https://www.pinterest.com

This white modern roof design breaks the norm. It’s not necessary for your roof to be constructed in a dark shade. Light colors have their own advantages as they tend to reflect light and heat. That’s great for people who plan to turn their attics into rooms as well.

2. Unnatural Cascades

source: https://www.pinterest.com

In modern architecture, chaos is the new order. This illusion-invoking rooftop looks amazing and is sure to make you take a second look to be sure what it is! The flowy texture gives a feel of effortlessness along with impeccable protection and durability.

3. One-Sided Assemble

source: https://www.pinterest.com

The one-sided sloping roof is ideal if your area is prone to rain and snow. The revolutionary design helps you manage buildup and the best part – it makes your home stand out!

4. Flat Modern Construction

source: https://www.instagram.com

A simple, flat roof in a dark color scheme, slightly jutting out from the edges. This design gives the right amount of balance to the building. Also, flat rooftops are accessible and can double up as multi-purpose spaces when needed.

5. Metallic Roof

source: https://www.instagram.com

This durable and aesthetic metallic rooftop is functional with great ornamental features as well. Rooftops made out of metal last long, are good for temperature management and are cost-effective solutions as well.

6. Close To Nature

source: https://www.instagram.com

For those of you who love to incorporate mother nature’s gift into their lifestyles in every possible way, this example is a great option. These flat rooftop designs made in concrete have niches built along the way to help you arrange vegetation that creeps around and engulfs your home over time. It’s a great way to go green and look aesthetically pleasing as well.

7. Confusing Uniformity

source: https://www.instagram.com

This multi-compartmented home sports a different kind of rooftop design for each section. While the main section has a flat, black roof that slightly juts out, other sections have minimal, plain rooftops. This combination of diverse displays covering stiff-edged buildings look uniform and jumbled up at the same time.

8. Mixed Siding

source: https://www.instagram.com

Another beautiful rooftop design featured on Instagram. It’s a combination of open and closed roof design complemented by wooden details on the sides. The continuity in the design is impeccable, and sort of pulls the whole building together without looking out of place.

9. Unconventional Shapes

source: https://www.pinterest.com

Nothing like a trickling ceaseless rooftop to make your house look unique – this innovative shape not only makes all the elements of your home, from the porch to the attic, come together but looks beautiful at the elevation level as well. This engulfing rooftop looks great al eliminates ceiling hassles from the inside too.

10. Minimalistic Slopes

source: https://www.instagram.com

11. Rustic Touches

source: https://www.pinterest.com

Red tiles for rooftops have been around for decades for a reason. To this day, they prove to be useful in temperature regulation, build up management. Apart from that, they give a pleasing traditional pop of color to the overall form.…

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The roof is one of the most fundamental parts of a home. That’s why it’s surprising how often homeowners overlook the maintenance and care of their roof. Rather than waiting until you have major issues, have your roof routinely inspected by a professional roof repair company in Jacksonville. Here are top 6 reasons to keep your roof in good shape.

1. Weather Protection

If your roof is in poor condition, it can leave your home susceptible to considerable weather damage. When your roof is properly maintained, it will more effectively protect your home from the harsh weather and the elements.

2. Energy Efficiency & Comfort

A roof that is in top shape should have good insulation and a proper ventilation system which will keep your home’s indoor temperature steady. This helps to keep your home more comfortable and can significantly cut down on energy costs.

3. Serious Issues

By taking the time to maintain the health of your roof, you reduce the chance of potentially serious issues in the long run. It will also help you locate any small problems before they turn into larger, costlier issues. If you spot anything that could be a concern, it’s important to have a company that provides roof repair in Jacksonville take a look at it asap.

4. Curb Appeal

When your roof shows signs of wear and tear, it detracts from your home’s overall appearance.
Since a home’s roof is one of its most prominent features, one that is beautiful and well maintained will add great curb appeal.

5. Health Concerns

A leaking roof that goes ignored can cause mold and mildew to grow in your home, which can lead to some serious health issues. Once mold and mildew have spread, the repairs become much more complicated and costly.

6. Home Value

A good-looking roof is a selling point that increases a home’s value. Potential buyers are wary of buying a home that has an older roof or one that may need repairs. A roof that is in newer, well-maintained condition can significantly increase the value of your home.

Although many homeowners give little thought to the care and maintenance of their roof, it’s actually one of the most important elements of a home. A healthy roof protects your home from the elements, saves energy, helps avoid serious leaks, adds curb appeal and value and can even help keep your family healthy. …

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People commonly associate a flat roof with a commercial building. There’s just something about the clean, horizontal top that structurally and architecturally indicates professionalism. But flat roofs aren’t unheard of in residential homes, and if fact they’re in fashion right now.

If you’re deciding between a pitched roof and flat roof, but can’t quite make heads or tails of the two options, allow us to offer some guidance. This article will run through a few of the main advantages of a flat roof, as well as advise on a couple shortcomings.

If you decide on a flat roof, either for your home or commercial space, we here at Metro Roofing are your flat roofing experts in the GTA. And if you already have a flat roof that requires inspection or maintenance, never hesitate to call.

Pros

Let’s lead with the advantages of a flat roof. For many commercial architects, these pros are a given, but for all you homeowners out there curious about the style, perhaps taking note of the advantages can help you make a more informed decision.

Aesthetics

Architects tend to love a flat roof. The clean, horizontal line emphasizes and contrasts the vertical space around the home or building – the trees, neighouring houses, skyline, etc. – leaving a lasting impression. The roofing style is also closely associated with minimalism: an aesthetic that emphasizes the functional features of a home, rather than its flashier design elements.

In the GTA, you’ll see a lot more new houses built with flat roofing, sometimes even between very old, pitched roof houses. The effect, we think, looks pretty cool. We love seeing a diversity of houses in and around the city.

Outdoor Space

Of course, there’s more to a flat roof than its looks. It can also be functional. A popular use for flat roofs is as an outdoor space. With a few seats up on the roof, you’ve got an al fresco view of your surroundings that you simply can’t get with a pitched roof. It essentially adds another, fresh-air floor to your home!

Cost to Build

Because the surface area is smaller, the cost of materials for a flat roof is less than that of its pitched counterpart. The catch here is that you want experienced, trustworthy professionals building your flat roof; a poorly constructed flat roof can lead to further maintenance and repairs in the future, potentially offsetting the construction savings.

For a flat roof that looks great and can stand the test of time, read about our tar and gravel roofing which uses a 4-ply hot tar system that’s durable and protective.

Equipment Placement

Designers will often hide equipment (HVAC units, etc.) on a flat roof, for a couple of reasons. One, moving equipment out to the exterior allows designers to maximize interior space. Two, keeping equipment on the roof enables designers to hide it from pedestrian view, which improves the overall look of the building.

Overall, it’s an efficient use of the flat roof space, but you have to include expert roofers in the conversation. Moving equipment to the rooftop necessitates creating a watertight seal. If you’re planning on putting equipment on your flat roof, call us to make sure that it’s properly roofed into the design.

Safer Maintenance

Working on a flat roof is, simply put, safer than working on a pitched roof. That’s true of the maintenance we do, but it’s also true of homeowner tasks like cleaning the eavestroughs. It’s far safer to remove those gutter leaves from the comfort of a flat surface than atop a ladder.

Durability

There are different types of flat roof systems, each with their own pros and cons. But the flat roof installation systems we use – including 4-ply build up, EPDM rubber and peel and stick membrane – are durable and long lasting. Flat roofs may get a bad reputation for ongoing maintenance troubles, but installed correctly they should be as reliable as a pitched roof.

Cons

That leaves us with the cons. No roofing style or system is 100% infallible; the effects of time, weather and unexpected events will put strain of a roof, no matter the kind. It’s the reason why, in addition to offering top-notch roof installation, we offer expert emergency roof leak repair and maintenance. But flat roofs come with a few particular limitations.

Drainage

Pitched roofs have gravity on their side. Without proper installation and maintenance, water can puddle on a flat roof and cause damage. The best antidote to your drainage problems is to schedule regular maintenance and inspections, and ensure that the materials used are backed by warranty. To learn more about maintaining flat roofing in Brampton, Mississauga, North York and elsewhere in the GTA, give us a call!

Debris Build-Up

Leaves, dirt, dust and branches can all pile up on a flat roof.…

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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 Looks
But 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.

Indeed, a 50-year warranty is a huge selling point for the manufacturers of most metal roofs, including some that have earned a Class 4 hail-resistance rating and are guaranteed to withstand 120-mph winds.

Metal’s staying power during Florida’s foursome of hurricanes last summer “created a monster for us,” brags Brad Davis, owner of West Coast Metal Roofing & Construction in Milton, Fla., whose sales have increased by 380 percent since August.

Homeowners there, partial to the look of concrete tile, are opting for tile-look and stone-coated metal as they replace their weather-torn roofs, Davis says. Indeed, notes Black, about 80 percent of the residential metal roofing market involves repairs or replacements rather than new construction.

At up to four times the cost of a standard asphalt roof, however, metal isn’t a favorite among builders, who usually opt to upgrade consumer priorities like kitchens and entryways before sinking extra money into the roof, Black says.

Still, Black notes, custom builders are meandering toward metal, and he predicts that as more consumers become aware of metal’s durability and new styles, production builders will follow.

For now, “it is a way for custom builders to differentiate their homes and provide value,” he says.

Remodeler Gerry Donaghue says that’s why he started pushing metal to the customers who hire him to build additions onto or reroof their homes.

“There are hundreds of guys who put on asphalt products,” says the owner of Donaghue Construction Group in Nashua, N.H. “We wanted to be different from other contractors.”

The profits followed. “For roofing contractors, it’s a great opportunity,” claims Black. “It’s a product where they can make money. In asphalt shingles, a lot of the installation gets down to competing for the last 25 cents. But because metal and other premium roofing products require specialized installation, roofers can charge more for it, he says.

That’s if they can find the help. While he hasn’t had any trouble getting his hands on metal products during Florida’s reroofing binge, Davis says he has a three-month backlog of jobs because he can’t find enough qualified installers.

After contacting roofing manufacturers for referrals, he has imported installers from as far away as Minnesota, where roofers typically are dormant during snowy winters that put construction on hold.

Installation of metal roofs “has a learning curve to it,” agrees Donaghue. But as the market for metal matures, roofers of all kinds are trying to learn, says Natalie Tanner, marketing manager for Decra Roofing Systems, whose shingle-like, metal-coated steel product, she says, is easier to install than the traditional metal sheets.…

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