Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508140030
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: C10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES DULLEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: Installing a new style residential metal roof makes good economic and practical sense for many reasons. New metal roofs required no maintenance. With new finishes (some with colored stone mixed in) and profiles, it is impossible to distinguished a metal roof from real shingles, shakes or tiles.
Although attractive metal roofing costs more than typical shingles or tile, it's less expensive overall because it lasts several times longer. Even if you do not plan to live in your house forever, the 50-year-warranty often is transferable to new owners. This increases your home's resale value.
Advantages of a metal roof are many, especially for areas with threats of wild fires, wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme summer heat or severe cold with roof-ice damage. Many homes with metal roofs were spared in recent California fires and Florida hurricanes.
Metal roofing can be installed directly over old shingles to save the expense of stripping them off. If you want to change to the look of heavy tiles, metal is your only choice without expensive roof reinforcement. Most metal roofing weighs only 50 to 150 pounds per 100 square feet (square).
Residential metal roofing is usually made of galvanized steel, aluminum or copper. Steel and aluminum are often finished with a (Teflon-like) Kynar coating (some 20 offer standard and custom colors). Kynar is so tough that it withstands 400-ton metal forming presses after the metal is coated.
Metal roofing, especially aluminum, keeps your attic cooler and lowers your air-conditioning costs. A dark brown shingle-profile aluminum roof still rejects 80 to 90 percent of the sun's heat. Even with central air-conditioning this improves your comfort, especially in second-story bedrooms.
Due to its deep profile contour, metal roofing is slightly raised from the old shingle surface. This creates a shallow air gap beneath it and allows natural air flow to carry away the summer sun's heat and winter moisture.
Some metal roofing is supplied in large preformed, multishingle panels for quick installation. Individual east-to-install real copper-coated fiberglass shingles provide true copper appearance at lower costs.
For a buyer's guide listing 20 manufacturers of residential metal roofing, prices, colors and profiles available, product specifications and installation instructions, write to James Dulley, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244. Ask for Update Bulletin No. 613. Please include $2 and a business self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Q: I am interested in using environmentally proper and efficient materials when I make improvements to my house. How does common particle board used in cabinets impact the environment?
A: Composite wood board (particle board) is made from waste wood chips and sawdust. It is bonded together with adhesives and formed into panels. Since most of the material is scrap from sawmills and logging, it gets a high rating. Unfortunately, scrap particleboard is not often recycled itself.
The only potential problem with particle board is outgassing of formaldehyde gas. Some people are sensitive to even low concentrations. Modern manufacturing methods, if done properly, minimize this outgassing.
by CNB