Don’t Take a Gamble on Your Metal Roof Contractor
Vintage Metal Roof Systems by Tomlin Roofing Professionals
Standing seam metal roofing is an increasingly popular choice for Hill Country homeowners. The appeal of a standing seam metal roof is not only its reputation for requiring minimal maintenance but also its vintage-look esthetic.
With its longevity, durability and minimal maintenance, standing seam metal roofing is a beautiful way to enhance your home and a smart way to increase the value. Its ability to withstand the predictably stormy spring weather here in the Texas Hill Country also adds to the appeal of metal roofing.
After severe weather season in San Antonio, the skies clear and temperatures easily soar into the 100s. Standing seam metal roofing is energy efficient, significantly lowering energy bills during the hot summer months. The metal reflects the solar radiant heat, which reduces cooling costs by 10 to 25 percent.
In an effort to jump on the “tin roof” bandwagon, an increasing number of Texas roofing subcontractors are willing to take on the work of installing it, despite not always having much installation experience. Even do-it-yourselfers, armed with a bit of knowledge from the Internet, sometimes try to take on the work themselves, underestimating the problems that can arise.
Think Twice on the Odds
Even if only 30% of subcontractors do a bad job on your standing seam metal roof, are those odds worth it? The expense of repairing a botched metal roofing job can be astronomical. And chances are those cost will be paid out-of-pocket. Ouch.
For all the upsides of standing seam roofing — safety, durability and energy efficiency — there are a number of problems that can arise from a substandard installation. These are some of the more common metal roof installation issues in Texas that can put a major hit on your bank account:
• Oil Canning
The appearance of waves in metal is known as stress wrinkling or oil canning. Though purely a cosmetic issue, it’s undesirable — especially given the expense of the roof. There are myriad reasons for oil canning, including problems in manufacturing, color and gloss choice, and improper handling of metal during installation. The most experienced roofing contractors will handle the metal coils and sheets in strict compliance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Misaligned panels can also contribute to the appearance of oil canning, as can thermal movement.
• Thermal Movement
It’s just basic physics — metal will expand in heat and contract in cold. The expansion will cause the panel to increase in length. Experienced roofers will avoid double-pinning the edges of the panels, leaving them room to “breathe” when the inevitable movements occur.
• Leaking
Where there is rain and wind, there’s a potential for leaks. But those chances increase if the installer places fasteners too tightly, too loosely, or off-center, allowing rain to enter at open spots.
The chief area where leaking occurs is at the flashing. Flashing is usually added around chimneys, pipes or valleys on the roof to keep moisture from entering. Because it’s an add-on, requiring precision and specific sealants, it’s critical to have a highly skilled installer on the job.
Stack the odds
Vintage Metal Roof Systems by Tomlin Roofing Professionals is the leading choice for homeowners in New Braunfels who want to ensure the job is done right, the first time. Some of the benefits that set our roofs apart are:
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On-site panel fabrication to ensure a quality fit
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Hand-fabricated flashings for a custom finish
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35-year finish warranties for your protection
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5-year labor warranties in the unlikely event maintenance is required
The Installation Process
Standing seam metal roofing installation in San Antonio, TX, starts with removing the entire existing roof covering, down to the wood decking. Before Tomlin proceeds, we carefully inspect the decking to replace any suspect wood that could cause issues later. Next, a synthetic high temp underlayment is installed to protect the wood decking during the roofing process from the elements.
The roof panels are formed on-site by a trailer-mounted roll former. The former takes flat coil stock and extrudes it into bent panels that match the specified length and width, prescribed by the Tomlin Roofing installer. The installer then lays the panels onto the roof deck and secures them with a 29-gauge clip, every 24″ on center.
After securing the panels, the installer runs a power seamer over the overlapped seams of the panels to create the double lock securement. The hand-fabricated flashings for the chimneys, walls and penetrations are installed after the panels are secured.
Craftsman Quality
Vintage Metal Roof Systems by Tomlin Roofing are installed by highly qualified craftsmen who take tremendous pride in their work. The professionals at Tomlin Roofing can give your home a beautiful, custom look with Vintage Metal Roof Systems in a matter of days — not weeks.
With hot weather just around the corner, now is the perfect time to schedule a free metal roof estimate. Or call Tomlin Roofing Professionals to speak with an experienced roofer about your home. Tomlin Roofing Professionals serve New Braunfels, Seguin, Schertz and the greater San Antonio area.