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Old 08-02-2016, 08:21 AM   #21
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We had our roof replaced with shingles 3 times in the past 30 years. We always used one of the 2 major brands rated 30+ years but they just don't hold up in the harsh Fl sun. . . . .After the first roof I toyed with the idea of a standing seam metal roof screwed down but I thought the cost was too high. I should have done it anyway. It would have cost less than the next 2 shingle roofs. I finally had the metal roof installed 4 years ago and have not had any problems since. In addition it helped keep the house temperature more constant, our electric bill has been lower since the installation, and we won't have to have another roof installed ever again.
I'm pretty sure we'll be going with a steel roof when our present shingles (10 YO) give out. I used "snap down" concealed faster metal roofing on a patio cover I built and it was not a hard job and it will likely last 50 years (really 50 years, not "shingle warranty years"). Now, a house has a lot more penetrations and details than a simple shed-style roof, but I think I could do it with assistance from someone who has done it before, and a helper or two. The difference in material cost to do my roof (1800 sq ft) in steel vs shingles would be about $1000, so it would be well worth it.
The only glitch: I'm in a typical suburban neighborhood with homes built in the late 50's/early 60s (mostly single-level ranch over basement). Nobody has a metal roof in my neighborhood, and I don't know if the house will look out of place, an/ord if the neighbors will be grabbing pitchforks if I do this. Heck--what do I care as long as the water stays outside for the next 50 years?
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Old 08-02-2016, 08:27 AM   #22
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OMG... This is all we needed.

Awaiting roofers for approved insured replacement (hail damage).

Gotta go take a Prozac.
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Old 08-02-2016, 09:02 AM   #23
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Ray - I hope they fix your roof for good this time. It's really tough to get a quality contractor and redo these days. I'm going to need a new roof in the next 5 years. I've been watching local re-roofs hoping to find what looks like a quality contractor.
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Old 08-02-2016, 09:20 AM   #24
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I haven't had to get a roof replaced in over 30 years because the houses I have lived in mostly had pretty new roofs.

My present roof is ten years old and is just the regular shingles, nothing fancy. If it ever started to leak, I wouldn't mind paying for a new roof. These things happen and I have been too lucky for too long.

Samclem, I think metal roofs look pretty good and I wouldn't worry about that aspect. Personallly I will never pay for a 50-year metal roof, because my life expectancy is about 20 years and honestly I don't care what my heirs get for my house after I croak. Also, I have heard that the metal roofs can be dangerous during hurricanes if torn off, and can damage the rest of the house like anything else heavy and blown around by hurricane winds. Don't know if that is true or not, but that is what I heard. Also, I have been told that metal roofs are over twice as expensive as shingle roofs, here. Between the hurricane dangers, my life expectancy, and my natural cheap-a$$ nature, I'd just buy a normal shingle roof if I needed a new roof.
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Old 08-02-2016, 09:31 AM   #25
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I respectfully disagree. Small homes may be easier due to the size, but unless you know what you're doing, you can't just "build" a house. It doesn't work that way...knowledge of basic construction techniques is required whether it is a 200 sq. ft. house or a 2000 sq. ft. house.
Music lover I think you missed the big heaping pile of sarcasm there.
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Old 08-02-2016, 09:40 AM   #26
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If anyone lives in the Chicagoland area and need a good roofer, let me know. The roofer I used is great. He did my neighbor's, my best friend's, my brother's and my roof all in the last 2 years. The houses were all different types ranging in 2300 to 4000 sq. ft.
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Old 08-02-2016, 10:32 AM   #27
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I do most all repairs on a house, but if I'm looking for a plumber or HVAC guy I'm looking for small construction firms.

On my small lake house, I used the small individual roofer--with 1 helper. Day one was hot, and they about croaked having to pry up the old roof and haul away the old itchy shingles. Day 2, the helper didn't show up and no work was done. Day 3, the roofer and his brother, another roofer that was physically broken down, showed. When they were nailing shingles, they were really skilled. But at 40 years old, their best years were behind them.

On my main house, I'll be re-roofing in another 5 years--and it'll be a massive job. The ceiling in my attic is at least 15' tall, and every roof plane is very steep. I'll be looking for a larger roofing crew--8-10 people that can rip this roof off and reshingle in no more than 2 days. They will cost more, but it'll be worth it.

My next door neighbor recently had a metal roof installed--looks almost like chrome. The roof is very steep (45 degrees) and tall. I simply couldn't get over those guys climbing all over that steep and slick roof. And I have no idea how they keep installers from getting hurt. Not all metal roofs are created equal, and neither are installers. They should be installed by metal roof specialists that only do that one job.
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Old 08-02-2016, 10:46 AM   #28
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that's why I asked about the skylight. mine leaked to a spot 20 ft away
+1

The fall before we replaced our roof, we had a stain near the outer wall. When I went up to look for damage, there was a torn shingle near the top of the roof and no damage near the spot. I caulked the spot with stuff that could be applied in the rain and no more leak. I figured out later that the water ran down a truss before dripping by the outer wall.

A son and I ended up replacing the roof ourselves. While we were doing it, we got 3 requests from others to do their roofs b
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Old 08-02-2016, 11:23 AM   #29
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samclem, here's an article talking about different "looks" for metal roofs. You probably know all this but anyway if not this will give you some idea.

Metal Roofs 101 - Bob Vila
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Old 08-02-2016, 11:35 AM   #30
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A son and I ended up replacing the roof ourselves. While we were doing it, we got 3 requests from others to do their roofs
I used to do roofing as a side gig when I was younger...3 of us would take on easy jobs (not too steep, 1 storey only). It can be a very lucrative gig, but it's hard work. I would make in one day what it took me all week to earn in the cube farm. I'm proud that of the close to 100 roofs we did, and we never got a single call back due to a leak or poor installation. Almost every time, people would stop by and ask us to do their house. I no longer do roofs, but will fix leaks or maybe shingle a shed for a friend.
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Old 08-02-2016, 11:36 AM   #31
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Music lover I think you missed the big heaping pile of sarcasm there.
Oops...
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Old 08-02-2016, 12:29 PM   #32
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Why have you needed 4 new roofs in 23 years? Are these all on the same house, or is it multiple homes??
Same house, cause: one was due to defective shingles and the other three due to hail storms. North Texas is one of the worst places in the country for hail.
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Old 08-02-2016, 12:54 PM   #33
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Same house, cause: one was due to defective shingles and the other three due to hail storms. North Texas is one of the worst places in the country for hail.

Yep, in line for my replacement...
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Old 08-02-2016, 01:34 PM   #34
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Reading all this makes one want to sell his home and move into a tiny home. With a tiny home, one can do everything himself. Heck, people with no previous experience even build their own tiny home.
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I respectfully disagree. Small homes may be easier due to the size, but unless you know what you're doing, you can't just "build" a house. It doesn't work that way...knowledge of basic construction techniques is required whether it is a 200 sq. ft. house or a 2000 sq. ft. house.
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Music lover I think you missed the big heaping pile of sarcasm there.
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Oops...
Well, I was only half-joking.

Yes, building even a tiny house requires some basic knowledge of framing. However, unless one is really ignorant and does not follow some basic principles on structural strength of material, any ineptitude will not cause loss of life and limb, and should not be too costly to fix either.

Back on the leaky roof problem faced by the OP, when one's roof can be covered with a bundle or two of shingles, well, nothing keeps one from climbing up there and reshingle it in a few hours.
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Old 08-02-2016, 02:08 PM   #35
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The only glitch: I'm in a typical suburban neighborhood with homes built in the late 50's/early 60s (mostly single-level ranch over basement). Nobody has a metal roof in my neighborhood, and I don't know if the house will look out of place, an/ord if the neighbors will be grabbing pitchforks if I do this.
There are metal roofing materials that look like shingles. These are two that I found:

Metal Roofs That Look Like Shingles - But Better!

Metal Roofing Materials | Best Buy Metals
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Old 08-02-2016, 02:43 PM   #36
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One other consideration for metal roofs is that if you live in an area with lots of hail a metal roof (if impact resistant) will survive the hail better than a shingle roof. Where I live (and my parents lived) in Tx hail storms seem to destroy roofs every 8-10 years. AFter two such storms my dad put a metal roof on in 2002. Since then the neighbors have all gotten new roofs due to hail once. Also as noted metal roofs keep the house cooler. The longer life of metal roofs is shown by insurance companies giving a discount on homeowners if you have an impact resistant roof. (Supposedly if done right tile roofs are also impact resistant).
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Old 08-02-2016, 03:08 PM   #37
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Ray,
I know you had knees done, so getting in the attic not recommended. However, can you find a young person to go in there with a camera?

I agree with you that primary suspect is that flashing you mentioned.

If someone goes up with a hose, and you stay in the kitchen...
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Old 08-02-2016, 05:38 PM   #38
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I have noticed metal roofs are being used more. They are not just for barns anymore.
Besides the incredible lifespan of the roof, the heat deflecting effect is great.
currently I have a shingle roof and I stuck a remote thermometer in the attic, now being in IL it's not like Texas, but the attic got up to 124 F at the attic floor level.
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Old 08-02-2016, 05:44 PM   #39
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OMG... This is all we needed.

Awaiting roofers for approved insured replacement (hail damage).

Gotta go take a Prozac.
So when this happened to me, the insurance adjuster gave me a list of how much insurance would pay for roof, deck chairs, planters, vinyl siding.
I had told him I didn't pick out a roofer yet.
He said if the roofer said it was more than the ins. estimate, to have the roofer call him.
Then I had the local roofers (not the storm chasers) come and quote.
For the quotes I insisted on 4 extra roof vents, and min 35 yr shingles (not the cheap ones).
I checked them all out on BBB and googled for complaints.
Their cost was less than the ins company.
My deal was I'd pay them, as I already got the cash from the ins. company (less 10% , which the ins. company paid for each covered part after I submitted proof of the work.).
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Old 08-02-2016, 08:31 PM   #40
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In my view, metal roofs are the way to go, at least in my part of the world (Upper Midwest). Snow slides right off, no more ice dams, no leaks, and no more replacing shingles every 15 years or so (sometimes less). I look at a lot of roofs with asphalt shingles as I drive around, and a whole lot of them where one side of the house has full south exposure have shingles that are cupped or otherwise disintegrating on the south side of the house. I don't know if they are making asphalt shingles more cheaply these days or what, but they don't seem to last very long when they are exposed to the sun all day long. I had a metal roof put on our house about 10 years ago now, and I've been very satisfied. Hopefully it is the last roof I will every have to deal with on this house. Fortunately, the crew that installed it was good, and they did a nice job.
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