cat 5 hurricanes and newer steel roof panels

[nota]

a question on the eyewall zone and newer steel roof panels ?

did any fail , bend or blow away ? here in this one, or down island or in texas ?

with common cat 4-5 storms I am wondering if they are worth it ?

and if survived they stood the test of the cat 5 eyewall in the real world ?
or if some brands or styles did better then others ?

all I have seen here in south miami did fine on homes
but I have limited reports of areas closer to the eyewall area

[CurtEgerer]

Metal is not inherently better. Roofing materials of all kinds are generally rated between 90-140MPH wind resistance. You can buy a metal roof that is rated for only 90MPH and an asphalt shingle roof rated for 140MPH (and vice-versa). Correct installation is the biggest factor. Also, when a metal panel is damaged by wind, the entire panel requires replacement. When shingles are damaged by wind, they can usually be spot-repaired.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

With any system or assembly it has a lot less to do with the material itself than the connection detailing. You can have the best system in the world but if the edge details are shoddy, it's garbage. The other BIG issue is installation quality. Good detailing often (but not always) requires very specific techniques and methods of attachment and can be a labor-intensive process. Let's face it, most contractors (particularly residential roofing Subcontractors in Florida) aren't usually the cream of the crop of the construction trade world. Asking "Big Bubba's Roofing" to spend extra time installing a technically-challenging detail that takes more time without serious QA/QC oversight is asking for trouble. Sadly a lot of these guys operate by the mantra of "just slam it out, collect the check, get off to happy hour and then off to the next job site tomorrow", rinse, lather repeat. By the time any sort of problem becomes evident (for most people) that installation Sub. is long gone and you'll never see them again (they're often out of business and / or operating under a new name two towns away). Sorry for my cynicism here and this isn't universally true (there ARE some good Subs. out there, they're just exceptionally hard to find in a high-demand area at a busy time, especially in a place like FL which is notorious for low-quality construction practices as a part of its culture...)

You often CAN get a 20-30 year manufacturer's warranty on roofing systems but you have to be EXTREMELY careful to do every little thing by the book - use a qualified / manufacturer certified installer, have an inspection and certification by a company rep., etc. Most residential owners aren't willing to pay the premium necessary to get these things (they all come with a price tag); they often plan to sell before the payback period would make it worth it. Also keep in mind that even if you do everything right and manage to get a warranty certificate from a reputable manufacturer, the minute you touch that roof for ANYTHING down the road it'll void the warranty, so you need to consider premium pricing in the future for any modifications / maintenance work - it'll need to have the roof re-certified by the manufacturer again afterwards. Truthfully most better system manufacturers don't bother with residential anyway (see above) and stick to commercial applications, but there are a few out there. Best of luck!

[Jims5543]

I suggest you price out a metal roof vs. a architectural shingle roof.

We re-roofed our home 2 years ago, we are 100 miles north of you. The price difference between the metal and quality shingle was about $3K more for the metal.

Cat 4 and especially a Cat 5 storm it is no longer about the roof material and about how the roof is attached to the house. I would imagine a metal roof will look nicer flying through the air as your roof is ripped off.

Is metal better? I don't know for sure, my common sense says it is due to the strength of material and the fact that it is bolted down and not nailed. I know I feel better about my chances in a larger storm due to it.

[berettafan]

be aware there are chicken house roofs and there are house roofs. some companies will sell you the former for use on your home.

[dad911]

Nota, it's the structure and attachment. Our condo in florida had clay tile roofing(1980s originally), which was destroyed during wilma, reroofed and held up fine during this storm.

Most of the damage in keys was from trees (key west and their friggin tree preservation) Surge up the keys, trailer/mobile homes from the wind, and open commercial buildings, porches, etc.

I think you will be fine with either, as long as installed properly. For example, after Sandy I drove through neighborhoods we built, and there was no siding, fascia, or roofing lost. Others builders use staples instead of nails, and had shingle loss.

I've heard metal roofs are noisy during the rain, but have no firsthand experience.

[JeremyD]

I did a ton a research when we rebuilt our house (to current FL building standards)

Number 1 you want a roof that's tied to the base structure - in our case that meant rebar that goes from the foundation to the roof and tied in every 18 inches - no kidding

Number 2 you want a roof that's integrated - as in tied together - so we ended up upgrading the base panels to finger joined so when it's nailed down - it's basically one piece.

Number 3 venting - you are much better to use vented soffits than end or top of roof venting - easier for wind to get in and compromise the structure

Number 4 is the design of the roof. Where possible - try and install hip roof with small overhangs - 30 degree roof slope prefers better

[tcar]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

Number 2 you want a roof that's integrated - as in tied together - so we ended up upgrading the base panels to finger joined so when it's nailed down - it's basically one piece.

Number 2??

Do you mean tongue and groove? Never seen finger jointed panels.



The rebar from the foundation... good idea... have used straps before 24" OC.

[JeremyD]

yep, sorry, tongue and groove

I uploaded some pictures - pretty sure these have some detail on the rebar into the slab and the attachment to the roof. you can also see some of the "knock outs" where the concrete that was poured between the bricks could be inspected...

Probably more than you wanted

[URY914]

Originally Posted by tcar

Number 2??

Do you mean tongue and groove? Never seen finger jointed panels.

Overlay the panels on edges. The edge of panels rest on top of the adjacent panel.

[nota]

Originally Posted by URY914

Overlay the panels on edges. The edge of panels rest on top of the adjacent panel.

there is also standing seam roofs that use a machine to crimp/fold the edges

thinking of being my own sub and hire labor
that way I can control the material spec
and how it goes together
and save a bit on contractor profits too
glad the house is a simple plan no valleys or hips
only odd bit is 3 different lengths on the front 1/2
but the rear is all the same and it is a low slope ]no snow[

[URY914]

^^^ There are many roof panel suppliers that sell directly to the public. Pick the color have them cut to length and install yourself.

[nota]

white white white because it is a bit cooler

I painted the gray roof white and got a drop in power bills

[dad911]

Originally Posted by nota

there is also standing seam roofs that use a machine to crimp/fold the edges

thinking of being my own sub and hire labor
that way I can control the material spec
and how it goes together
and save a bit on contractor profits too
glad the house is a simple plan no valleys or hips
only odd bit is 3 different lengths on the front 1/2
but the rear is all the same and it is a low slope ]no snow[

Consider your homeowner's likely won't cover a laborer's fall from the roof.

I'd wait until the dust settles from the current storm and demand for roofers, then get multiple quotes. In six months the contractors that ramped up will be looking for work.

I'm a builder and even though insured, don't allow friends, family or employees on roofs anymore. I've seen too many close calls and too close to a few fatalities......

Around here my local supplier will order cut to length, including trims and flashings.

You painted the roof before? An elastomeric coating might buy you 5+ more years.

[dad911]

Nota, did you see this?

Law would mandate metal roofs on homes in the Florida Keys | Miami Herald

[Mark Henry]

I agree with metal roofs it's how the roof is attached, it must be screwed right into the rafters, purlins, strapping, etc.
That's the big key point is everything from truss to sheeting should be screwed, as nails will lift. If you see a contractor using a nail gun for anything, other than lining things up, fire his butt.