In Episode 2 of “Ask Danny,” steel roof skilled Todd Miller gave us some suggestions and inside info on set up, vitality effectivity, and styling choices.
About Todd Miller
Todd Miller is president of Isaiah Industries, a producer of residential steel roofing.
With 40 years of trade expertise, Todd has labored with property house owners and contractors on initiatives world wide.
Aside from roofing, he’s typically wanted for his experience in condensation and air flow.
Todd additionally has an academic web site at Ask Todd Miller in addition to a podcast, “Development Disruption.”
Working with Todd in Louisiana
I met Todd whereas filming a TV episode of Householders At this time in Reduce Off, La., in 2020. Hurricane Zeta had broken the roofs of David and Ruby LeBlanc, so we put in new steel roofs for them.
For David and Ruby steel roofing, we used an aluminum product referred to as rustic shingles.
They stay on the Gulf Coast, so aluminum is good for his or her atmosphere as it’s corrosion resistant. Plus, the shingles interlock on all sides, offering sturdy wind resistance with an added previous world wobble look.
Lower than a 12 months later, their steel roof was examined throughout Hurricane Ida.
“Once I noticed the trail of the storm, I used to be sweating bullets,” Todd stated. “You at all times consider in your product, you realize it might probably work, however alternatively, storms like which might be unpredictable. You possibly can find yourself with a whole lot of windblown particles which may typically trigger injury.”
Ida introduced wind speeds of as much as 200 miles per hour and likewise destroyed a neighbor’s storage.
David and Ruby’s steel roof shone. The one injury was one hip hat that got here off on the aspect closest to their neighbor’s storage.
“Their previous home has suffered injury and hardship from hurricanes up to now, however you by no means know,” stated Todd. “They’re pretty individuals and decided to guard this dwelling for the subsequent era.”
Do it’s a must to take away all the present shingles from the roof prior to installing the steel roofing?
Todd: Though each house is totally different, the quick reply is not any. In case you solely have one layer of shingles, most constructing codes enable for a second layer of roofing.
It is rather widespread for steel roofing, particularly shingles and corrugated steel, to be put in over an current layer of shingles. Nevertheless, if you need a standing seam steel roof, you will want to have a clean floor for set up. In any other case, you may find yourself with oil canning, or ripples within the panels.
It doesn’t matter what sort of steel roof you need, at all times do an attic inspection previous to set up. Look intently on the underside of the roof deck for indicators of decay, water infiltration, and excessive humidity ranges that should be addressed.
Would you advocate a roofer put strapping earlier than the roof goes on?
Todd: Normally I do not. For many merchandise, it isn’t crucial.
In case you have correct attic air flow, there isn’t a fear from a condensation standpoint.
Strapping or battens can be utilized, however they may finally make the roof tougher to step on, extra inclined to wind raise, and you might want to boost gutters. For this reason we usually promote direct-to-deck mounting.
Even with a direct-to-deck set up, if on high of an previous single, we’ll put a layer of underlayment on high of the present shingles.
Usually instances, constructing codes require it, nevertheless it additionally is smart. You do not need the highest floor of the previous shingles to rub in opposition to the again of the steel panels.
How lengthy does it take to put in a steel roof?
Todd: After all, each house is totally different, however a one to a few day set up just isn’t unusual.
That is one other nice advantage of steel roofing — minimal disruption to your routine throughout set up.
Model Choices
What forms of steel roofing are rising in popularity?
Historically, corrugated steel roofing and shiplap had been the most well-liked, however that’s beginning to change.
Many owners’ associations and architectural assessment boards don’t enable steel roofs. Plus, it may be troublesome for some owners to think about a roof that is not asphalt shingles.
However now, there’s a steel roof possibility that appears like a standard roof. They’re referred to as modular steel merchandise, that are principally steel shingles.
They’re manufactured from metal, aluminum and even copper. These panels are formed in a wide range of methods, and might appear to be current asphalt shingles, wooden sway, upscale slate or barrel tile.
With any such steel roof, you will get a extra conventional upscale roof look with the sturdiness, vitality effectivity and sustainability of steel roofing.
Vitality effectivity
Are darker steel roofs much less vitality environment friendly than lighter ones?
Todd: Usually, after we speak concerning the vitality effectivity of steel roofs, it’s by way of photo voltaic reflection.
The extra photo voltaic vitality your roof absorbs, the warmer your private home will likely be. This causes your air conditioner to work tougher to maintain your private home cool.
Usually, lighter steel roofs mirror extra daylight than darker ones.
White naturally has a excessive solar reflection of about 65 %, however you do not have to have a white roof to have an vitality environment friendly roof.
Now there are cool roof coatings with pigments that mirror infrared vitality from the solar and preserve the roof cool.
With out this cool roof layer, a darker roof displays solely about 3-4 % of the solar’s infrared vitality. With this new pigment, the roof displays as much as 25-30 %.
Ideas Todd
- Choose the product first. In the long run, you’ll stay with the look of that product for a very long time. In case you do not just like the look and it does not swimsuit your private home, you will not be proud of it. The Steel Roofing Alliance has a visualizer that can assist you see how a steel roof will look on your private home.
- When you choose your product, discover the installer via the producer. They may know the product via and thru.
- Suppose long run. Upfront steel roofing prices greater than conventional roofing, however you may save time. Take a look at it primarily based on the price per 12 months. In case you intend to stay in your house for a number of years, you may see good returns over time with decrease utility payments and fewer repairs.
Simply while you suppose you have seen all of it, overlook it — you have not seen something.
Years in the past, a girl in upstate New York needed a steel roof put in on a small bungalow. He has a fairly fancy journal and web site and desires to make a deal the place Todd will assist him get the roof and, in flip, he’ll promote Todd’s enterprise.
It appeared like a win-win for Todd. As a part of the deal, he despatched a crew from Ohio to put in the roof – freed from cost.
4 years later, an offended lady named Todd. He stated, “You place a roof on my home and I do not know why!”
Because it turned out, the lady who contacted Todd was not the proprietor. He’s the tenant.
“We put a roof on somebody’s home who does not comprehend it and does not even need it!”
All was nicely which ended nicely, he turned out to be enjoyable, and he and Todd grew to become good associates.
“We’re nonetheless laughing about it,” Todd stated.
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