Metal roofing on your house?

[estherhead]

We have to get a new roof. Dh & I are handy and we have a lot of handy friends including one who does roofing and one who does metal roofing. Both have volunteered to help us. Our roof is HUGE and has a low pitch. Our house is a brick ranch, so a VERY boring roof.

Anyway the metal roof friend can get us a deal & know exactly what he's doing (his properties all look amazing) and has been telling me why they all have metal, because it lasts forever & locks so tightly that even after 50 years it doesn't leak, it's easy to install and goes up quickly, costs the same as dimensional shingles, etc.

But even though he's convinced me logically I'm not thoroughly convinced of the look of the metal and I'm not convinced of living with metal.

Anyone have a metal roof and can share your thoughts with me?

 

[stnet]

I grew up in a house with a metal roof and then built our first house with one but our second one we put shingles on. I really MISS my metal roof!!! In our first house our attic was so cool it was hard to believe it was July in Texas but with our shingles it is so different. I also enjoyed being able to hear the rain on the roof. As far as looks go it will take a little getting used to just because you are so used to the way your house looks with shingles but it will be so worth it in the end. Your friend is right about them lasting forever. My dad and my husband are both home builders and they always recommend metal roofs!! Good luck with your decision!!!

 

[apnep]

I don't have a metal roof, but I would get it in a heartbeat if I knew I didn't have to ever replace it again.

If your friend works in the business, and you've seen his properties, then why don't you ask him for references of people you can call and ask his clients? That's what I would do. I'd also call his competition (both metal and regular roofing) to get their opinions about the pros and cons just to make sure I heard thoughts from both sides. Always research, research, research before you make a big decision like that and you'll be happy with the decision you make.

Good luck whatever you decide to do!

Ang

 

[Tiana]

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[Justsyd2]

We had one installed after our shingled roof was hail damaged. We loved it! (We've since moved). It was a lot cooler than shingles, and it was great to be able to hear the rain.

 

[Cindyrellablue]

I just returned from a visit to my father's house, he just got his new metal roof and said that he loved it!

Unfortunately, I'm a very light sleeper and the rain kept me up at night...I thought it was too loud. I saw some other posters liked it...but count me out for noise.

 

[akcire]

You should also be able to deduct the cost of a metal roof on your income taxes with the energy credit. No deduction for shingles unless you use the super light grey three tabs.

 

[Nancyg56]

We had a metal roof installed when we renovated our home. We absolutely love it. It is rated for 200 MPH winds, will last well over 40 or 50 years, reduces stress from snow on the structure. But that is not why we like it, it looks so pretty. Ours is burgundy and it offsets the grey cedarish siding. DH told me it was about the same price to install as a conventional roof.
The only issue we have is that you need a special ladder to get on to the roof so DH cannot clean our chimneys any more. We have to have a company clean them. The roof will get dirty if it is shady so we did need to have it power cleaned as well.

 

[Colleen27]

You don't mention where you live, but metal roofing is especially advantageous in places where cooling is necessary. The metal reflects most of the sun's heat so the house stays cooler.

If you're in an area that gets a lot of snow you're going to want to have your gutters checked and updated (if necessary) to make sure they can handle the load. Snow slides right off a metal roof even at a low pitch, and we've done a couple of spring repairs for people who didn't realize that the sliding snow would have enough force to pull their gutters loose. Properly installed and maintained gutters will hold up fine, but if they're already loose, bent, whatever, they'll catch too much of the force from the snow and work lose.

Our business is shingle roofing, but DH worked for one of his friends on a couple of metal roofing installations and he was pretty impressed with the product itself. So much so that he's willing to consider it for our own house, which he'd been stubbornly unwilling to do just a few years ago when we put a roof on our previous home.

 

[pyrxtc]

I thought about getting a metal roof for years but my first job for the paper was a fire. House had a metal roof and it gave the fireman no time to try to save anything including the house. 4 dogs, 2 cats, a bird and everything they owned was lost because the roof made the house an oven. It even melted the glass dining table on the patio next to the house cuz it got so hot. Once the roof fell down it was gone, they could only control it from spreading. That changed my mind right there.

Similar fire (same starting point) in another house 3 weeks later that had a regular roof. They were able to rescue the animals, person, and save the structure. That house still stands because they were able to cut through the roof to let the heat release and get inside to spray also.

Starting point on both fires were wood stoves.

 

[Nancyg56]

Similar fire (same starting point) in another house 3 weeks later that had a regular roof. They were able to rescue the animals, person, and save the structure. That house still stands because they were able to cut through the roof to let the heat release and get inside to spray also.

Starting point on both fires were wood stoves.

When DH bought the house we live in there was a wood stove in the basement. DH was appalled at the state of the chimney. He told me that he did not believe that the previous owners ever cleaned the chimney and he also wondered what they burned in it. DH was a Firefighter since he was 17 years old and is a firm believer in prevention. He cleaned the chimney before starting the stove every Fall. We have a pellet stove now but he hates it so it is only in case we lose power. The fireplace is oversized and burns hot but we still have that chimney cleaned once a year as well. I hope that we never experience a fire in our home, I never knew about the roof turning the house into an oven.

 

[laurafergie]

My house was built in 1901 and on the carriage house and the rear part of the house (it was an enclosed porch, now our master bedroom and kitchen) the roof is metal. We don't know how old it is - but it is really old, for sure 50 years plus. It has sprung some leaks here and there over the years, but you can get patch stuff and a thick tar like paint and that fixes it right up. Good thing since a roof replace is wayyyy down on the list.

I grew up with metal roofs, so the rain sounds do not bother me. I love it! When we replace, I hope we replace it with metal.

 

[Duckiedee]

Weird question - but how do you put up Christmas lights on these roofs?

 

[ugadog99]

I have already decided that if we are still in this house when it's time for a new roof, we'll be doing metal. It will be the dark green to go with the overall look of the house. The metal rook will actually work well with my house since it is out in the country and has a farmhouse look to it. Even if it didn't though I would still do metal roof. We live in Georgia and would love the benefits of a metal roof!

 

[stm61]

if you have a metal roof and use satelitte for tv or internet, you'll need to have your dishes pole mounted. They can't install them on metal roofs. It's a one time fee to move them, but it's pretty pricey.

 

[mickeyluv]

My DH's cousin has a metal roof and they have a problem getting good cell phone reception. They says it's because of the metal roof. Does anyone else have this problem?

 

[Nancyg56]

Weird question - but how do you put up Christmas lights on these roofs?

I would hang them off the gutters I think.

My DH's cousin has a metal roof and they have a problem getting good cell phone reception. They says it's because of the metal roof. Does anyone else have this problem?

My cell reception is fine.

 

[yoopermom]

We have a metal roof, dark green, on this house "way up north" and I absolutely love it. We have a cathedral ceiling in the living/dining/kitchen, and it's so well insulated, you really barely hear the rain. Our satellite dish is on a ground mount. In the winter, when the sun is out, it's fun to listen to the snow slllliiiiddddeeee off the roof, crash!

Would definately do it again!

Terri

 

[estherhead]

Thanks everyone. Lots of things I haven't thought about. The rain doesn't bother me, I like the sound plus I'm partially deaf. And we have new gutters, no satellite tv, and live on a hill with 5 bars of cell phone. I drove around town & was surpassed that there seem to be a growing number of metal roofed in town. I'm still not sure it's for me & I haven't called the references yet tho that's smart. I live in southern Ohio so we have some snow but not tons & summers are between 80-95.

I am concerned about the not being able to walk on it & am going to ask for more info on that for sure. I'm also worried about my big ranch house looking like a barn after seeing houses similar to mine that I feel do look like barns so I'll have to figure that out. If only I lived in a cape cod... I think it'd be a no brained for me.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

if you have a metal roof and use satelitte for tv or internet, you'll need to have your dishes pole mounted. They can't install them on metal roofs. It's a one time fee to move them, but it's pretty pricey.

We have a metal roof and ours is mounted to the roof as are most others who have satellite and a metal roof in this area. I haven't been up there but they bloted it on and sealed it. No extra charge. the mounts can't be taken off is the thinkg if the satellite itself is removed.

TH\he metal roof is great for the snow it slides right off. Living in Maine this is important.

The only issue we have had and it is a major one was due to the inability of our contactor (who came reccomended) to know what side of the roof was up so our roof was put on upside down. Also our foof which never leaked before replacement began leaking after it was put on because the flashing around the chimney wasn't put on correctly. Needless to say the reccomended contrator went out of business and we hired another contracter to fix the flashing. This was how we discoverd the roof was on upside down. We haven't had leaking issues since and the second contractor said that he felt that the roof because it was coated front and back with the same "paint" or what ever it is on the metal (it is ever green) and also appears to be be attached securely to the house that though it might not last the full 50 years it should last with in 10 of it. We have had it on for about 6 years now and it seems to be ok so far. So just be sure that contractors actually know what they are doing.