How To Find the Best Metal Roofing Contractor

Two things that never end well when it comes to metal roofing are cheap prices and little research. As painstaking as it may seem, doing extensive research on a metal roofing contractor before you hire them is one of the most important steps in having a metal roof installed, especially since they’ll be installing one of the most important aspects of your house. Read reviews, ask around for referrals, and never choose a contractor just because they offer a cheaper price. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and you’ll probably end up paying what you saved on repairs for a poorly installed roof. For a job well done, and peace of mind, be sure to do your research.

Some things to keep in mind while doing your research is that the best roofing contractors usually aren’t available tomorrow or next week because they are in demand. They’re also not the cheapest because they know they’re giving you your moneys’ worth. They’ll be highly regarded on review sites, and a lot of their business comes from past customers who refer their friends and relatives to them.

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Speaking of referrals, manufacturers are great places to start, as most know the integrity and expertise of the metal roofing contractors they work with. In some cases, a manufacturer will carefully interview potential contractors before offering the product to them for resale (and installation). Carefully selecting quality contractors is a way for the manufacturer to control the quality of the installation in the field and enhance the value of their product in the marketplace. After all, if something goes terribly wrong with a job and a homeowner can’t get a response from the contractor, they usually turn to the material manufacturer in hopes of resolution. Material manufacturers are usually brutally honest and will not recommend a contractor they have had problems with.

Asking friends and family members about their experience with a roofing contractor can be a great way to find good companies to work with. Be sure to read review pages (Houzz, Better Business Bureau, and Angie’s List are great resources) to find reliable contractors who will work for you. Finding a reliable roofing contractor online is possible, but online reviews are no substitute for meeting with a contractor in person. Interviews are an important way to get to know the contractor. Prior to the interview, go through their website and read reviews of them online. What do you like about their work? Once they start the job, do they see the job through before going to the next job? Make sure you use this time to have the roofing contractor address your concerns and let them tell you what they can provide for you. When making a large investment in your home, you want someone who listens to and understands your needs while also delivering a quality service. To help narrow down your choices, ask the roofing contractor for references. A reputable roofing company will have a long list of completed roofs, allowing you to drive by the home to actually see their work.

Distinctive Metal Roofing is proud to be the best roofing contractor in the greater Cleveland, OH, and Pittsburgh, PA, areas. Just listen to what our happy customers have to say!

What To Look For in Standing Seam Metal Roofing

A standing seam roof in Cleveland

If there’s one thing homeowners are confused about, or don’t take the time to research, is the difference between the various standing seam products on the market today. The biggest reason for this is that they usually can’t compare panels side by side and don’t know the correct questions to ask. I’ll attempt to clarify some of the areas to focus on as a homeowner so you’re sure to compare apples to apples, and get the best standing seam material available today.

Here’s What homeowners Should Focus On…

  1. Gauge: This is the thickness of the material. After you ask your roofing contractor about the basics of your project, you can delve into the details. The thinner the gauge, the higher the number. The thicker, the lower the number. Home improvement stores offer material as thin as 28 or 29 gauge. While this is the standard for numerous stamped steel panels in the market that are created to look like slate or shake, it is not the norm for true standing seam metal roofing material. Our standard is 24 gauge which withstands hail better than even the commonly accepted 26 gauge panels offered by most other metal roofers. Cost is a non-issue as they’re pennies different per linear foot.
  2. Paint Coating: Kynar 500® PVDF resin-based finish is the only finish Distinctive Metal Roofing products are coated with, unless we’re installing an agricultural (36″ screw-through) panel, and even that’s available in Kynar 500® now. The coating’s no fade, no chalk warranty is as good as it gets for 30+ years of chalk and fade protection. Research on silicone polyester and acrylic paints vs. Kynar 500® PVDF resin-based finish proves the durability time and time again. There’s simply no other choice to consider other than Kynar 500® for metal roofing materials.
  3. Locking mechanisms and rib height: There are numerous standing seam roofers who form their panels in the field (your yard) instead of purchasing pre-formed/pre-cut panels from a manufacturer who specializes in standing seam materials. While cutting and forming every panel on site may seem like a custom way to approach standing seam manufacturing, the quality of the locking mechanisms at the seams is typically very weak. When a side by side comparison is done (ours vs. theirs), the differences are profound. Plus, the panels we use have a 1 1/2″ rib height which is the best defense against moisture and provides the most aesthetically appealing panel. Many field formed panels have 3/4″ or lower seams.
  4. Substrate: The material standing seam is made from should be Galvalume, period. Galvalume is a combination of galvanized steel and aluminum. 100% aluminum standing seam is simply too soft for the geographic region we serve and can dent too easily from even the slightest hail. While any standing seam material can dent from hail, it’s much less likely with a 24 gauge Galvalume panel than any other material.
  5. Striations: “Oil Canning” is a term used to describe the waviness that occurs with standing seam panels which is caused by thermal expansion and contraction. We use striated panels which minimize oil canning which also provides a more aesthetically appealing panel.

There’s no denying the many benefits of standing seam metal roofing. I hope this information clarifies some of the mystery between standing seam products being offered today. The best thing you can do for yourself is to do side by side comparisons. We would love to show you why our standing seam is the best available. Contact us today for a free consultation.  

Kynar 500® is a registered trademark belonging to Arkema Inc.

METAL ROOFING FOR WATERFRONT HOMES – THE PERFECT CHOICE

If you’re a homeowner that lives on Lake Erie, the Portage Lakes, or any other body of water, your home probably takes a lot more abuse from the elements than the average home. While metal roofing is the perfect choice for all homes, it’s an especially logical choice for a home that sustains a great deal of wind and sun exposure. We see it everyday – shingles torn off and badly curled from the excessive exposure to the elements these homes sustain. Metal roofing will never curl and can with stand hurricane force winds. Coupled with the energy savings a metal roof provides and the decades of  beauty they’ll provide you with, metal roofing is the smart choice for lakefront homeowners. Call today for your free estimate!

ASPHALT ROOFING PRICES SKYROCKET!

Historically, asphalt roofing prices double every 10 years. Not the case anymore as they’ve doubled in the last 3 years. This week, a major local supplier sent an email to all of its customers that talked about the fact that GAF had a price increase of 8 – 10% in April with another coming in the 5 – 7% range in May. Greater increases have and will occur from CertainTeed. What’s this mean to you as a homeowner? First, and foremost, it means that in 12 years, when you replace your asphalt roof with another asphalt roof, you’re going to be paying through the nose. Between today’s roof and the one you do 12 years down the road, you’ll pay quite a bit more for two asphalt roofs (and they’ll will look bad much earlier than 12 years from now) than you would a metal roof. Einstein said “The definition of insanity is doing things the same way and expecting different results”. If you’re staying in your home for the long term, break the cycle of replacing your asphalt roofing every 12 years and buy your very last roof today… a metal roof from Distinctive Metal Roofing. It makes SO much sense, it’s scarey! You don’t need to be an Einstein to figure this one out either. (see letter below)

Willoughby Supply Price Increase 2012

STREAKED ASPHALT ROOFS – ONLY 8 YEARS OLD!

Lots of streaking going on, and we don’t mean the clothe-less type. These photos were taken in Highland Park, an Avon, Ohio community. Clearly, the “algae inhibitors” didn’t do much good. Since approximately 1/2 the view of all homes is the roof, think of how much nicer these once beautiful homes would look with no streaking. Metal roofs never streak, of course. Not now, not 50 years from now.

INSTALL A NEW ASPHALT ROOF IN THE COLD WEATHER?

Verbatim, this is a printed statement from a GAF Smart Choice Shingle “Lifetime” Limited Warranty. If you’ve installed asphalt shingles of any kind since September, you have cause for concern….

“All self-sealing shingles, including GAF’s, must be exposed to warm, sunny conditions for several days before they completely seal. Before sealing occurs, shingles are vulnerable to blow-offs and wind damage. Shingles installed in fall or winter may not seal until the following spring. Shingles installed in the fall or winter may not seal until the following spring. Singles which are not exposed to direct sunlight or to adequate surface temperatures or that are not fastened properly may never seal. Failure to seal, blow-offs, and wind damage under these circumstances result from the nature of self sealing shingles, not a manufacturing defect, and are not covered under this warranty.”

Integrity of an installer means everything. We’ve seen many asphalt roofs installed this winter by unscrupulous asphalt roofing installers. Did you get a “better deal” because the company was slow in the winter?  The best asphalt roofing companies simply DON’T install asphalt roofing in the winter months. Fortunately, metal can be installed any time of year as there are no “blow off” or “sealing” issues related to metal roofing.

HAIL DAMAGED ROOFS IN CLEVELAND, AKRON, AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Once again, Spring is here with the potential for both wonderful, and not so wonderful weather. Predictions have been made for a rough Spring. Should hail appear during a storm, it’s important to inspect your roof for hail damage. Hail can cause significant granule loss wherever it strikes which leads to direct sun exposure to the underlying asphalt on the shingles it effects. This will lead to cracked shingles over time and the potential for leaks. Have an insurance inspector analyze the damage after a storm if you suspect damage to your asphalt roof.

Metal roofing isn’t subject to hail damage like an asphalt roof is. Corrugated steel panels are dimpled to begin with and standing seam roofs don’t generally show dimpling. Both products are warranted for hail penetration. Kassel and Irons steel roofing is warranted for a lifetime against hail and wind uplift on a non pro-rated basis. You won’t find asphalt roofing manufacturers offering any protection for hail damage in their warranties.

Distinctive Metal Roofing logo

Ohio
36040 Caronia Circle
Avon, Ohio 44011

440-785-2436

Pennsylvania:
322 North Shore Drive
Bldg. 1B, Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
412-748-1795