The metal roof on my home was installed just before we purchased it 10 years ago. Installed by Mead and Braley out of Andover. It is standing seam and on the heavy side as far as available metal roofing gauge goes. 50 year roof installed by a top tier company.
Disclaimer: I have been involved professionally with the construction industry for over 10 years with a structural engineering background. I do not hand out many recommendations outside of our client list. We will not work with any other metal roofing installer than John and Pat.
The Pros:
-Looks the same today as it did 10 years ago.
-Snow slides off the roof as soon as the sun warms the metal.
-40 years left on my warranty.
The Cons:
-Snow slides off the roof as soon as the sun warms the metal. I have a tractor with a loader and a 3-point PTO 60" snowblower. It will take on average, a hour to clear freshly piled snow from the patio and oil fill areas, using that piece of equipment.
-If the piled snow is not delt with, within 24 hrs, it is almost impossible to remove.
-If you have nice landscaping around the perimeter of your home, beyond flowers. It will be destroyed. Some bushes are just not practical to have cover over.
I would recommend metal roofing to a friend and have. I typically only make that recommendation with knowledge of how it will affect their homes surroundings. I will also make sure that they are aware as well.
Things to consider before pulling the trigger:
-How falling snow will impact how you use your home. Doors, patios, grills, fuel delivery, decks (have replaced decks that have literally been seperated from the house due to sliding snow), landscaping, etc.
-Determine what items in the above list that are impacted, that you are willing to deal with snow on or around that is so densely packed and iced up that you will remove the following day every time it snows. The reason it slides off is because the metal has warmed, creating a water slide! Think of slush ball wet!
-If your home has valleys, the snow will not slide off the roof. The snow (ice layer) forms around the raised seams of the roof and locks the snow in each pan. Valleys do not allow for the snow to slide all the way down and out. You will have to remove this snow.
The cost is close to par with a top quality Architectural shingle. Determine the best option for your home based on the layout. Different factors carry different weight from one person to the next.
IF I had the option to not have metal roofing on my current home, I would take it. I am not about to remove perfectly good roofing material for a small inconvenience. I would remove it all and use an Architectural shingle if a project involved removing more than 40% of the existing roof comes up in the future.
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