All Forum Posts by: Jesse L. Weaver

Absolutely a good place to start! And yes, always a good idea to get multiple bids. And always remember, the cheapest isn’t always the best way to go! Especially in roofing, which I would consider one of the most important aspects of any home 

Haha why do nicer things usually have to be more expensive?! Standing seam certainly is one of the highest quality best looking roofs you can install. Metal roofing can be more of a niche market and not all asphalt shingle installers do metal roofs. I would say metal, especially standing seam, is a more intricate process with many more details. 

The added costs and length of project are dependent on so many factors so it is difficult to answer that. With my 4 person crew, a house your size may take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. Things like dormers and cut up areas really add a lot of time, while big wide open roof areas can go pretty fast with metal. 

I would ask a metal roofing contractor to show you some pictures of their work. If you ask for referrals they will obviously give you only the customers that had the best experience. If you look at some pictures and say “oh I really like that roof! Do you mind if I contact that homeowner and ask them a few questions about the process?” you may be more likely to get an honest review of their work. 

Trust me, if the installers went above and beyond, the customers never have a problem with answering a phone call from another future customer.

Mary, 

Sounds like a fun remodel! Metal certainly is a great choice for a new roof. I've owned a roofing company for 6 years. While we mainly do asphalt shingles, metal is the 2nd most common roof we install. In my opinion, the most important thing to consider in metal roofing systems is exposed fastener vs. hidden.

exposed fastener- Metal is actually screwed down to the roof deck through the face of the metal. The screws have rubber washers to seal to the metal and keep water out. The manufacturers keep improving these washers. This is a cheaper system than hidden fasteners, however the screws are usually the first point of failure. It is easy to replace them though and I have replaced many fasteners in 30+ year old metal roofs. New metal roofs that I have installed within the past 10 years have not had any problems with the exposed screws.

Hidden fastener- a better looking (in my opinion) and better quality metal roof. Which obviously comes with a higher price. Metal panels are clipped down to the roof and no fasteners are exposed to the elements. It is often called a standing seam metal roof as well. It's a little more complicated system but I'm sure a quick Youtube search could give a basic understanding. This should be a relatively low maintenance roof for 100+ years. The manufacturer I use warranties just the paint coating for 40 years. 

I have installed many of both systems and with an install crew that knows what they're doing, you can't go wrong either way. 

Ice Shield is a type of water barrier that would be installed underneath the metal in some areas. Ice dams can sometimes push water back underneath the roofing material. Ice shield is made to protect your roof deck and inside of your home from ice dam problems. It certainly should be installed on new roofs in the New England area. Please let me know if this is helpful, or if you have anymore questions!

Hello All!

I'm very excited to join and continue learning here at BP! With over a decade in the roofing industry I've seen a few things and can help you with any roofing related questions, so please don't hesitate to ask!

I've also recently acquired my real estate license in PA. I am looking forward to growing in this new career path. I have not yet completed any personal investment deals unless you count my first primary residence that I unintentionally flipped. I can't wait to continue developing my investing skills and connect with everyone!