Metal roofs go residential

THE POPULARITY of steel roof-

|. ine in home construction has g.o*n -dtu-utically in recent years.

Today, hundreds of builders across the United States and Canada are using steel roofing for all types of single-family homes, multi-family dwellings, retirement homes and affordable housing projects.

While metal roofs are estimated to account for only about 5Vo of residential roofing in the U.S., that figure is expected to grow to lOVo by the end of the decade.

"There is little doubt that steel roofing is making inroads in the residential marketplace, with tremendous growth potential," says the American Iron and Steel Institute's Richard Haws.

Several factors have contributed to the rapid growth of residential prepainted metal roofing. First, the increased use of residential steel framing in new construction has permitted builders to experiment with the use of pre-painted metal roofing, along with the framing. Lower insurance rates have also contributed to this trend.

Second, the various natural disasters that have occurred in the United States in the past few years have allowed metal roofing to prove itself under adverse conditions. Hurricanes, earthquakes, firestorms and floods across different parts of the country caused major roof failures. According to the American Iron and Steel

Institute, metal roofs performed remarkably well in comparison to conventional roofing products, and prepainted metal is now being considered in areas where natural disasters are known to occur.

Finally. landfills refusing to accepr torn-off conventional roofing materials (or charging very high dumping fees for such materials) has contributed to the increased usage of metal roofing in residential construction.

Although the metal roof is recyclable as steel scrap. the primary environmental advantage is that a metal roof can often be installed over an existing shingle or tile roof, without having to tear offthe existing roof.

"Metal roofs are much lighter than other roofing types, so there's never any concern about structural damage caused by the additional weight," says Steve Kelchlin, West Coast Roofing, San Diego, Ca. "In fact, reroofing with metal in many instances lightens the load because in wet conditions, a metal roof weighs less than the rainsoaked wood shingles or shakes it covers."

In addition, many reroofing applications permit added insulation between the old and new roof, resulting in a quiet, environmentally friendly system that can reduce internal energy consumption by furnaces and air conditioners.

Another advantage of steel roofing is its versatility. Metal roofing is available in a vast assortment of designs to suit just about any aesthetic requirement, including high and low slopes and angled, curved and mansard roofs. At the same time, its finish provides protection from the problems that can affect wood and asphalt, such as splitting, cracking, curling and warping.

Besides its strength and durability, steel roofing provides lower maintenance and greater fire resistance. It has received an A or B rating from the three model U.S. building codes. as well as the National Building Code of Canada. Many roof assemblies have also received high ratings from the Underwriters Laboratory and Factory Mutual.

Story at a Glance

Why steel roofs are makang a dent in resadential market basic metal roofing designs.

Some of the basic design categories include :

Standing Seam Roofs - These designs are characterized by their linear shadow patterns. Seams vary from flat, hidden seams to wide battens. The height and width of these ribs. as well as their color and solar orientation, will express a broad spectrum of aesthetic expressions.

Tile Designs - Available in a wide variety of colors and textures, these prepainted metal panels create the appearance of clay or concrete tiles. Their versatile design is a major reason for metal's growing popularity in the residential market.

Shingle Designs - Metal roofs can also simulate slate, as well as wood shingles and shakes. These panels are often embossed with a texture or coated with natural stone chips.

Contractor David Huffman. D&R Roofing, Springdale, Ar., knows that metal roofing can be lucrative, but admits that it may not be for everyone. "Metal roofs present a number of challenges that are not required for more traditional roofing installations," says Huffman. "You need a skilled crew capable of working with a whole new set of tools and installation procedures. Of course, the upside is that you're putting on a technically advanced roofing system with greater profit margins on every job."