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Choices ... Metal Roof
Volume 4: Choices Series
We are becoming a more conscientious society in regard to natural and sustainable products. This is great news when we consider how the choices we make when building a home, can have a big impact on our environment. We want to build a home that will last a lifetime. We want to use materials and finishes that we won’t need or want to replace after 10 -20 years. The roof material is the biggest volume of material on our homes that we commonly replace, carpet and cabinetry would be next. So it makes sense to choose a material that will last a lifetime instead of planning on replacing it.
A metal roof is a beautiful sustainable product with many advantages. The comparison of metal to shingle is so drastic that you would think that there would be many more metal roofs out there. We all know that the initial cost of installing a metal roof can be a deterrent from using this product over shingles. But if you consider the advantages from a long term cost perspective, it makes sense to make metal your best choice.
Here is a standard comparison of both metal and shingle roof materials.
| Metal roofs | Shingle roofs |
| long lasting | short lived |
| reflects heat and significant energy savings (if kept unpainted or painted a light color) | absorbs heat then transferring the heat to your home |
| light weight | heavy |
| can be recycled after use (or sold) | goes straight into the land fill after use |
| made of steel, copper and aluminum, and contain a high percentage of recycled content | a one time use product and is difficult to store so construction waste usually goes straight to the dumpster |
| excellent for rain water collection | rain water collection water quality not as pure |
| fire proof | will burn because of the tar composition |
| holds up well under various weather conditions (heavy rain, hail, extreme temperatures, high winds, and even earthquakes) | can be damaged by wind or hail causing leaks |
| savings on insurance premiums | no insurance consideration |
| beautiful | well… |
Recently I had the opportunity to observe some quality workmanship from George Cavazos of GC Construction. His crew was on task, polite and efficient. George installs metal roofs on existing and new homes. He says that the most popular metal roof that he installs is the CF (concealed fastener) panel made by Mueller, Inc.. I asked him why and he said, “Because the screws will not back out making a longer lasting installation.” After each piece of metal is screwed down, the next piece snaps down over the screws keeping them from backing out. The style is an imitation of a true standing seam roof which is very labor intensive because flat pieces of metal are bent on site to create the seam. It looks good and lasts a life time. The CF panel is 3 times as cheap, but made with a thicker metal and will last longer. In George’s opinion this roof system will last a lifetime or more before it would need to be replaced.
When choosing a metal roof, consider its warranty, wind testing and class rating for high winds, gauge of thickness and of course the cost in relationship to your budget. You can find many styles, grades and prices. The styles are becoming more diverse and you can find metal that mimics wood shingles, tile or slate. The least expensive metal roof is a typical screw down roof. This will not last as long as others and may have a thinner gauge, but will still give you many of the benefits of a typical metal roof and still a better choice over shingle.
George also said that a metal roof compared to shingles is significantly lighter. A 10’ x 10’ square of shingled roof area will weigh 300 lbs per square, but a 10’ x 10’ square metal roof will only weigh 80 lbs. He believes that this could cause rafters to sag over time. Take a look at a home more than 30 years still with the original shingle roof. On some, you might notice a deflection across the ridge beam. George no longer installs shingle roofs because it is not worth it over time. Even though it cost more initially, it is more cost efficient and will pay for it self in lower energy bills, a 30% break on your insurance and you won’t have to replace it.
If you are in need of a new roof or are building new home, definitely
consider metal and call George Cavazos at 325-718-9995
Check out our website
Contact Cammi Klier at 512.330.9309
or cklier@cdshomedesign.com
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