New England Metal Roof has recently completed a steel roofing replacement job for a tree damaged aluminum roof in Cumberland, Rhode Island. View pictures of this beautiful metal roof below, and learn about benefits steel roofing can provide for your home.
The homeowners decided to go with a premium steel shingles roofing system designed to provide a long lasting protection and durability of premium galvanized steel. This particular job featured a double stamped steel shingle – Vermont Blue Slate profile coated with a high quality Kynar paint finish.
Steel Roofing in Cumberland, RI
Why go with Steel Roofing?
Steel is notorious for its tensile strength, toughness, and flexibility. Steel cables provide support for magnificent and enormously heavy bridges exposed to strong winds and harsh nautical conditions. Steel cables bring F-16 fighter jets, and B-2 bombers to a smooth stop on Navy air craft carriers. Steel can withstand enormous amounts of abuse from environmental exposure, and from man-induced material stress.
Steel Shingles Roofing System - valley details
Steel roofing shingles can withstand some of the harshest conditions including hurricane winds, hail, storm-strength rain and snow, and can help you prevent ice dams on your roof. Steel shingles are manufactured from a premium G-90 Galvanized steel sheets designed to provide solid protection against rust and corrosion for many decades.
Steel Roof, Ridgeline and Chimney
The steel roofing systems we have just installed in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and all metal roofing systems we carry are rated by a Cool Roof rating council for their solar reflectivity and thermal emissivity. These metrics show the degree to which your metal roof can help keep your roof cooler in the summer, which can drastically reduce your air conditioning costs.
I will soon be posting a few more steel roofing jobs in Attleboro, North Attleboro and Bedford, MA. Stay tuned!
The old tin roofs you may remember are not the same as the contemporary metal roofs.
Modern steel roofing
If you are planning on building a new house or just re-roofing your existing home then I would urge you to consider using modern steel roofing. I live in a house that has a modern version of the old corrugated tin roof and I will share with you some of the reasons why I chose this type of roofing over all the others.
Before I start let me first dispel a myth. “Tin roofs” or “iron roofs” are not made out of sheet iron coated with tin any more! They are made out of high tensile steel with modern, hi-tech, surface protection coatings that are a combination of zinc and aluminum alloys. They are manufactured around the world under license from the US Galvalume Company.
Strength. I live in a tropical area in Northern Australia and along with my family I experienced an intense cyclone (Tracy, 1974) that was the equal to or even stronger than hurricane Katrina, (if that is possible) .It may be that we have to go through a similar ordeal again but I honestly feel that we have learned from the past and are now building much safer houses. I have absolutely no doubt that the modern steel roofing that we use today is among the strongest of roofing materials. That is why I choose it to protect my family. A recurring story from all of the ones that I have heard from many cyclone survivors was that they were doing OK; “until the roof started lifting”, and then the house disintegrated.
With the current concerns about extreme weather events that may be brought on by global warming, I feel that there is nowhere in the world that would not benefit from stronger modern building materials.
Cost Effective. I am not saying that a modern steel roof is necessarily the cheapest product, but what I am saying is that you will be getting the best value for your money with the modern steel roofing.Look at all the thousands of large industrial buildings in our cities and towns. From warehouses to sports stadiums. Many of them are roofed with metal. There is a huge and competitive manufacturing industry geared up to creating products to roof large buildings. Guess what, you the home owner can take advantage of the economies of scale that this industry provides.
Versatility. From vertical to almost flat; steel roofing can handle any slope of roof.
If you want a really different look then why not try curves in the roof?
Do you want to match a particular color scheme? No problems as there are a huge range of standard metal roofing colors available.
Long Lasting Fixed correctly this type of roofing can be expected to last up to 50 years. In harsh environments, say within two miles of the coast or in areas prone to chemical attack then this figure will have to be reduced, but many manufacturers provide thicker sheets and special coatings for these different conditions. In my experience building beach front houses most people opt for the cheaper cost of standard sheets and coatings, and accept that after 30 years or so they may have to do a re-roofing job.
Fire Resistant. In some areas this would have to be the main reason to choose a metal roof. If you live in a fire prone area then resistance to fire would have to be a primary concern, and once again think about the possibility of fires due to future climatic changes.
Ease and Speed of Fixing. In re-roofing situations particularly, but also with new work, the speed of getting a metal roof fixed is second to none. There is less chance for adverse weather to affect the building. I have re-roofed classroom blocks to a high school where there was almost no interruption to the day to day activities in the school. We were able to strip off the old roofing, upgrade the structure and fix the new roofing on a daily basis. This ease of fixing steel roofing obviously has savings in labor costs to the customer.
The author, Bill Bradley is a retired general contractor with over 50 years experience in the building and construction industry. He has created his own website: www.builderbill-diy-help.com to pass on his knowledge to others. Thank you Bill for contributing this helpful tin roofing information to the readers of NEMR.
Residential Roofing Materials Guide for Homeowners
Modern roofing industry offers an abundant variety of materials you can install on a new-construction Roof, or choose for your next re-roofing project.
Residential roofing materials can vary in their visual appearance/curb appeal, weight, material cost, durability and longevity, and roof maintenance requirements.
Major Factors Influencing your Choice of Suitable Roofing Materials:
Your roof’s steepness, also known as a roof pitch, or a slope of your roof, can impose roof-slope-specific limitations on your choice of suitable roofing materials for your particular type of roof.
What is the Difference between a Gentle and a Steep Roof Slopes?
The more level a slope of your roof, the slower a runoff of the rainwater will be….
Implications of a Low Slope Roof: Naturally, the rate of a rainwater runoff from any roof with a relatively low slope will be slower than that of a steeper roof. Hence a slow runoff calls for an especially waterproof roof covering. A flat roof surface can be covered with specialty low-slope roofing membranes such as PVC, TPO, EPDM rubber, modified bitumen, built up roof (BUR), or a specialty “Cool” flat roofing membrane like the one manufactured by IB Roofs.
Due to a necessity calling for special skills, tools and precision instruments required for a proper installation of IB flat roofing system, or some other specialty membrane, it is imperative that such a system is only installed by properly trained specialists/professional roofing contractors.
Should I Repair or Replace My Low Slope/Flat Roof?
Depending on the age and overall condition of your current flat roof, there is a chance that it may be repaired by a knowledgeable specialist, if an appropriate repair is started early enough…
A roof of a gentle slope, can in theory be covered with conventional rolled asphalt roofing, but despite benefiting from its inexpensive cost, you can only expect rolled asphalt roof to last 5-7 years before it fails.
Therefore, if you want to avoid having to replace your roof in some five short years, or even earlier, it makes a good financial sense to invest in a more durable roofing system such as a flat roofing system manufactured by IB roofs.
If your roof rises four inches, or more per one foot of its base, then it is considered a steep roof, which means that your roof is suited for a wider range of roofing materials such as asphalt shingles, slate, clay tiles, wood shingles and shakes, and a wide range of metal roofing systems.
Estimating and Ordering:
Most roofing materials are sold in units called roofing squares. Each roofing square is equal to 100 square feet of roof surface. (The only exception is rolled roofing, and flat roofing membranes that come in rolls of varying lengths, widths and weights). In order to estimate roofing materials needed for your roof, first determine the total area of your roof’s surface, add 10 percent to allow for double layers of roofing materials along ridges, eaves, and hips, and round up the total to a next roof square (next 100 square feet).
Roofing Materials Overview
Asphalt Shingles – Inexpensive – lasts – 15 to 20 years – Minimum Roof Slope required 4 in 12. Asphalt shingle roofing is easy to install. It is available in wide variety of weights, colors, and styles such as 3-tab and architectural shingles. Other than occasional cleaning and roof moss removal, asphalt shingles require little maintenance and are easy to repair. Darker colored asphalt shingles may not last as long as lighter colored shingles due to higher impact from the sun exposure. Asphalt shingles are not easy to recycle, which is why it often ends up in our landfills at the end of its service life.
Asphalt Roofing Shingles on a Residential Home in Newton, Massachusetts
Rolled asphalt roofing – Inexpensive – lasts – 5 to 7 years – Minimum Roof Slope 1 in 12. Rolled asphalt roofing is easy to install and repair. Limitations: Poor fire resistance for some types, gets very hot in the summer, and transfers a lot of thermal heat from the sub inside the building, requires frequent replacements.
Built-up or Modified Bitumen – Moderate in price – lasts 10-20 years – minimum slope 1/4 in 12. Modified Bitumen is more waterproof than rolled roofing, but it has a poor fire resistance for some types; must be installed professionally; leaks are difficult to locate.
EPDM Rubber – Moderate in price – lasts 15-20 years – minimum slope 1/4 in 12. Must be installed professionally. Leaks usually occur in the seams; can be easily repaired if leaks are identified.
IB Roof (Modern PVC cool flat roofing membrane) – Lasts 30-50 years – No minimum roof slope requirement – can withstand ponding/standing water and ice, can further be outfitted with solar roofing panels. Considered to be a CoolRoof, and accredited by the US Green Building Council. IB flat roofing membrane reflects most of a solar radiant heat, which helps keep a building protected by the IB roof much cooler than a similar building with an ordinary roof would be.
This reduces your energy expenditures during the season of high temperatures. IB roof can be properly recycled at the end of its rather long service life.
Wood Shingles and Cedar Shakes – Moderate to expensive in cost (Comparable to the cost of metal roofing materials) – Lasts 15 to 30 years – Minimum roof slope required: 3 in 12 for shingles, and 4 in 12 for cedar shakes. Offers attractive rustic appearance, and acts as a natural insulator. Limitations: Highly flammable unless specially treated; shingles must be laid over open planks, or spaced battens.
Cedar Shakes Roof
Slate – Expensive – lasts 50 to 100 years – minimum roof slope required: 4 in 12. Offers a highly attractive and traditional appearance, fire resistant. Limitations: Heavy; brittle; requires sturdy roof support; tricky installation that requires special tools; needs regular replacement of damaged pieces; difficult and expensive to repair.
Slate Roof in Newton, MA
Roof Tiles – Moderate (concrete) to expensive (clay) – lasts 50 to 100 years – minimum slope 4-12. Offers attractive and unique appearance; fire resistant. Heavy; brittle;; requires sturdy roof support; time consuming installation; availability of replacement pieces unreliable; difficult to repair.
Tile Roof in Newton, MA.
Metal Roofing – moderate on higher side for galvanized steel and aluminum shingles; expensive for copper lasts 30 – 100 years depending on the system; fire resistant; Offers beautiful modern appearance and a great variety of styles, and finishes. Metal shingle roofing features a 4 way interlocking design, which provides reliable wind uplift protection, as each shingle is interlocked with metal shingles next to it. Roof you see below is made with G-90 steel coated with Kynar 500 cool roof rated solar reflective coating. This particular roof was installed in Rhode Island.
Below you can see a standing seam roof, made from aluminum sheet metal roofing panels. This this roof was installed near Boston, Massachusetts. You can also see that standing seam roof has a rail snow guard system, to stop the snow from sliding down the roof. Standing seam roof is coated with special coating that sheds snow and ice, which is especially useful in northern Massachusetts, and New Hampshire where there is significant accumulation of snow. Standing seam roof can last a lift time of the building and help prevent ice dams on your roof.
Standing Seam Metal Roof
While standing seam is a premium roof that comes with a price tag, there is a less expensive alternative that has been in use for many years on agricultural and industrial buildings, barns and farm houses. Corrugated metal roofing material is usually made out of thin gauge steel in comes in U shaped form. Although, it was primarily an agricultural type of roofing material, modern day corrugated steel metal roofing can be used to roof over a residential house. For instance, a galvalume steel or aluminum v 5 crimp panel coated with kynar paint finish could be used in residential roofing.
color coated corrugated steel roofing panel
Corrugated Metal Roof on a Residence
Silver Corrugated Metal Roof on a Residence in NH
Comparing Roofing Materials
In this post, a term “Cost” refers to a relative cost of roofing materials alone, and does not include the cost of labor. In most cases, the cost of professional installation is higher for roofing materials like natural slate, clay tiles, wood shingles, cedar shakes, and metal roofing than it is for regular asphalt shingles, or rolled asphalt roofing.
The minimum required roof slope is a roof pitch at which a specific material begins to provide adequate protection against water. All the materials listed can be applied to roofing surfaces steeper than that of a minimum roof pitch indicated, but as roof slopes increase, considerations such as appearance, durability and longevity become far more important.
“Durability” provides a rough measure of a length of time a roof will last with proper maintenance in a temperate climate.
Broaden your Roofing Horizons:
Guide to Re-roofing a house – Homeowners, are you about to put on a New Roof on your House? Ponder these Key Factors before you Pick/Decide on the Type of your New Roof.
Green Roofs – And by “Green” you mean Growing a garden on my roof?
Roofing materials calculator helps homeowners estimate roof size and the cost of roofing materials needed to re-roof a house. Roofing materials list is calculated based on your roof type (Gable, Hip or Mansard roof), roof size (ground dimensions) and roof pitch.
Calculate roofing materials and prices now:
In this version of this roof materials calculator, you will only be able to estimate the cost and materials list for asphalt roofing shingles. We are working on including the metal roofing materials into the calculator. However there are certain issues that will have to be resolved before metal roofing materials such as standing seam or metal shingles can be added. We will add metal roofing results soon.
How to use the roofing materials calculator
This roofing calculator calculates the roof area based on the ground measurement you provide, as well as roof pitch measurements. It adds 5% waste factor for a Gable Roof, and 7.5% waste factor for a Hip and Mansard roof types.
Plug in your roof dimensions into the calculator, making sure that width is the side where the roof gable / rake is. Choose the roof pitch and your roof type, and calculate the roof area, as well as roofing materials and prices.
Roofing materials prices are calculated for the following items, needed to install a new roof:
Roofing Shingles – Number of bundles needed to install new roof, including waste. Prices calculated for 30 years architectural asphalt shingles.
Roof Underlayment – We included Ice and Water Shield along the eaves of the roof (Ice & Water shield is required by Building Code in many Norther states, to help prevent ice dams), as well as 30 lb. felt underlayment with 50% overlaps (double layer), which is a requirement for new roof installation in Massachusetts.
Ridge/Hip Cap Shingles – Though many roofing contractors often use 3-tab shingles for Ridge and Hips, the asphalt shingles manufacturers require the Cap Shingles to be used for full warranty.
Ridge Vent – Cobra or equivalent ridge ventilation system. Does not include soffit vent costs.
Drip Edge – White aluminum drip edge metal installed on all exposed roof edges – eaves and gables. Though ins some parts of the US, its common not to use drip edge metal on gables / rakes, it is a common practice to do so in Massachusetts.
Miscellaneous roofing accessories: – We included one box of 1 1/4″ galvanized roofing nails, 3 aluminum pipe flashings, 100 ct. of step flashing, and 3 tubes of roof caulking.
The above materials list should pretty much cover most simple roof installation, assuming the new roof is being installed over a properly prepared and vented roof deck – plywood or boards.
All prices are taken from Home Depot’s website on Oct. 29, 2010. Although most roofing contractors will buy their shingles from a roofing materials supplier, national home improvement store’s prices for roofing materials are pretty much in line with what contractors pay and sometimes even a bit less. Also it is much easier for the home owner to purchase roofing materials from a big-box home improvement store than from a roofing supplier.
Look forward to see the roofing prices for 24 gauge galvanized steel standing seam metal roof as well as other types of metal roofing materials added to this calculator.
Englert Inc. Metal Roofing Manufacturer offering architectural and structural standing seam metal roofing systems, metal wall panels, and curved roofs, releases metal roofing colors visualizer that makes it easy to see how a metal roof will look on a typical house. You get to pick the color of a metal roof, and you will be able to see what it will look like with a given color choice of a metal roofing panel. Neat Tool!
Integrating Cool Metal Roofing with Building Green
About 40 percent of energy in the United States is consumed by the country’s 100 million residential buildings and its 5 million commercial properties. Energy, for most of the owners of these buildings, will be the largest controllable cost of running their property. The main uses of energy in these buildings are heating and air conditioning, heating water, lighting and running computers and entertainment related electronics.
As energy prices rise, and concern about the environment increases, the importance of conserving energy and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings has also grown and there has been a lot of interest in the idea of green building. Green buildings are designed in order to ensure that their construction and operation are as energy efficient and sustainable as possible. Approximately 75 percent of architects and engineers now have some of involvement with green building, whether at the design, construction, re-use or removal stages of interaction with the building process and building environment.
The roof is often the weakest point in terms of energy efficiency due to thermal gain from the sun, so it is a very significant and environmentally important part of green building construction and design. A cool metal roof can significantly reduce the amount of energy that is required to heat or cool a building. In 2010, the estimated demand for roofing in the US is almost 280 million squares, and metal roofing is now believed to be one of the fastest growing roofing products in the country. Environmentalists are interested in the use of metal roofing because of its ability to improve energy efficiency and because it can help prevent the heat island effect that can raise the temperature in urban areas.
The heat island effect is a phenomenon of higher temperatures in urban areas due to the buildings observing the solar heat primarily through the roof, and then radiating this excessive temperature gain into the surrounding environment thereby creating local higher temperatures phenomenon known as the heat island effect.
Solar reflective metal roofs reflect solar radiation away from the roof rather than absorbing it as thermal heat, which would otherwise have a chance to transfer inside the building through the process of heat conduction, or emit into the atmosphere, causing the heat island effect. Modern metal roofs, as a general rule reflect much of the solar radiant heat back into space through the process of solar reflectance. The marginal heat that meat roofs do observe usually emitted back into the atmosphere through the process of solar emissivity. Thus, metal roofs help prevent the transfer if heat inside of the actual building, thereby reducing the air conditioning load, which results not only in aggregate energy savings, but also in a lesser aggregate building’s carbon footprint.
The utility companies which provide the energy used in homes and commercial properties have also become interested in the use of cool metal roofing. Since it reduces demand for energy for heating and cooling, it can help to avoid the problems that energy providers often experience during periods of peak demands, such as hot summer afternoons, when people come home and turn on their air conditioning, as well as during times when business consume massive amounts of energy to cool their offices.
Viable Product for Residential Applications:
An example of a standard architectural standing seam metal roof system for a residential home is depicted below. Such a roof can easily result in 25% plus energy savings. Being energy efficient environmentally friendly in that sense is just one of many benefits of metal roofing. Long service life (with minimum roof maintenance, or repairs) backed by the excellent track record, and upraised building / property value, make it an attractive choice often referred to as investment grade roofing.
According to the Remodeling Magazine, metal roofing provides one the highest returns on the remodeling investment throughout its service life. Refer to the data of construction and remodeling costs survey for 2009 – 2010.
Diagrams:
More environmental benefits of cool metal roofing:
Metal roofing does not contain any petroleum products unlike the roofing market most dominant product, asphalt shingles. Each year some 11 million tons of asphalt shingles are dumped in landfills. The percentage share of the asphalt shingles being recycled is insignificant.
Metal roofs are 100% recyclable at the end of their service life, which often exceeds 50 years. For comparison, asphalt shingle roofs average only 17 years of service life. The asphalt shingle roofing accounts for nearly two thirds of all roofing products being installed in the U.S annually.
Consumer Interest in Metal Roofing
Among consumers, there has also been an increase in interest in cool metal roofing and green building. This stems from the increasing awareness of the environmental impacts of buildings and energy consumption, the increasing cost of energy and the various incentives such as green improvement Tax Credits for 2009 – 2010 available to those making green building choices. A number of credits and rebates are available at the federal, state and local government levels and from utility companies for those who choose cool metal roofing.
Cool metal roofing is a metal roof that has high levels of both thermal emittance and solar reflectance. Although various standards, codes and incentive programs use slightly different definitions of what will be considered as a cool metal roof, these definitions all include the same essential properties. Thermal emittance refers to the ability of a material to absorb and then re-emit the radiant heat produced by the sun. Solar reflectance refers to the ability of a material to reflect rather than absorb sunlight. A cool metal roof which has high thermal emittance and solar reflectance contrasts with a roofing material such as asphalt, which absorbs heat from the sun and transfers it into the building it is covering.
Agencies assigning Cool Roofing Credits and Ratings:
Solar reflectance measures the amount of energy that is reflected directly and immediately, as electromagnetic energy, without having been absorbed as heat. It is measured on a scale from 0 to 1, or described as a percentage.
When energy is not reflected, it is absorbed as heat into the outer surface of the roof. From here, it may be removed by convection into the passing air, or conducted down into the sheathing underneath the outer roofing material. It may also be emitted as infrared energy. This is referred to as thermal emittance, which is again measured on a scale of 0 to 1 or as a percentage.
A cool metal roof, which has high levels of both of these properties, will have a lower surface temperature than a roof covered with a material with a lower rating of thermal emittance and solar reflectance. Less heat will be absorbed into the attic or other space under the roof, which means that less energy needs to be used for the cooling and heating of the building.
Cool metal roofing is a sustainable roofing material. It meets the EPA definition of sustainability since it combines continuing economic benefits with environmental benefits, while enabling people to enjoy a good quality of life.
Energy efficiency is one of the most important reasons for the sustainable nature of cool metal roofing. By preventing the heat from being absorbed into the building, it can help to reduce the need for air conditioning use. This can save as much as 20 to 40 percent of the energy costs of running the building. By reducing the need for energy, it can also reduce energy production and the environmental problems which are associated with it. The number one environmental problem associated with excessive use of heat by the buildings is the emission of greenhouse gases. Cool metal roofs meet set energy efficiency standards and code requirements, and often benefit from Energy Star labeling.
Energy Star labeling is a program created by the EPA in order to help consumers to make environmentally friendly and energy efficient decisions. Energy Star labels are commonly seen on appliances, reflecting the amount of power they consume, but there is also a Roof Products labeling system. This system is used to identify roofs that are cool and which can help prevent the urban heat island problem. In order to meet the requirements of the Energy Star program, a roofing material that is intended for use on a steep slope (one with a roof pitch over 2:12) must have solar reflectance of at least 0.25, with reflectance of at least 0.15 after three years. Materials that are designed for low slop roofs (with pitch less than or equal to 2:12) must have solar reflectance of at least 0.65, with a three year ages reflectance of least 0.50. The program also requires roofing materials to have a thermal emittance of at least 0.75, whatever the slope of the roofs on which it will be used. However, some materials that meet the requirement for a factor known as the Solar Reflectance Index, which is calculated using reflectance, emittance and wind coefficients, may not have to meet the minimum value for solar emittance.
The energy efficiency of cool metal roofing has also been analyzed in terms of the reduction in energy costs enjoyed by the building owner, although the precise amount which can be saved will depend on the individual property. A number of case studies point towards the benefits of using cool roofing.
Cool Metal Roofing Study
In the state of Georgia, a school district built two near-identical schools. The only difference between the buildings was the roofing material used. Both had metal roofs, but one was a painted metal roof with solar reflectance of 0.12 while the other was a roof with a special reflective paint that had a solar reflectance of 0.29. After just one year, the school district had saved 8000 dollars on heating and cooling in the building with the higher reflectance roofing compared to the less reflective building.
Similarly, a study involving Habitat for Humanity was conducted in Florida. The charity built a number of identical homes topped with different roofing materials. They used asphalt shingles, flat tiles, terracotta tiles, barrel tiles and painted metal and set the thermostats at the same temperature in every house. Over the course of four summer months, the house with the white metal roof experienced the highest savings on cooling, of 23 percent.
Cool metal roofing has some other important benefits, in addition to its energy efficiency that help to make it a sustainable choice. Metal roofing is one of the most durable options. It can resist a wide range of weather conditions and it can often last as long as the building which it covers, eliminating the need to produce and install replacement roofs.
Metal roofs, particularly when a lower gauge metal is being used, can be much lighter than conventional roofing materials. This means that they place less pressure on the building structure, which can help to extend the life of the building. Metal roofing is so light that it can even be installed over old roofing.
Metal roofing also contains high levels of recycled material, and is itself 100 percent recyclable when it ceases being useful as roofing. Metal roofing typically contains between 25 and 95 percent recycled material. Steel roofing is particularly likely to have been recycled.
Environmental Benefits
The environmental benefits of recycling steel are very well-known. Producing recycled steel requires less than 26 percent of the amount of energy that is needed to produce newly extracted steel. The amount of recycled material in steel depends to a certain extent on the process through which it has been made. When it is manufactured using the basic oxygen furnace method, it usually contains about 30 percent recycled material. When it is producing using the electric arc furnace method, the recycled content is about 95 percent.
The ability to recycle metal roofing at the end of its lifetime can significantly help to reduce pressure on landfills. Approximately 20 billion pounds of old roof shingles are currently deposited in landfills in the US every year.
Another factor in the sustainability of metal roofing is that it is a very safe material, both for the environment and for human health. The metals, coatings and paints that are used are completely safe. Metal roofing is also fire resistant and able to withstand both hail and wind.
Photo-voltaic technology can convert the energy in sunlight into electricity. Solar or photo-voltaic cells come in a number of different forms, including solar panels and solar laminates. The cells are collected together into a module. Multiple modules can then be grouped together on the roof of a building and used to generate electricity for the building. Crystalline systems are composed of arrays of silicon wafers which are held between two sheets of glass. These heavy solar panels need to be mounted on the roof using a bracket or brace. Amorphous photo-voltaic systems, or solar roof laminates, are lightweight, flexible films which can be adhered directly onto a metal roof. These solar laminates are integrated into the building and are far less obtrusive than solar panels. Metal roofing is the best surface on where to place a solar laminate or building integrated system. This means that using metal roofing can help to make it easier to make use of alternative green energy.
Solar Metal Roofing
LEED Program
The LEED program is an important rating system created by the Green Building Council. It is used to evaluate and certify the overall sustainability of a building, in accordance with various established standards. LEED ratings are often taken into considerations by designers and owners during the planning process in order to ensure that a certain level of LEED certification will be attained. Different programs exist for different types of projects. In the most well-known LEED program, which related to the construction of new builds, the categories that are considered are water efficiency, materials and resources, energy and atmosphere, sustainable sites, innovation and design, regional priority and the indoor environmental quality. Buildings are awarded points in each category, up to a maximum of 100. 40 points are required for a building to be Certified. 50 to 59 points denotes Silver certification, 60 to 79 is gold certification, while buildings with more than 80 points obtain Platinum certification. Use of a cool metal roof over at least 75 percent of the total roof surface can generate a point in the Credit 7.2 section of the sustainable sites category, as long as the roof has an SRI of at least 78 on a low slope and 29 on a steep slope. Cool metal roofs can also contribute points in other sections of the LEED evaluation since points are awarded for the use of recycled material, the potential to recycle the material used in the building, and the building’s energy efficiency. It can add up to two points in the materials and resources category for use of recycled material. Since it is 100 percent recyclable can add to the waste management points. It can also add up to 10 points for energy optimization in the energy and atmosphere category. LEED certification can be very important since some buildings are required to have LEED certification due to building legislations.
The codes and standards that are used to judge cool metal roofing can vary a great deal. The International Energy Conservation Code is a national standard, but most states have also created their own standards. These may be the same as the IECC standard. State codes can be found on the Alliance to Save Energy website. California has a particularly unique standard for energy efficiency. It is known as Title 24, and it specifies standards for both low and steep sloped roofs. Standards can also be set at the regional or city level. Chicago has its own regional standards for cool roofing in its energy code. Finding out about the local codes while designing a green building is essential in order to ensure the required standards will be met, particularly if they may enable the building owner to obtain credits.
Cool Metal Roofing Incentives
The incentives that are available to encourage the use of cool metal roofing vary a great deal. Some utility providers offer incentives for their customers. The Californian company Pacific Gas and Electric, for example, offers a rebate of 10 cents per square foot for roofs with solar reflectance of 0.25-0.39 and emittance of at least 0.75, with rebates of 20 cents per foot for roofs which have a reflectance of at least 0.40. In the same state, Southern California Edison also offers a two tiered rebate program with the same criteria. Meanwhile, Florida Power Light offers a flat rebate of 325 dollars for customers who install a cool metal roof, along with a 200 dollar credit for the contractor.
Governmental tax credits are also available for building owners who install a cool metal roof, such as a roof that has Energy Star labeling. The credit may be as much as 30 percent of the cost of installing a cool metal roof, with a maximum credit of 1500 dollars per building. Tax Credits are available for calendar years 2009 – 2010.
The incentives that are available for cool metal roofing, the many advantages of choosing a cool metal roof for a green building, and the savings of as much as 40 percent which may be achieved on energy costs makes cool metal roofing a superb choice.
Welcome to the metal roofing myth-buster series for homeowners who want to learn more about the benefits of residential metal roofing.
Intro:
It is truly fascinating how many people are not necessarily clueless, but are still somewhat misguided when it comes to the basic understanding of metal roofing. There are countless numbers of people who believe that a roof constructed with metal gets really loud when it rains, and that it is more likely to attract lightning than an asphalt shingle roof. Needless to say these statements could not have been further from the truth.
If you are like myself, you probably go about your life without ever really giving a thought about your roof until it starts to leak, or it becomes obvious that it is a good time to replace your roof before it starts to leak.
Going back to using metal for roof for existing roof retrofits; not too long ago I also had an image of the old and rusty barn type of roof associated with my nearsighted conceptual understanding of the term “metal roofing”. But now, after having been involved with metal roofing for nearly a decade, I have developed a true appreciation for all the benefits and advantages of this green roofing technology. I would like to share some of the insights with you, and more importantly, I want to shed some lights on the common myths I hear from people in regards to roofs made of metal.
Top 5 Metal Roofing Myths and a Special Bonus Myth
Myth 1: It has a higher risk of getting struck by a lightning
Reality – No, a metal roof does not increase the chances of your home getting struck by a lightning. In fact, if your roof does happen to get struck by a lighting, then a metal surface of your roof will help to dissipate the charge. Further, your roof will be in no danger of catching a fire from a lighting strike, because metal is a non combustible material
Myth 2: It makes a lot of noise when it rains
Reality – Let me guess, you must be thinking about that old rusty roof over the barn that used to sound like a machine gun rattle when it is raining. Well, modern metal roofs are typically installed over plywood, solid sheathing, or over your existing roof. There is also a layer of roofing felt / underlayment that gets installed over a roof deck prior to installing a metal roof.
You should also have a well insulated attic to make your home energy efficient, which will also help prevent heat loss and ice dams on your roof. When all of these factors are met, there will be no more noise than you would hear from a regular asphalt shingles roof.
Myth 3: It costs a fortune!
Actually, a properly installed metal roof has the lowest life-cycle cost; you may be surprised to find this out, but a metal roof will actually cost less than an asphalt shingle roof if you stay in your house long enough, because it has the lowest life cycle cost of all roofing materials, and aside from slate, metal is one of the longest lasting roofing materials available to homeowners today.
Important Factors:
Factor 1. – A new metal roof will also increase the value of your home, and help you get the highest return on your investment should you ever decide to sell your property. A metal roof will give your house a beautiful curb appeal, and peace of mind to you and your family from knowing that your home is protected by a durable, long lasting, and maintenance free roof.
Factor 2. – Cool metal roofs can provide over 30 percent in energy savings during the summer. Just imagine the amount of money you could save on cooling costs over the years, and the reduction in green house gasses. What a great way to get your roof pay for itself overtime and help protect the environment.
Factor 3. – Unlike an asphalt shingle roof, which is destined to fail in about 15 years, a professionally installed metal roof can last well over 50 years. You could easily have to replace your typical asphalt shingle roof three times during the healthy lifespan of your metal roof. In fact, a roof made with metal may well be the last roof you will ever have to install on your home, provided that you get it installed by a well trained and caring installers who take pride in the quality of their work.
Learn more about the costs of re-roofing with metal from this hypothetical example providing a detailed snapshot of the cost of metal roofing vs. the asphalt shingle roof, from a homeowner’s stand point.
Myth 4: It is susceptible to rust
Reality – Modern metal roofs are very durable and are built to last for decades. Steel roofs have a special layer of coating made with zinc or aluminum, which is bonded to steel. The zinc and aluminum layer provides healing for any cuts and scratches to the roofing panel. The high quality Kynar paint is designed to further protect the metal from oxidation. This combination allows steel roofs withstand some of the toughest forms of abuse from the harsh storms and bad weather, while providing a beautiful color finish and great looks to help compliment your home.
Myth 5: It is susceptible to dents and hail damage
Reality – Modern roofs made with metal are built to withstand years of abuse from severe weather such as hail, extreme winds, rain, snow and ice. Hail will not dent a roof made of metal, and extremely strong winds will not take it down and rip it apart like they would an asphalt shingle roof. Many modern steel, zinc, copper and aluminum roofing systems are rated for the wind uplift of up 120mph, which is what hurricane prone Miami Dade county requires. In fact, roofs made with metal perform extremely well, and can withstand some very strong hurricane winds. It is not unusual to see a lone surviving roof made with metal that shows no damage, next to its naked and roofless neighbors – the former asphalt shingle roofs that have lost all their shingles and plywood to the hurricane winds.
As I was dissolving these 5 silly myths for you, yet another myth to dispel came to mind! Consider this one a bonus!
Bonus Myth: You cannot walk on it without damaging it.
Reality – While you should definitely take all the necessary precautions before venturing out for a walk on your roof, metal roofs are completely walkable provided that they are not too steep. I would recommend using dry running shoes with rubber soles and good grip, because they will provide good traction for your feet when on the roof. Also, you should keep in mind that OSHA safety regulation do require that undergo a special training and wear a full body harness with a safety rope that is properly anchored on top of the roof.
Be sure to avoid walking on your roof when its raining as you could easily slip and fall. Rule of thumb is to stay off the roof whenever its surface is wet or moist such as sunset and sunrise. Contact your trusted roofing contracting company for special techniques on how to minimize the risk and walk safely on the metal roof they have installed. Or do not worry about it at all, let the pros handle it!
About:
New England Metal Roofing company located near Boston, Massachusetts is a residential and light commercial metal roofing contracting company installing metal shingles, and standing seam metal roofs in all major cities and towns including Newton, Wellesley, Brookline, and greater Boston, Massachusetts. We also cover Western Mass, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyards. In addition servicing the entire Bay State, we provide metal roofing installation services in RI, CT, and NH. To request an easy roof estimate, and obtain preliminary pricing information click here.
Or simply continue browsing our website to find current roofing prices, and use our free roofing calculator to help you better understand true costs and benefits of metal roofing and learn more about product options including metal shingles, standing seam and corrugated metal roofing.
We take pride in having a well researched and detailed metal roofing information that you will not find anywhere else on the web. Our website also covers pros and cons of metal roofing, and advantages and benefits of aluminum, zinc, copper and stainless steel roofing systems.
New England Metal Roofing Company also installs a PVC flat roofing membrane as a reliable, energy efficient and long lasting alternative to problematic EPDM rubber and TPO roofing systems for flat and lower sloped roofs in Boston Massachusetts and surrounding areas
As homeowners, we often fail to consider metal roofing when our old shingle roof approaches its built-in demise. We think, instead, of adding “just one more layer” of asphalt shingles as a matter of expedience. However, with just a bit of enlightenment, we could choose a beautiful steel, aluminum– even cooper roof as the last roof we’ll ever buy for our house. While our neighbors might be a tiny bit green with envy; we’d be green too, with our new metal roof!
Green Metal Roofing
If you live in a typical neighborhood, you’ve seen the mess that ensues when an aging shingle roof is removed in preparation for its replacement. The fleet of trucks, the big red dumpster in the driveway, the ragged blue tarps surrounding the house, and the gaggle of frantic laborers scrambling around the eaves–this is the rough celebration of the death of a worn-out shingle roof. The rasping of forks and rakes mixes with the drumbeat of hammers and cries of “look out below!” Slabs of shingles and airborne bits of black paper rain to the lawn, along with thousands of rusty old nails.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Your new re-roof can be elegant and nearly painless. And you can avoid making a fresh contribution to the landfill, too.
The debris from a torn-off fiberglass or asphalt shingle roof on an average-sized suburban home weighs more than a Cadillac Escalade. The trash would likely fill your kitchen to waist-level. That’s a lot of weight, and quite a mess. But if your underlying roof structure is sound (a basic attic inspection can confirm this), you might well be able to avoid removing your old shingles at all.
A single layer of organic shingles, regardless of how weathered they are, can make an excellent base on which to apply a new metal roof.
Your existing shingles can provide an insulating, cushioned substrate for rigid metal-formed roofing. Very often it’s not desirable to leave an original roof in place when re-roofing with asphalt shingles. Why? Reasons range from concerns about excessive total roof weight (which may be governed by local building codes), to worries about textures from underneath showing up on your new roof (“telegraphing”). Fortunately, neither of these issues apply to metal re-roofing.
All asphalt-based shingles, no matter how long the “warranty” period, conform to the surface beneath them over time. The mixture of gravity and sunshine inherently softens organic shingles. Metal roofing, whether shingles or sheet-based, doesn’t suffer this surface-softening because it’s rigid. This means that a variety of steel and aluminum roofing can often be applied right over an existing layer of old shingles. In addition, most metal roofing choices are substantially lighter in weight than organic shingles. A qualified Roofing Contractor can assess your specific conditions to help you decide if a metal roof is right for your house.
So why not “keep it cheap” and simply re-roof using the least expensive materials?
In general, an organic shingle re-roof is a relatively short-term bandage. It’s not unusual for an asphalt re-roof (over shingles) to need replacement just 15 years later, and many building codes then require that both layers be removed before another layer is installed. Why set yourself up for this nightmare? Even if you’re considering selling, savvy home-buyers have often been warned in advance to avoid this roofing time-bomb.
Re-roofing with metal, by contrast, is a long-term solution when properly installed. Your metal re-roof will protect your home through hail and hurricanes, withstand snow and monsoons, and keep looking nearly brand new for decades. Whether you choose an elegant standing-seam steel roof or aluminum profile shingles, you’re creating a fifty-year (or longer) roof with fantastic curb appeal. You’ll also have the deep satisfaction of knowing that your re-roof didn’t dump thousands of pounds of trash into the landfill. That’s what I call a win-win solution.
Rubber roofing is one of the most common flat roofing systems for residential homes with low slope roofs today. It is a good alternative to asphalt shingles, which require a minimum 4 to 12 roof pitch.
There is now also a relatively new product made from rubber – rubber shingles suitable for step roofs. Rubber Shingles is manufactured from input-materials containing about 80% of recycled rubber tires. Rubber shingles provide a simulated look of Slate, Cedar, and regular shingles.
EPDM Roofing Membrane
Rubber membranes for low slope and flat roofs are made from EPDM rubber, a type of synthetic rubber characterized by a wide variety of applications. The E in EPDM refers to Ethylene, P refers to Propylene, D refers to Diene, and M refers to its classification. The characteristics of natural rubber are modified to serve the purpose of synthetic rubber, which means that synthetic rubber has improved weather resistance qualities.
Problems With EPDM Rubber
By far, the most frequently encountered problem with EPDM rubber roofing is that it often fails at the seam due to freezing and refreezing of water in contact with the seams, or drying out of the glue due to age or improper installation, which happens often especially if the installers do not typically install rubber roofs. A professional rubber roof repair involves cleaning up, and re-seaming of the failed seams.
Historic Background
Rubber roofing was created several decades ago, during a time when people were in dire need for a roof that was easier and quicker to install than built up roofs, or torched down roofs responsible for a fair share of fires during the installation.
They had a longer service life and they did not require any special equipment for their installation. Rubber roofs were also cheaper to produce. Because there was no similar low cost roofing product at the time, EPDM rubber roofing soon gained a wide spread acceptance as a new flat roofing alternative of the time. Nowadays, rubber roofing competes with PVC and TPO roofing membranes
Types Of Rubber Roofs
There are two types of rubber roofs. The first one is the rubber membrane which is supplied in one piece and cut particularly for the homeowner’s flat roof.
The second type is rubber shingles. They look like traditional slate singles, but they are lighter in weight than slate shingles, plus they are a lot easier to work with. They are also available in different colors and designs.
Rubber Roofing Costs
Unlike EPDM rubber, which is widely available and very affordable, rubber shingles costs far more than conventional roofing shingles, and about twice as much as cedar shakes, or residential metal roofing profiles. Rubber Shingles is designed to last a lifetime of the building, and is easy to install. It remains to be seen whether or not rubber shingles gains significant traction in residential roofing market. It is likely that material costs will go down as more companies start manufacturing rubber shingles in simulated profiles.
Resistant To UV, Weather, And Heat
Its outstanding resistance to UV rays and its stability against weather influences are two of the main properties of rubber roofs. It can survive intense temperature and it is also resistant to fire. Aside from that, it has exceptional electrical insulating properties and it is resistant to steam and polar substances.
Durable
Because of its long lasting elasticity and flexibility, rubber roofs are less likely to crack. They are more durable and they last longer than a lot of other types of roofs. They do not require heavy maintenance aside from rubber membrane seam repairs that can fail due to standing water, or due to glue drying out. A better alternative to EPDM rubber roofing is reinforced PVC roofing membrane, which is hot air welded rather that glued at the seams.
Advantages
One of the biggest advantages of rubber roofing is that it has a strong resistance to water, and it does not pollute the rainwater, which means that the homeowner can store and use this water for cleaning or personal hygiene.
Before re – roofing your house with a brand new roof, you will want to inspect it for certain signs indicating that it is time to replace your existing roof. If you notice some curling of roofing shingles, chipping and cracking, or evidence of missing shingles, then it is time to replace your old asphalt shingles roof.
As a side note, I would like to say that I’m not a big proponent of the asphalt shingle roofing, because asphalt shingle roofs are inherently poor choice for the environment. Still, I’m providing this do it yourself asphalt shingle roofing installation guide to help you in re roofing of your house.
Before installing a new roof, you will have to find out how many layers of existing asphalt shingles are there on your roof. If there is only one layer, then you can install a new roofing system right over your existing roof. How ever if there are two or more layers of asphalt on your roof, then you will have to strip off all the old shingles before applying new asphalt shingles, or a metal roof for that matter.
In order to perform a roof tear off you will need the following:
The tarp to collect old asphalt shingles, the stripping tool and the safety equipment if you have to be higher than 6 feet from the ground. You can buy all of these at your local home improvement store. Set up a tarp nicely so that it can catch all the falling shingles without causing the damage to the walls of the house, or to flowers in the garden. Use the stripping tool to remove the old asphalt shingles.
When all the old shingles are removed, you will want to inspect the roof deck for signs of rotting and damage. Replace any rotten boards or plywood, and remove any nails left from the previous roof.
Now that your roof deck is ready, you will want to install the roofing trim, which includes gable and starter metal flashing first.
Once that is in place, you will want to install the roofing underlayment also known as a roofing felt or tar paper. If you live in a Northern climate, then you may want to install one layer of ice and water on the eaves of the roof and indeed the valleys. One layer of ice and water is two feet wide. It has to be installed right over the roof deck creating a small 1/4 inch overlap along the eve and the gable. Once that is in place, you can install roofing underlayment which will have to overlap the ice and water by 6 inches. Each new row of roofing felt will have to overlap the preceding row by 6 inches. You will want to use special nails with colored caps to secure the roofing felt and ice and water place.
Once the roof deck is prepared, you can start installing your roofing asphalt shingles. Of course, you will have to obtain roofing shingles from the roofing supply warehouse first, which means that you will have to measure your roof and estimate the amount of roofing materials that will require. Also make sure that you have a sufficient roof pitch that should be in accordance with your roofing manufacturer’s specifications.
roofing shingles installation - gable view
List of tools you will need to install an asphalt shingle roof:
Roofing nail gun, air compressor, air hoses, a pair of gloves, hearing and eye protection, a knife with the removable blade, color string, carpenter’s pencil, and a roofer’s hammer.
Place your first shingle in the left bottom corner of the roof making sure that you cover the gable and starter trim allowing half an inch of asphalt shingle to hang over the gable and starter trim.
Use a nail gun to secure the first shingle in place. You will want to use a minimum of four nails per shingle. The nails will be applied slightly above the tabs and need line of the shingle. Be sure to use that colored string to designate vertical and horizontal lines which will serve as a guideline to make sure that your shingles are laid out in a straight fashion.
Your second shingle will be installed right next to the first shingle. You will once again use a minimum of four nails per shingle. If you live in the area that is prone to strong wind gusts, then I recommend using six nails per shingle, or in accordance with manufacturers specifications to ensure the proper wind uplift protection.
When starting a second row of shingles, you will want to cut off 6 inches from the first shingle, which will make it shorter by 6 inches. This will create the necessary overlap pattern required for water systems, and the smooth water runoff. Install the shorter shingle right over your first shingle making sure that the second shingle will cover the tabs and the nails that hold the first shingle in place.
Now, you should just continue shingling in the full shingle alternated by a shorter shingle fashion. Thus, you will begin every other row of shingles with a shorter shingle. You will find that it is easier to shingle a diagonal fashion. When you cover the entire roof with shingles, you will eventually get to the ridge-line.
If your roof has the soffit vents, then you will want to install the ridge vent before installing ridge cap. However, you’ll want to use gable ventilation if your roof does not have the soffit vents.
If you do have to install the ridge vent, then make sure that you leave a minimum of 3 feet of solid wood on each side of the roof, before making a cut in the ridge. To install the ridge cap, figure out which side of the roof the wind tends to blow from, and start installing the ridge cap on the opposite side. Install the double layer of ridge cap and into roof cement first. Then, overlap by half with every follow on ridge cap, which will have to be secured with roofing nails on both sides. If your roof has a hip shape, then be sure to use nails that are half an inch longer than regular roofing nails. This point you should be all done, but be sure that you practice on a small roof such as a shed or a small garage before embarking on the installation of the roof for your home. Also please make sure that you know how to use safety equipment, and never work alone.
