Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, WA Home Inspector (King of the House)

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Bellingham WA Real Estate Inspections (King of the House): Metal Roofs

 Metal roofs, over recent years, have developed a good reputation. There is a catch however. The metal roof that is generally considered to be high quality is the standing seam metal roof. This popular roof is durable and has a minimum of exposed screws or fasteners. That catch I described is that buyers hear "metal roof" and immediately think they are getting a roof that will last almost forever. Well, sorry to say, often they are wrong. A common metal roof to find, instead, is the corrugated metal roof. This is really not much different than the plastic or fiberglass corrugated roofs you see over decks or patios. Corrugated metal roofs, far as I can determine, were never really designed to be put on quality homes. They have a number of problems and people put them on because they are really cheap -- if labor intensive to install all the fasteners. They tend to rust for one thing, also the screws or nails that attach them to the home have neoprene washers underneath to seal against leaks. The washers deteriorate, and the nails work up, and then there is a leak situation. Below are photos of these roofs. Below that is a picture of the perfect, and intended use, of a corrugated metal roof. This last photo also lets you see that the owner, who has a modest life style, is very pleased with the corrugated metal roof. 

 

   

Corrugated Metal Roof                             Popped nail

 

  

Standing seam metal roof -- what people think they are buying

 

Perfect use corrugated metal roof, happy owner

www.kingofthehouse.com

Steven L. Smith

        

        

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Comments

Steve,   My friend used to install the " standing seam " roofs and could not stop saying enough good about them.  I also think they look sharp.
Posted by Bill Gillhespy Fort Myers Beach Realtor Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos (16 Sunview Blvd) over 4 years ago

Bill,

I like the standing seam metal roof too. I just wish that people buying a roof designed for a rabbit hutch or chicken house did not mistake their roof for the good quality product.

Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) over 4 years ago
I think the corrugated red roof was pretty cool  You see a lot of this tyope of roof in Hawaii.  Mostly on very modest homes.  I think they're pretty and the sound of the rain on a metal roof is pretty special.
Posted by Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos| Laguna Real Estate|Marlene Bridges (Village Real Estate Services, Inc.) over 4 years ago

Marlene,

Yes, the red one is the standing seam, good quality roof. That is what people think they have, even when they have a roof like the duck is so happy with. By the way, he likes raindrops on his head.

Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) over 4 years ago

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