Contractors Are Key in The Metal Roofing Industry
DIY standing-seam metal roof installation – to someone experienced in the industry, odds are these words would sound ludicrous. The fact is, there have been a lot of people trying of late, and a lot of people failing. The motivation of these would-be MacGyvers is obvious enough – they’re hoping to make a saving on the metal roofing contractor they won’t need to hire, followed by the further savings in terms of electric bills and insurance policies that having a metal roof puts you in for.
Now, sure, the mindset is one a lot of people can identify with right now – the economy’s as low as can be and many people have found themselves the victims of retrenchments or big wage cuts. And there are a number of companies that make metal roofing shingles for just this purpose – for the amateur, DIY metal roofing contractor. These panels, as they’re advertised, clip together easily, either by hand or with a minimal number of tools. The problem that you’re likely to run into when trying to use such products is that they’re uniform, designed for a uniform roof-shape.
But your typical home doesn’t have that. Odds are your home has a sidewall, a chimney, a dormer or a skylight somewhere up there, and the average homeowner trying to work around such structural irregularities without any panel-reshaping is almost bound to leave weak spots that make the internal structure of the roof vulnerable to water damage, possibly decreasing the lifespan of a roof which, properly installed, could last half a century without maintenance. The cost of installing a metal roof on your own could, in reality, be that you’ll need to get the entire job redone by a professional. When even a simple mistake like leaving a mark on one of your metal panels with a lead pencil instead of duct tape can lead to massive corrosion and compromise the integrity of the roof, is it really a risk you want to take?
So, if you don’t happen to live in a Toblerone- or matchbox-shaped residence, get on the phone to a metal roofing contractor and start haggling. The cost of installing a metal roof once you’ve laid hands on the requisite parts is not that high, as the labor required is so much less. The job should proceed relatively quickly, and if the contractor charges by the day, so much the better.
You should ensure that your contractor intends to use a brake, the name for the portable hydraulic cutting tool employed by roofers to shape irregular roof panels on site. If he doesn’t, odds are the job will stretch out far longer than necessary, costing you more and leaving parts of your roof open to the elements. In the long term, hand cut panels are also likely to be poorly shaped, reducing the visual effect of your roof.
The best tool for cutting and shaping metal roofing panels on-site is called a brake, and you need to make absolutely sure that your metal roofing contractor is using one, as without it you’ll be left with poorly-cut panels and a job that stretches out far longer than it should. The hydraulic powered teeth of the brake cut panels perfectly without deforming their ends, leaving you with the neatest, most aesthetically appealing roof-shaping you could hope for. Watch this video about metal roof contractor
YOU CAN SEE HOW TO INSTALL A METAL ROOF LIKE A PRO. BUY THE METAL FROM US OR WE’LL DO IT FOR YOU. THIS VIDEO SET WILL INCLUDE DRIP EDGE VALLEYS TRANSITIONS, RIDGE, CURBS, CHIMNEYS, SKYLIGHTS, CURBS AND OTHERS. WWW.ARMOUR METALS.COM CELL 843-833-3133 Please help to answer the question about metal roof contractorWhat is the right way to put a metal roof on a house?
One roofing contractor told me that he would screw the metal shingles into the shingles already on my roof.
Then a Sears contractor told me that would put too much weight on the roof. He said that Sears would remove my present shingles, then put on metal shingles. Which is correct?
About Author
Ryan McCall -
About the Author:
Read more advice about Installing a Metal Roof and Metal Roofing Contractors at DurableMetalRoofs.com.
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- How To Find The Best Metal Roof Shingles
- Metal Roofing – Top Contractors And Installation
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May 1st, 2010 | by roofing contractor |
By biggun on May 2, 2010
The restaurant industry has slip resistant shoes that work very well in greasy conditions. But they won't have steel toes or shanks.
http://www.knotlimited.com/servlet/ProductList?command=createProcurement&supplierID=353&manuID=353&categoryID=2146&categoryName=Men%27s+Slip-Resistant+Shoes
http://www.foodservice.com/iexhibit/shoesforcrews/products.cfm
http://www.standingcomfort.com/shoes/chef-shoes.html
And I actually found some work boots that advertise themselves as slip resistant…
http://www.nonslipandsteelshoes.com/vendor/worx%20by%20red%20wing.htm
By DL on May 2, 2010
Warranties on roofing materials are rarely used, for several reasons:
1. The bulk of the cost is in labor, rather than materials.
2. Manufacturers only cover defective materials, and the vast majority of problems with your roof are caused by incorrect installation, inappropriate materials given your location, "acts of God", etc.
3. Even if you do determine that you have defective materials, the warranty is typically pro-rated after a few years, so that after 10 years you'd only get a percentage of the amount you had originally spent.
It is much more important to get a guarantee from the roofing contractor that you hired.
Finally, although proof of purchase is helpful, it isn't usually required by manufacturers. Most roofing materials include a serial number or other method of identification, and this should be adequate should you wish to invoke the warranty. This article provides more detail: http://www.roofery.com/shingles/warranty.html.
By billaryboy on May 2, 2010
Hcl eats metal. If there were holes in the enamel the acid when applied would attack the roofing. The damage would be immediate and obvious.
Hcl becomes diluted (weaker) when you add water. If the contractor was careful to rinse well and then you had three days of rain it's hard to imagine any acid residue could have remained or done any damage.
You might buy one piece of roofing and duplicate the cleaning and flushing process to see if it damages the metal. This could provide some insights.
good luck.
By Wordpress on May 2, 2010
Wow! It takes guts for you to put this on the Internet for all to see. Like the masked magician showing how to do tricks, risking criticism from other magicians.
There are a lot of legitimate roofers out there like you, but since weve had a lot of severe weather they stay busy, they cant afford to take what I can afford. So it leaves me a few options, get ripped off or do it myself. Keep up the good work and thanks for your detailed videos.
May the Lord richly bless you!
Jim J in Arkansas
By Blogger on May 2, 2010
Metal and shingles contract and expand at the same rate. If you were to remove the metal after a year and inspect the underside it would look as if it were new.
By Anonymous on May 2, 2010
I was told by the pro shop at Home Depot…If you fasten metal roofing material directly to asphalt shingles you have just voided the warranty. The paint has a chemical reaction to the minerals in the shingle that starts to rust the roof from the bottom . Just like rusting fenders on a car !
By Anonymous on May 2, 2010
@stuckinmyass Minerals have chemicals? Cool. If you want to put a moisture barrier, put one. Metal roofing has been installed over open rafters for over a century . The need for underlayment is optional.
By billaryboy on May 3, 2010
HCl is soluble in water. Adding water to a HCl solution dilutes the acid. Add enough water and the HCl solution approaches the acidity of rain water. The HCl has been completely washed away by 3 days of rain. There certainly won't be any HCl solution left on the roof. The HCl was probably washed away by the contractor when he rinsed off the roof after cleaning it.
The owner is confused about HCl. The gas, HCl, ionizes in water and is corrosive. Exposing the roof to concentrated HCl solution is more corrosive than exposing a dry rood to HCl gas. However, the more water you add to a HCl solution, the weaker (and less corrosive) it becomes.
By Anonymous on May 2, 2010
how much does something like this cost? USD
By Free Blog on May 3, 2010
I was told it would not void the warranty. I have a question though. If you lay the metal directly on the shingles, would the expanding and contracting of the metal not wear a hole in the metal?
By gc27858 on May 3, 2010
You have to have ventilation. Metal is not an insulator, it's a conductor. If it's shiny it will reflect, but it won't stay shiny. If there is insulation under the metal, then the reflective quality will be helpful, but if not, the metal will heat up and it will get hotter than hell in your attic, and make your AC work harder. The more ventilation you have, the better. Ridge vents are good.
The problem with your existing fans is that they were made to install on a shingle roof, and the flange is probably full of nail holes and roofing cement, and hard to tie in on a metal roof. They can probably be modified in various ways, (e.g. curb mounted), by a good sheetmetal mechanic to work with a metal roof, and hopefully, your roofer is a good sheetmetal mechanic. Alternatively you could put gable fans, if you have gables.
By rock 1050 on May 4, 2010
By WPBlog Shop on May 4, 2010
I have a question. If you lay your metal directly on the shingles, would the expanding and contracting of the metal not eventually wear a hole in the metal?
By Anonymous on May 4, 2010
Great Video!! Its been years since I’ve done metal i am in the north east and its becoming more popular in our area, how bout when a dormer ties into the main roof detail with valley and ridge vent, and maybe a masonry chimney flash video… and how do i know i am running straight? I’ve gotton more from your videos than i have from my suppliers!! Again Thanks!!
By lyn g on May 5, 2010
A metal roof is not installed by a plumber, it would be installed by a roofer or a sheet metal worker.
By OMEGA1 on May 5, 2010
There are so many variables here that anything we say will only be a guess. The condition of your roof, the whole roof, not just the shingles, how many layers of shingles are on the roof right now, what the local codes require, most will allow two layers of shingles but not three. When I have a situation like this, I call the local building inspector and ask him/her, after all they are the ones that will have the final say. The inspectors in my area don't mind stopping by and giving their opinion.