Usa Roofs Are Not Created Equal!

It has been almost 20 years since Hurricane Andrew left a path of destruction through South Florida, causing more than $15 billion in damage. After this devastation, the number one priority for building authorities was to improve roof performance. This directive reflected what many Silicone Roof Coatings eyewitnesses observed during Hurricane Andrew - that much of the damage was caused by flying roof tiles.

Due to the seriousness of this matter, several top laboratories that test the performance of roofing materials in high winds reside in Florida. The Stone-Coated Steel Roofing industry has taken the testing of their products beyond the minimum Florida requirements, partly because steel products could not be grandfathered in like some other materials approved in the state. Metro Roof Products, for instance, has shown through a 2006 UL report that their Stone-Coated Steel roof panels can withstand 307 psf of wind pressure without damage of any kind to the system. When translating that amount of psf to mph, it equals 277 - well above the Miami-Dade requirement of 150.

Structural engineers consider the roof to be a major factor when determining whether or not a structure will survive a windstorm, especially when the speeds exceed the hurricane threshold of 75 mph. As Hurricanes Andrew, Wilma, Charlie & Katrina have demonstrated, a lost roof causes three-fold damage:

1) A building open to the elements suffers damage to the attic, insulation, sheetrock, furnishings, and all other internal components.

2) It weakens the overall structure, potentially resulting in further structural damage or total collapse.

3) Airborne tiles can cause damage to adjacent properties and cause serious injury.

When taking into consideration the advantages of Stone-Coated Metal Roofs over other roofing products, one can't help but question why this product does not have the recognition it should. A large part of the reason is that it is more expensive than other roofing materials, so it is not used by tract home builders. Higher roofing costs can cut into profits that can be made by using cheaper cement tile or asphalt shingle roofs. Stone-Coated Steel roofing is considered an upgraded roof, and many people are not aware of the benefits. Many people do not understand the differences in roofing materials until they are faced with making a decision about replacing an existing roof.

There is also a misconception - especially for first time home buyers - that new homes are built using the best materials available. This is not usually the case - Chinese drywall is one recent example. Developers don't build homes to make places for people to live; it is a business, and they want to maximize their profits. To do so, they generally use products that perform well enough to pass inspections but avoid higher-end products that many homeowners would not appreciate.

Another reason Stone-Coated Steel roofs don't get the recognition they deserve is that they require special training and experience to install and roofers cannot get this experience by installing concrete tile or asphalt shingle roofs. It is easier for them to try and persuade you into another product than spend the time and money to be a qualified steel roofing contractor.

It is prudent to be sure that the roofing contractor you choose has the necessary experience and knowledge of Stone-Coated Steel roofing. It is always wise to ask for product-specific referrals to avoid any problems and to ensure the outcome you desire. Consumers seem to have difficulty understanding or accepting that there are specialists in roofing, just like law or medicine. You wouldn't have heart surgery performed by a dentist. Don't assume that all roofing companies are qualified and experienced in all roofing materials. Just because a roofing contractor has a license does not necessarily mean they have experience with every type of roofing product. Be informed, ask questions, and choose wisely.

Green Products

Organizations such as Global Green USA, the National Institute for Building Sciences and the Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania are among those who tout the eco-benefits of steel roofing. Each steel roof is made of 50% or more recycled steel and can be 100% recycled at the end of its life. Steel roofs help keep hundreds of tons of used roofing material out of landfills, and fewer barrels of crude oil are used to make steel than asphalt shingles.

Energy Savings

Scientific research studies confirm tie and again that steel roofing keeps a home cooler than any other common roof system. Even scientists with the U.S. Department of Energy found a significant reduction on energy usage when a home was reroofed with stone-coated steel. Certain steel roofs even quality for price reductions under the Energy Star program in other states.