OT: Metal Roofing:OT

Gulfcoastguy

Anybody have any experience with this? My asphalt shingle roof needs replacing including the plywood decking. It is in a hurricane zone so the metal roofing would have to be done right by a professional. Our local building inspector is cracking the whip on installation. He says that within 2 months they would require 26 gauge and wouldn't approve 29 gauge, that eliminates most local roofers from what I've seen. Google is no help, I keep getting referred to answering services who want to sell my information to metal roofing contractors with out telling me anything about them in advance. This will be expensive and I hope to fund it by withdrawing money from a 453C account.

WeberWho

@Focker

SamIAm2

Put McElroy Metal 26 gauge mill finished galvalume Meredian standing seam roof on our house in 2002. Original company no longer installs roofing, it provides the metal to contractors. One thing I will tell you, make sure you get the right underlayment and of course, roofing contractor. Insurance agent should be able to tell you what you need for underlayment. We paid 2 1/2 times the going rate of a shingle roof for the metal roof at that time but well worth it. It has only been in the last two years that other metal roofs have been installed in our neighborhood - 2 this year. Good luck and PM me if you would like the information on the company. 

alaskanassasin

I have installed several, the only advice I can offer is call the people that sell the roof panels and have them recommend a installer.  

Focker

I had a metal roof installed last Summer by Midwest Roofing.

No building inspector to deal with, so that was nice.

Couldn't be more pleased with them, and the roof.  They, Midwest Roofing, manufacture their own Valspar coated panels and accessories in WI.

Hoping it's the first, and last, roof I buy.  
It will then be my son's problem. Lol

Not sure on my gauge, but many metal roofs in this area have stood the severely weathered test of time vs asphalt. 

I didn't even consider asphalt.  I did get a couple of quotes for good measure.

You're lucky to get 20 years out of a premium shingle here in IL.  It is much easier to install vs steel though, at least that's what the crew leader/owner's son said when I asked.

For that reason, you definitely want someone who specializes in residential/commercial steel installation.

I'm sure there are crews chomping at the bit to get in the steel game.  Don't get burned trying to save a few bucks.  
 

Botch

Two neighbors got metal roofing but this is snow country, so a totally different set of considerations.  

SonVolt

Metal roof here, but was on the house when I bought it. They're common here in rural AL & Southern TN. 

alaskanassasin

It is easy to confuse rib metal roof and standing seam if you do not know the difference. Most residential roofs are rib metal and screwed on. Standing seams are way more expensive and mostly assembled without visible screws.

Gulfcoastguy

Focker said:

I had a metal roof installed last Summer by Midwest Roofing.

No building inspector to deal with, so that was nice.

Couldn't be more pleased with them, and the roof.  They, Midwest Roofing, manufacture their own Valspar coated panels and accessories in WI.

Hoping it's the first, and last, roof I buy.  
It will then be my son's problem. Lol

Not sure on my gauge, but many metal roofs in this area have stood the severely weathered test of time vs asphalt. 

I didn't even consider asphalt.  I did get a couple of quotes for good measure.

You're lucky to get 20 years out of a premium shingle here in IL.  It is much easier to install vs steel though, at least that's what the crew leader/owner's son said when I asked.

For that reason, you definitely want someone who specializes in residential/commercial steel installation.

I'm sure there are crews chomping at the bit to get in the steel game.  Don't get burned trying to save a few bucks.  
 

One thing that I didn’t mention is that I supervised the installation of standing seam metal roofs on at least 6 projects. Those were commercial projects though instead of residential.

stlcharcoal

I have a metal roof.....it looks just like a cross between architectural and shake shingles.  The stamped panels are about 4 feet long and two feet high and overlap each other.  They just went over my existing roof.  Supposed to last 50 yrs and it was only an extra 3-4 grand to do the metal over the asphalt.  I was only out of pocket about $6000 for it.

kl8ton

Like @SamIAm2

I have a roof that was just installed using McElroy steel.  Do not get the stuff from big box stores. I can't remember the gauge, they have several profiles to pic from.  I do know that when we ordered ours, they just ran the next thicker gauge, because that was already set up in production.  Get a few contractors to quote and ask for references, or at least houses you can drive by and look at the roof.  If you are fussy about looks, make sure you go with something that has more shape to it (more striations).  Look up oil canning on metal roofs to avoid visual appearance problems.  



You probably wont need snow bars.  :-)

Dyal_SC

Not sure if you’re talking about installing it over the existing roof or not, but if you do go that route, it might not be a bad idea to get with a structural engineer (especially if you already have one that’s a friend) to make sure your walls can support the extra weight. 

Gulfcoastguy

Dyal_SC said:

Not sure if you’re talking about installing it over the existing roof or not, but if you do go that route, it might not be a bad idea to get with a structural engineer (especially if you already have one that’s a friend) to make sure your walls can support the extra weight. 

The existing roof took carpenter ant damage, the shingles are bad, the plywood is to thin and old. I plan to reduce it with thicker plywood.

jeffwit

kl8ton said:

Like @SamIAm2

I have a roof that was just installed using McElroy steel.  Do not get the stuff from big box stores. I can't remember the gauge, they have several profiles to pic from.  I do know that when we ordered ours, they just ran the next thicker gauge, because that was already set up in production.  Get a few contractors to quote and ask for references, or at least houses you can drive by and look at the roof.  If you are fussy about looks, make sure you go with something that has more shape to it (more striations).  Look up oil canning on metal roofs to avoid visual appearance problems.  



You probably wont need snow bars.  :-)

Not to hijack, but @kl8ton, are those windows black or the bronze ones? Were they that color when you bought them or are they painted? Where’d you get them?

kl8ton

jeffwit said:
Not to hijack, but @kl8ton, are those windows black or the bronze ones? Were they that color when you bought them or are they painted? Where’d you get them?

Black on the exterior.  They are Ply Gem brand.  Ply Gem Painted exterior black.  Not sure if the builder got them direct or through a distributor.  I just picked the color and the grids.  Black exterior added $160 to each window, I do know that!  I wanted to just have a painter paint them after they were installed, but the grids are inside the glass.

https://www.plygem.com/wps/portal/home

BikerBob

Thanks to Matthew I got a new one on the coast. On the Tennessee house there is also a ribbed roof. Only problem after fifteen years is poor flashing on installation before I bought the house. I used it on an outbuilding in Tennessee. All three are green. My metal shop building on the coast also has a new Galvalume thanks to Matthew. The old one was rusted badly and a limb through the top did not help either. I installed it. I have owned other buildings with very old metal with no leaks. They seemed to have less damage during hurricanes than shingles. Cost was more than shingles, but only about 25% I think.

Bob

Gulfcoastguy

BikerBob said:

Thanks to Matthew I got a new one on the coast. On the Tennessee house there is also a ribbed roof. Only problem after fifteen years is poor flashing on installation before I bought the house. I used it on an outbuilding in Tennessee. All three are green. My metal shop building on the coast also has a new Galvalume thanks to Matthew. The old one was rusted badly and a limb through the top did not help either. I installed it. I have owned other buildings with very old metal with no leaks. They seemed to have less damage during hurricanes than shingles. Cost was more than shingles, but only about 25% I think.

Bob

One of my job duties involved taking FEMA and FHWA around to evaluate damage after hurricanes Elena and Katrina. I noticed that metal roofs had either no damage or major damage. One of the reasons that I want to put one one.

alaskanassasin

Dyal_SC said:

Not sure if you’re talking about installing it over the existing roof or not, but if you do go that route, it might not be a bad idea to get with a structural engineer (especially if you already have one that’s a friend) to make sure your walls can support the extra weight. 

Asphalt shingles are waaaay heavier that a steel roof 

Gulfcoastguy

alaskanassasin said:

Dyal_SC said:

Not sure if you’re talking about installing it over the existing roof or not, but if you do go that route, it might not be a bad idea to get with a structural engineer (especially if you already have one that’s a friend) to make sure your walls can support the extra weight. 

Asphalt shingles are waaaay heavier that a steel roof 

Which is one of the reasons that the existing worn out asphalt shingles will be coming off. I will be putting a thicker plywood deck up which will eat away at the weight savings. Most of the time people who are really concerned about the weight on a roof are concerned about "snow" whatever that is. Around here we are more concerned with will the wind suck the roof off of the house?

SemolinaPilchard

Since you are in hurricane country, you may want to add some hurricane straps before you put on the new plywood.

Gulfcoastguy

Something that I plan to examine when the roof is removed.

SamIAm2

Also, if you have them in you roof system - strengthen the gable end trusses before you put the plywood on. 

Had to do this for 3 gables for insurance coverage after Andrew. Lots of fun getting 2 x 4 lumber in attic access holes in the early summer. Turned out we didn't have plywood sheathing on the roof but 2 x 6 tongue and groove boards. 

Link https://doi.sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2547/Section-E-Gable-End-Bracing. 

Gulfcoastguy

Well I signed the contract for this yesterday. They will be removing the roof decking on the house and detached garage, installing 5/8 CDX plywood, installing all new flashing and ridge vents, replacing any damaged wood, covering it with peel and stick underlayment, and 26 gauge Artic White Snap Lock standing seam metal(no exposed screws to corrode and leak) . They will start a week from Monday just in time to adjust my yearly house insurance. They will be installing it according to Florida Dade County code which is a bit better than local code.

SamIAm2

Good deal. Make sure you get good photographs of the underlayment package and on the roof for insurance. Our insurance company wanted proof there was underlayment for some reason. Best thing is a well installed system will end leak worries for many years.

Gulfcoastguy

Well they are all up on the roof ripping off old decking and installing new now. They also have a side gig of hauling off my old broken weed trimmers, lawn mowers etc . They make a little side cash and I don’t have to go to the dump . I showed them the Egg and explained Crime and Punishment for Humpty Dumpty offenses.

SemolinaPilchard

@Gulfcoastguy I love the last sentence.

kl8ton

pics?

Gulfcoastguy

kl8ton said:

pics?

After they get to the front of the house I will. Likely tomorrow. Right now I am trying to stay out of their way. They caught a little side eye from the boss from talking to me and getting free broke power tools rather than working. They are good kids doing a good job so far.

SamIAm2

@Gulfcoastguy - how is the roof job going today??

Gulfcoastguy

Rain out today. They left my roof covered with a blue tarp and it kept the rain out. On a side note one of the roofers stepped into my laundry room...through the ceiling. He told me first that they were going to have their ceiling people fix it. Then he said “don’t you want to hit me” I said “why would I , you already said that you would fix it, s&@$ happens “. They’re good kids. The youngest one must do parkour, he slides down a sheet of plywood leaning against the wall and runs back up it.

SamIAm2

Dang, sorry to hear that. Was it a popcorn ceiling you wanted to get rid of anyway? Hope you get the roof and ceiling finished today.