I have recently produced a Youtube Video which explains how the right roofing system choice can make your home more energy efficient and even healthier. Click on the below link to view this short but informative video.

A homeowner’s concerns regarding hail damage are exacerbated by the fact that the cost to re-roof a home keeps increasing regularly. In fact, it has been my experience that roofing costs, regardless of the material, double about every ten years. To a large degree, this is attributable to installation labor costs which tend to increase over time even faster than material costs. When you add all of this together, it makes sense for homeowners to make wise roofing decisions and choose products that will last a long time, even if a hail storm hits your area. Seeking a hail-resistant roof is in the best interest of all property owners.

Many roofing materials resist hail damage when they are brand new but, as they age, they are more prone to cracking, splitting, and spalling when struck by hailstones. This journey toward being more prone to hail damage starts the moment that most roofing materials are installed but seems to get considerably worse when the products reach around five years of age. This tendency toward damage from hail exists with asphalt and fiberglass shingles as well as wood shingles and shakes, clay and concrete tiles, composite and plastic materials, and even slate. When these products are damaged by hail, their integrity and ability to protect your home diminish considerably. Hail damage can lead to roof leaks and other issues. Roof leaks, of course, can lead to damages inside your home as well as to dangerous mold and
mildew in your attic.

The ideal choice for homeowners, I feel, is roofing materials which do not split or crack under impact. When roofing materials split or crack, water is able to enter them. That water begins a process of deterioration which is unstoppable. If the roof is not replaced soon, interior leaks and other damage occur. And, unfortunately, homeowners who live in hail-prone areas know that, after a storm, they may wait many months before a contractor is able to replace their roof. Additionally, many of the contractors who offer their services are “storm chasers” whose workmanship may be of questionable quality.

The one roofing material which does not typically crack or split due to hail is metal. Metal roofs usually create a strong and lasting impenetrable shell that provides unmatched protection for you, your home, and your belongings. While metal roofs can sustain cosmetic damage under severe hail, they will continue to protect your home and keep it watertight. This means that, even if your roof does need to be replaced, you will not experience costly interior damages or resulting mold until the work can be done.

Many homeowners have also chosen metal roofs which are heavily textured such as metal shake and shingle profiles. They find that these profiles, due to the strength that builds into the metal when it is formed, will resist impact damage. Additionally, if indentations do occur, they will often be hidden by the already random formation of the product. In many cases, the appearance will not be objectionable at all, saving the homeowner from the costly and messy re-roofing process.

If you have questions about choosing a hail resistance roof or if perhaps your roof has been hit by hail and you’re not sure what to do, email me at todd@asktoddmiller.com and I will do my best to help you.

The videos can be viewed on the Asktoddmiller Youtube Channel.

Parts 4 and 5 of this video series are now available for viewing. Part 4.1 talks about ventilation and how re-roofing is the right time to consider your home’s ventilation needs as well. Part 4.2 talks more about ventilation and, specifically, cathedral ceilings and cold roof applications. Part 5 helps homeowners begin their process of selecting the right roofing material. This segment goes into detail explaining why the place to start is with product selection rather than choosing a contractor.

The entire series of videos can be viewed on the Asktoddmiller Youtube Channel. Homeowners who want greater detail or help in selecting a new roof are encouraged to send me an email at todd@asktoddmiller.com

Please feel free to link to “Buying A New Roof – Part 3″. And keep watch here for announcements of future segments of this series of videos.

Buying A New Roof Part 2 – Assessing Your Current Roof

The first video focuses on determining what you want out of your new roof. If you don’t determine your criteria to guide your roofing decision, then you can expect to end up down a path similar to your previous roof. The fact is, most of the roofing industry likes temporary roofs — they are a source of recurring revenue.

So, if you’re thinking of a new roof, keep an eye here for future videos and be sure to check out the first video titled “Buying A New Roof Part 1 – Choosing Your Criteria.”

Click here to view my first video in this series. Buying A New Roof Part 1

Classic Metal Roofing Systems, based in Piqua, Ohio, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of specialty residential metal roofing. According to Classic president Todd Miller, “We are very pleased to have our product chosen for this very important house which has been designed to use today’s latest green building technologies to produce a house that is sustainable, energy efficient, and very liveable. Our Oxford Shingle meets the goals of this project very well.”

Introduced by Classic in 2000, Oxford Shingle is a system of fully interlocking aluminum roofing shingles designed to withstand even the punishing weather that is regularly faced by hurricane-prone Florida and other states. The product is designed to have the traditional beauty of slate and is available in several fade and chalk resistant colors. The many benefits of metal roofing are causing it to be increasingly chosen by homeowners across the United States as well as in other countries.

Miller continued, “I believe that Oxford Shingle was chosen for the Cool Energy House for three reasons. First, it is produced from metal that is 95% recycled in content. Second, it is a very durable and lasting product which is 100% recyclable at the end of its long, useful life. And, third, it features a special heat-reflective coating that reduces a home’s air conditioning loads by up to 20% and even more in many climates.”

Classic will be providing promotional materials on the product that will be available on-site when the Cool Energy House is open for viewing. Additional information on Classic and Oxford Shingle is available at classicroof.com.

Owned by Steve Becker, Colorado Metal Roofing is a division of National Home Improvement, Inc. They are an independent dealer for Kassel & Irons premier steel roofing shingles. They sell and install their products throughout the Denver metro area as well as Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and Summit County.

As you often read here at asktoddmiller.com, metal roofing is becoming increasingly popular in areas prone to weather extremes. Subject to varying temperature extremes as well as snow, ice, and brutal winds, Colorado is no stranger to severe weather. Metal roofing meets those needs with its durability and long life expectancy. Interlocking panels and quality coatings known for fade and chalk resistance help to make metal roofs a solid choice for homeowners in Denver and surrounding areas.

As always, for homeowners throughout the United States, I am available to answer questions about roofing and ventilation. You can email me at todd@asktoddmiller.com.

First, here are the goals that typically will prompt a homeowner to buy a metal roof:

1) They intend to stay in the same home through at least one re-roofing cycle. In most areas, that is from 12 – 20 years. Because residential roofing prices seem to double about every ten years, the financial benefits of metal roofing really kick in once the homeowner has gone through one re-roofing cycle.

2) The homeowner cares about the aesthetics and value of their home. The top of a house is not a real friendly place to spend your time and most roofing materials show their age rather quickly. Installing a roof that will keep a fresh look over the long term will make your home more beautiful, and also more valuable if you choose to sell it.

3) The homeowner wants to do the right thing for the environment. The recycled content, sustainability, recyclability, and energy efficiency offered by metal roofing products are unmatched by other roofing materials. Hands down, the green benefits of metal, as well as the ongoing energy savings, put it far ahead of other roofing material choices.

4) The home is located in an area prone to weather extremes. Metal roofing has a great track record and specific benefits such as low weight and interlocking panels to make it be very lasting in severe weather areas. So, if you live in an area prone to high winds, hurricanes, hail, blazing sun, ice, snow, earthquakes, or firestorms, metal roofing can offer great protection.

Next, let’s look at Special Considerations to keep in mind if you’re considering a metal roof:

1) It is important to know the pitch of your roof. Most metal roofs work very well on roofs of 3:12 or greater pitch. For lower pitch roofs, there are great metal options but they are more limited in number. Feel free to email me at todd@asktoddmiller.com if you’d like to discuss the pitch of your roof. Never install a metal roof that is not appropriate for your home.

2) Existing leaks should be addressed. If you have any problems with your current roof, those should be tracked down and addressed appropriately before installing any new roof.

3) Think about increasing your attic ventilation. Good ventilation can make your home healthier, avoid winter ice damming in snowy areas, and save your energy dollars. Roofing is the perfect time to enhance the ventilation in your attic.

4) Complex roof lines are ideal for metal. If your roof is complicated or steep, there is a lot of labor involved in re-roofing no matter what product you’re installing. The permanence of metal roofing means it makes sense to do it once, do it right … and not have to spend those labor dollars again.

5) Skylights, chimneys, and other protrusions. Even though they are intentional, these are still holes in your roof and, to some degree, a hole in your roof never makes sense. However, metal roofs can be flashed around these things. Having a caring and experienced installer is critical. Feel free to email me anytime to see if I know of any good installers in your area – todd@asktoddmiller.com

6) Flared gables. This is one of my favorites – it is when the ridge of your roof is wider than the bottom of your roof. This is done on some log homes as well as other home designs from time to time. While this architecture looks great, it also can be difficult for metal roofs. To some degree, metal shingles are easier to properly install in this situation that are standing seam and other vertical roofing panels.

While these lists are by no means exhaustive, I hope they provide some glimpse at whether a metal roof might be right for you and your home. Please contact me anytime you’d like to discuss your roofing situation in greater detail.