March 29, 2024

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Ask Danny | Ep. 2: Insider Answers on Metal Roofing

In Episode 2 of “Ask Danny,” metallic roofing qualified Todd Miller presents us some insider strategies and information and facts about installation, strength efficiency and model alternatives.


Todd Miller, president of Isaiah Industries, has more than 40 years of knowledge in the steel roofing industry. (Photograph courtesy Todd Miller)

About Todd Miller

Todd Miller is president of Isaiah Industries, a manufacturer of household steel roofing.

With 40 several years of industry expertise, Todd has labored with residence proprietors and contractors on tasks around the world.

In addition to roofing, he is normally sought following for his knowledge with condensation and ventilation.

Todd also has an educational web page at Check with Todd Miller as perfectly as a podcast, “Building Disruption.”


Todd Miller poses for a photo with Chelsea Lipford Wolf and Danny Lipford in Lower Off, La.(3 Echoes Content material Studio)

Functioning with Todd in Louisiana

I fulfilled Todd whilst capturing a Today’s House owner Television episode in Slash Off, La., in 2020. Hurricane Zeta experienced majorly ruined David and Ruby LeBlanc’s roof, so we mounted a new steel roof for them. 

For David and Ruby’s metallic roof, we applied an aluminum solution called rustic shingle.

They stay on the Gulf Coast, so aluminum is excellent for their ecosystem simply because it resists corrosion. As well as, the shingles interlock on all sides, giving it robust wind resistance with an additional outdated-environment shake search.

Employees install a new aluminum roof on David and Ruby LeBlanc’s property. (3 Echoes Material Studio)

Much less than a yr later, their metallic roof was put to the examination throughout Hurricane Ida. 

“As I viewed that storm monitor, I was perspiring bullets,” Todd claims. “You normally imagine in your product, you know it can do very well, but on the other hand, storms like that can be unpredictable. You can end up with a great deal of wind-blown debris that oftentimes can result in problems.”

Ida introduced on wind speeds of up to 200 miles for each hour and also wrecked the neighbor’s garage. 

David and Ruby’s metal roof arrived via in shining colours. The only problems was 1 detached hip cap on the side closest to their neighbor’s garage. 

“Their quite old property has endured hurt and hardships from storms in the earlier, but you would in no way know it,” Todd states. “They’re pleasant individuals and decided to safeguard this home for the next era.”


Metal roofing can be put in over an present shingle roof. (3 Echoes Information Studio)

Do you have to remove all the current shingles from the roof just before you put in a metallic roof?

Todd: Even though each and every residence is different, the quick remedy is no. If you only have a single layer of shingles, most creating codes let for a next layer of roofing.

It’s really popular for steel roofs, specifically shingled and corrugated steel, to be installed in excess of an current layer of shingles. Nevertheless, if you want a standing seam metal roof, you will need to have to have a easy surface area for set up. If you really don’t, you’ll conclude up with oil canning, or ripples in the panels.

No make any difference what style of metallic roof you want, always have an attic inspection ahead of set up. Look closely at the underside of the roof deck for signs of rot, h2o infiltration and superior dampness stages that have to have to be addressed.

Construction of a metal roof
Strapping can be place down to set up a metal roof, but it is not constantly essential. (Getty Visuals)

Do you endorse a roofer place down strapping before the roof goes on?

Todd: Normally I never. For most products and solutions, it is not necessary. 

If you have correct attic ventilation, there aren’t any problems from a condensation standpoint.

Strapping or batten can be utilised, but in the long run it will make the roof harder to walk on, a lot more inclined to wind uplift, and you could obtain by yourself getting to elevate your gutters. This is why we generally promote direct-to-deck installation.

Even with immediate-to-deck set up, if it’s in excess of the previous singles, we will set a layer of underlayment in excess of the present shingles.

Most occasions, the making code demands it, but it also will make great sense. You never want the previous shingles’ abrasive top surface area rubbing towards the back again of the metal panels.

How extensive does it choose to install a metal roof?

Todd: Of training course, each and every house is different, but one- to 3-working day installations are not unusual.

This is yet another terrific advantage of metallic roofing — minimal disruption to your program through installation. 


Modular steel products and solutions, or steel shingles, are turning out to be far more preferred. (3 Echoes Material Studio)

Type Alternatives

What kinds of steel roofing are turning out to be extra common?

Ordinarily, corrugated and shiplap steel roofs are the most popular, but which is starting to change.

Numerous property owners associations and architectural assessment boards will not let metallic roofing. As well as, it can be really hard for some home owners to think about a roof that’s not asphalt shingles. 

But now, there are metallic roofing selections that search like a standard roof. They are termed modular metal items, which are generally metallic shingles. 

They’re generated from steel, aluminum and even copper. These panels are formed in a range of approaches, and can search like current asphalt shingles, wooden shake, significant-finish slate or barrel tile. 

With this style of steel roofing, you can get the appear of far more common high-finish roofing with the longevity, electrical power effectiveness and sustainability of metal roofing.


MRA Metal roof on a home
Steel roofs with a neat coating deflect the sun’s infrared vitality to retain your home cooler. (Metal Roofing Alliance)

Energy Effectiveness

Are darker metal roofs a lot less electrical power-effective than lighter types?

Todd: Commonly, when we chat about metallic roofing’s electrical power efficiency, it’s in terms of solar reflection. 

The extra solar energy your roof absorbs, the hotter your household will be. This outcomes in your air conditioner functioning more challenging to maintain your household great.

Generally, lighter metallic roofs replicate far more daylight than darker kinds. 

White in a natural way has a large photo voltaic reflection of about 65 p.c, but you really do not automatically have to get a white roof to have an energy-economical roof. 

There are now awesome roof coatings with pigments that replicate infrared power from the sun and retain the roof neat.

With out this interesting roof coating, a darker roof only reflects about 3-4 percent of the sun’s infrared strength. With these new pigments, the roof displays up to 25-30 per cent.


Stunning Portland, Oregon home with metal roof, seen from the backyard, with red lounging chairs on the grass.
Come across a metal roof product that enhances your home’s architecture. (Steel Roofing Alliance)

Todd’s Recommendations

  • Pick out the product first. Eventually, you’re going to stay with the seems of that item for a very long time. If you don’t really like the look and it does not suit your residence, you won’t be satisfied with it. The Metallic Roofing Alliance has a visualizer to assistance you see how a metallic roof will appear on your property.
  • When you choose your product or service, come across an installer by means of the manufacturer. They’ll know the item by way of and through.
  • Assume lengthy-time period. The upfront charge of installing metallic roofing is far more high-priced than a standard roof, but you are going to help you save more than time. Search at it on a price-by-12 months foundation.   If you intend to continue to be in your household for a quantity of years, you can see great payback in excess of time with lessen utility expenditures and fewer repairs.  

Just when you consider you have observed it all, ignore about it — you haven’t seen anything nonetheless.

Decades in the past, a girl in upstate New York wished a metal roof set up on a modest bungalow. She owned a rather higher-end magazine and site and desired to do the job out a deal the place Todd would help her get a roof and, in convert, she would endorse Todd’s business.

It appeared like a get-earn for Todd. As aspect of the deal, he despatched a crew from Ohio to put in the roof — totally free of cost.

4 years afterwards, an upset female named Todd. She explained “You set a roof on my property and I really don’t know why!”

Turns out, the female who contacted Todd was not the owner. She was the renter.

“We set a roof on someone’s dwelling who did not know it and didn’t even want it!”

All’s well that finishes nicely, she turned out to be pleasant, and she and Todd became terrific buddies. 

“We nevertheless snicker about it,” Todd says. 


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