You’ll never forget the day a buddy of yours started raving about how amazing a metal roof is. You immediately concluded that your pal must be utterly ignorant of metal roofing, or else they would never have considered making such an absurd claim. After all, nobody would ever put a metal roof on their home since they knew it would leak and make a racket whenever it rained. A metal roof also makes your home look like a barn, which is not exactly the aesthetic you want.
How ridiculous! So, until you grew to believe it yourself, you wrote off your friend’s roofing beliefs as uninformed and stupid.
Wow, take a look at that stunning roof! And hold for a second. Is it metal?
While traveling on your sub-urban road to a friend’s house, your attention is abruptly taken to a lovely place standing gloriously amid other homes on that street, and you almost immediately forget about the foolish roofing chat you and your friend had earlier. The distinctive sharpness of the roof is what first caught your eye, and the house’s overall attractiveness sealed the deal; you had to investigate further. Even though you were already late to your friends’ scheduled get-together party, you found yourself pulling over to the side of the road. You experienced one of those times when you had to pause and look at the peculiar rooftop. You approached the house to inspect the roof more closely.
When I was only about 15 feet from the roof, the sun’s playful reflection off the cedar shakes was stunning. You noticed the top was unlike any other you had seen before; it resembled cedar shake shingles in appearance, but its actual material was a mystery to you. Could you, though? You ran through the numerous possible kinds of roofing materials in your head and concluded that this one looked nothing like any of them.
It’s not quite what you were hoping for!
You were amazed to discover that a metal roof can appear so stunning, and rightfully so. After all, when you think of metal roofs, you probably imagine the rusty corrugated steel roofs of abandoned factories and dilapidated barns. You know the stories of the thunderous booms they make during downpours and the risk of being struck by lightning. In contrast to the mental image you had created, this home’s metal roof appeared very different. Metal shingle tiles, a metal ridge cap, and a metal flashing accent gave it a sleek, sophisticated appearance.
You also found out that the house itself wasn’t imposing; in fact, it was pretty ordinary, but the metal roof made it look like a million bucks.
Change in Thinking
Your preconceptions about metal roofing changed even if you weren’t wholly convinced. Your bias against it had faded, and you developed a newfound curiosity about it. Your pals were as shocked as you were when you informed them about the metal roof you had spotted. Except for one, they mostly kept quiet. When you initially laughed at the idea of a metal roof, a buddy who has tried to convince you of its merits now says, “See, bud, you were making fun of it, and now you are all excited about it.” You were starting to have second thoughts. Your interest in metal roofing had grown, so you sought an expert installer to ask some questions.
This is no ordinary roofing work.
Your friend warned you that your regular roofer does not know how to install a metal roof because the process differs from conventional roofing. He told you about a man he knew who had a traditional roofing contractor attempt to build a metal roof, and the results were disastrous. The roofing contractor who installed it lacked the expertise to conduct the job correctly. As a result, the roof was leaking extensively, and a new, seasoned metal roofer was called in to remove the poorly installed system and start over. Your pal told you that those who think metal roofs are more accessible than traditional ones have never put up a metal roof themselves and are instead going off anecdotal evidence. Their false views cause others to be perplexed and cost the roofing industry a lot of money due to subpar work.
If you want quality work, you should use a licensed metalwork contractor.
The lesson of your friend’s experience is clear: it is better to take the time to find a qualified metal roofing contractor to install your roof from the start than to hire the wrong crew that has never established a metal roof before and will treat it as another asphalt shingle “get it done in one day” project. Having convinced you of the need to hire a metal roofing specialist, your friend suggested that you consult a Roofing Contractors directory broken down into categories by specialization; specifically, a directory listing metal roofing contractor companies organized by location in the United States and by specialty categories such as standing seam and metal shingle installers.
The Challenge of Hiring a Metal Roofing Contractor
After doing some research, you realized that many different contractors and businesses offered metal roofing, and you were faced with the opportunity and responsibility of choosing the best metal roofing contractor. The selection procedure was simple, but it had to be followed precisely. A prospective roofing contractor would visit your home to provide an estimate as part of the screening process. When the first roofing contractor came to look at your roof and gave you a quote that was half what the other two men had given you and then asked for a cashier’s check for the entire amount up front, you knew there was a problem.
This man was a con artist who targeted the elderly and illiterate through a roof scam. As luck would have it, though, not every roofer out there is a con artist. One of them ultimately provided a cost almost four times as much as the estimate provided by the asphalt shingle contractor who came before him. Metal roofing may have a more significant cash outlay at the outset, but the long-term savings he detailed are compelling. To sum up, a metal roof is the last roof you’ll ever need to build, and in exchange for that one-time investment, you receive a roof that not only looks fantastic and lasts a lifetime but also aids in energy savings and boosts the value of your home. Are you kidding me? Of course, you shouldn’t base your decision on the price alone, whether high or low, when hiring a roofing contractor.
Asking for references, observing the quality of their work, and possibly even talking to individuals to see if they are pleased with the roofing job that a contractor has accomplished are all excellent ways to determine if they will do a good job for you. It’s also wise to learn as much as possible about the metal roofing system your contractor intends to install, the underlayment they propose utilizing, and their ventilation strategy.
Here are some vital inquiries about the metal roofing contractor you hire.
Find out if the warranty covers only the materials or if the contractor guarantees the work will be free of leaks and water damage.
Type of Underlayment – Research shows that synthetic vapor barrier insulation can retain moisture and lead to deck deterioration. Thus, metal roofs shouldn’t be placed over them. Therefore, a ventilation system that allows airflow is highly suggested.
Inadequate ventilation can lead to the buildup of condensation, the formation of ice dams, and eventual roof failure. Inquire about the roofer’s ventilation strategies.
Get a written guarantee from your roofing contractor that they will replace any damaged decking if your roof needs to be torn off. Proposal and agreement in writing.
Before agreeing to any job, you should obtain a formal proposal and contract and carefully review it. If a contractor fails to produce as promised, you will have little recourse but to request that all promises be recorded in writing.
Finally, think things out.
All the best!
Metal roofing’s market share has skyrocketed since 1998 when it was a meager 4%. Metal has recently become the most popular choice for roofs. Discover the many uses and advantages of metal roofing for houses, businesses, and even industrial post-frame structures. This site includes a free roofing calculator and a comprehensive metal roofing cost reference that is updated frequently. Homeowners can also find step-by-step guidelines that educate them on how to measure and estimate their roofs so they can employ professional roofers. Become an informed homeowner by learning about the advantages of today’s metal roofing options. Knowledge is power!
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