Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 14, 2000 07:54am | #1

   *
   Nicki3 - As an architect who believes firmly in 'regional-appropriate' design, I react mostly to your statement 'no one has metal roofs here.' The implications are perhaps, there are no qualified installers/roofers in your area, for example.

   Yes, there is an acoustic side to metal roofing - you will hear rain and hail - some people like it. We have several jobs here with standing-seam lead-coated copper roofing, plain copper, and one for which we are considering Follansbee Terne II. (see http://www.follansbeeroofing.com for more). But, there is a history of metal roofing in central New Jersey and so it is appropriate to these, mostly historic house, projects.

   You don't say what your budget constraints are. Here in central NJ, while good quality asphalt shingles can be installed for $275/square or less, copper or lead-coated copper standing seam is more like $1,500 - $2,000/square (100 square feet). If you 'do the math' and budget is important, your answer might be other than metal. If money is no object :) go for TCS (Terne Coated Stainless) if you can find an installer. They will be rebuilding your brick underneath before it wears out. If you like to play it safe and budget is a consideration, asphalt shingles are probably your best bet and just think, you can redo them 5 or 6 times for the cost of metal.

   BTW, if mossy shakes are your only complaint, there is a compound that you can buy at the hardware store that will kill the moss (careful, it will run out the leaders and kill other things too). You can also apply a compound to the shakes every 5 years or so to prolong their life - email me and I'll give you the name.

   Jeff Clarke

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 16, 2000 05:01am | #2

   *Nicki, You're right, Seattle has few metal roofs, though many businesses have them. I think metal roofs look great on most houses, except maybe ranch type houses. As you go toward the mountains metal roofs become the norm rather than the exception. Most new high-dollar homes - in the Leavenworth area for example - have metal roofs. View ImageIf metal roofs are installed over solid sheathing and 30lb felt, noise is not a problem, I can hardly hear the rain on the house I'm currently building and it has no insulation or ceiling yet. My roof cost about $100 a square, for a good quality concealed fastener (looks like the picture above).Heres a Seattle area roofing suppliers website Stoneway roofing

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 16, 2000 05:43am | #3

   *Geez Jeff,If she took your post as a basis for decision, she would automatically forget metal roofing. As an architect, especially since she's not your client, don't you think it would be good if you gave some alternatives to a standing seam, i and of all things, stainless steel?Unless Nicki is quite wealthy she'd look at those prices and order up asphalt without even knowing how i inexpensivemetal roofing can be.But I suppose it's beneath an architect to consider a metal roof, say an ag quality one like mine, that isn't an overpriced, overrated, non-DIY standing seam?She could waltz into a lumber yard, order the metal for UNDER $55/square and install it herself!I got mine delivered last fall for $49/sq. It looks the same as the one in Jim's picture, although the screws are exposed, which is fine for me, I made sure to put them in a straight line.MD************************

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 16, 2000 10:52pm | #4

   *Just added a sunroom onto the bedroom at my house and used metal roofing with exposed fasteners. My neighbors love it, and most important my wife loves it. Easy to install, but it does cost more than asphalt, but not a great deal more. Planning to do the entire house next summer. It doesn't make enough noise for me when it rains. I installed it over sheathing which IMO is better. Try locating a installer in your area for more info. Also check http://www.metalsales.com (sell the stuff). Hope my rattlin on helps.

2. 
   Jack_Durre | Feb 17, 2000 01:17am | #5

   *
   Careful there Mad Dog! Jeff meant well, I'm sure. (Jumping in here to defend a fellow architect!)

   I would bet that Jeff simply has some different criteria (maybe most of his clients _are_ wealthy...or maybe he does a lot of commercial/institutional/etc. work) I know that as an architect in the throes of designing my own house, I'm looking real hard at metal...and it's coming up a winner for me! To add fuel to the fire that you're breathing , I'll tell you that I live in rural south Georgia, and lots of the folks who live in the same area are re-roofing from asphalt to metal, and they durn sure ain't in th' "wealthy" category!

   (Hey! Maybe that's the reason that my granddaddy and my daddy both roofed their cow barns in metal! )

   Seriously, I believe that with today's materials and finishes, that metal is a more than viable alternative to asphalt shingles, and as someone pointed out, some of us like that sound. If you're not among 'em, just make sure that you've got that 30# felt under it.

   My 2 bits.
   

3. 
   Guest_ | Feb 17, 2000 01:54am | #6

   *
   Jack,

   I'm sure you're right, Jeff meant well. But, his information could have been pretty harmful as I said, because he gave the impressions that:

   1)Metal is too expensive. He mentioned an astronomical figure that would only work for the wealthy homeowner.

   2)That metal may not be a good idea, just because few people in her area have it.

   I think point two was more cautionary, and he does have a valid perspective there. Local vernacular is a definite consideration. But that does not mean there are local climatic reasons, necessarily, that metal roofing should not be used. (I'm not saying he implied that either, just that more information would have been helpful.)

   Anyway, I don't think I jumped too hard on Jeff, and I don't have prejudice against architects as a rule, unlike some in our trade, just felt like he left Nicki's prospect of metal roofing looking extremely futile from a practicality standpoint.

   So, I have offered the extreme low for metal costs (still good quality) and Jeff pointed out the extreme high (standing seam stainless, although we won't go into copper, right?) so that should give her a little (heh heh) range to work from!

4. 
   W__Johns | Feb 17, 2000 08:19am | #7

   *
   I would like to recommend a good metal roofing contractor in Seattle, He is "Metal Roofing Systems".

   As a metal roofing contractor, I'd like to warn you all about a few problems with cheap metal roofing.

   1. Most suppliers selling panels in the $0.50/SF range are selling secondary steel, which means something is wrong with it. Find out what kind of warranty you are getting and who is going to replace the roof when the coating peels off or it rust through. You should get a 20 material warranty. The contractor should be willing to give you a 5 year warranty on his workmanship.

   2. The paint is usually a polyester paint which fades and chalks. You need kynar 500 paint. Again check the warranty. Allowable fading is 5 NBS units over 20 years.
   Anything more is to much for darker colors.

   Check out my website at http://www.johnskirksey.com

5. 
   Nicki3 | Feb 17, 2000 08:19am | #8

   *
   Our 30+ brick home needs a new roof and I am considering metal - to replace shakes that become mossy due to tall fir trees, shade and Western Washington rains. No one has metal roofs here. Does rain cause a noise problem? Do they leak? I would like to hear from anyone who could offer some help and experience, even a manufacturer. Please write me: [email protected]. Thanks!!! (Feb.12, 2000)