We Are Here - Just Give Us A Call

Most of us are taking off for the Holidays, but if you need us and we are not in the office please call our office (253-926-1633) and we will get back with you as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience while we spend some time with our families.

THANK YOU!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Metal Roof Specialties. We want to thank all of our customers and vendors for a successful 2009 and we look forward to working with all of you in 2010!

End Of 2009 - Say Goodbye To Tax Credit?

No worries. The tax credit for metal roofing on your residence is good for 2009 AND 2010, so you have another year to get switched to one of the most energy saving roofs possible. We can give you a FREE estimate and talk with you about the different types of metal roofing and their benefits. Give us a call at 1-800-310-4120 or fill out a customer inquiry form on our Metal Roof Specialties Estimate Request (this will take you to our website). We look forward to helping you get in on a great tax credit and a new metal roof!

Give Thanks

Made it through another Thanksgiving turkey day and the forks were flying. But sadly there were NO leftovers. Really. NONE. So this week no turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce and stuffing. Not even a piece of pumpkin pie to go with my morning coffee. Sounds a little sad, but honestly, I could not be more thankful. Thankful for my family who in our own strange ways make the holiday special. Thankful for my home and the fact that along with my 401k, it's worth a little more than this time last year. Thankful for friends and the people I meet each day who make it their mission to be nice, pleasant and respectful of the differences in each of us. I am thankful for my job and for this company that works very hard to be upstanding in our community. And in the morning, when I stop by the local Starbucks, I will be thankful they have turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce and stuffing and delicious pumpkin lattes.

ASC Bare Zincalume Added To Tax Credit Qualifiers

ASC Building Products released the certificate which states roofs in their products with the Bare Zincalume finish now qualify for the 2009-2010 $1500 tax credit. This is good for the consumers in two ways: Bare Zincalume looks like galvanized metal but has a longer life span and reduces heat gain; and it is less expensive than the painted versions of the same panels. The savings just keep adding up!

Rebuilding Together October 2009 - Slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Here's a great slideshow of our Project for Rebuilding Together on Halloween 2009. Our roofers pulled off the old and put on a new metal roof and we still had time to Trick or Treat. The day was another amazing adventure and speaking for myself, it really is a blessing to be a part of a company who cares! Thanks to our owner Jerry for keeping us together and to Haley for organizing the whole event! Thanks also to everyone who participated - as a team, WE DID IT AGAIN!

No Tricks - Only Treats for Ms. Horne!

These are the volunteers who came to the Rebuilding Together Project October 2009, when in just over 6 hours we put on a new metal roof for the Horne family. Volunteers included: our roofers - Johnny, Joe, Justin, Rob, Andrew and Tony; family members - Tina and Leslie; our office staff - Jerry, Haley, Wayne, Marty, Jayce and Keni; Jeff our Rep. from ASC and Jeremy an intern from Rebuilding Together. We tore off the old composition roofing and installed a Canyon Red Skyline roof by ASC. Slideshow to follow.

Rebuilding Together - The Day Before!

The office is a buzz today trying to get things in order for the big project tomorrow. The roofing panels have been delivered to the job site by ASC and our Rep. Jeff checked on them to make sure everything is in order, and our Rep. Greg from Allied brought by the felt. Both were donations for this project. Wayne is loading up last minute supplies for our crews, Marty has nothing but ribs on his mind (he's our barbequer for the big event), and Haley is checking her lists over and over to make sure this goes off without a hitch (she's in charge of course!). We have six crew members and six office staff in our company, and along with spouses we will probably have about 20 volunteers present. This has been in the works for about 6 months, and by noon tomorrow (keep your fingers crossed) Ms. Horne should have a beautiful, lifelong red roof.

New Roofing and Siding Product From ASC

Drum roll please....introducing a brand new metal panel by ASC Building Products. It's called Country Rustic Corrugated, which refers to the paint finish "Country Rustic" on their Nu-Wave panel. This is a 24" coverage roof panel (double lap) and 26-2/3" coverage wall panel (single lap) in 26 gauge steel. Nu-Wave is a very popular panel, and over that last couple of years has taken off in the cold-rolled metal state known as Iron-Ox - check out our previous blog on Iron Ox. Country Rustic Corrugated is painted steel (a terra cotta orange with flecks of brown to give it that "rusty" look) and has the same outstanding warranty as all other ASC products. This is another great option when the artistic side of you needs to show!

DRAFT Tax Form 5695 For Roof Tax Credit

This is a draft of IRS Tax Form 5695 for the Energy Tax Credit for Metal Roofing and other energy components. This is only a draft by the IRS, but it does give you an indication of how the credit will work.

Halloween Rebuilding Together Project 2009

It's time again for us to make a positive impact in our community. This Saturday we will be installing a beautiful new red metal roof for a great family. We have solicited the help of ASC Building Products for the roofing and Allied for the underlayments. We are planning to complete the project in under 4 hours, using all our roofers and support personnel to get the job done. We look forward to these projects and I will post an update when we finish!

We Have A Newly Updated Website!

Check out our newly updated website at www.ILoveMetalRoofs.com or www.MetalRoofSpecialties.com (link in upper right of this blog). We have added new features and will be able to update our galleries and information on a regular basis. If you have any comments or suggestions about the website, please let us know. Input from customers is what led us to make the changes you see.

How Are You Choosing Your Roofer?

We hear this frequently lately, PRICE MATTERS! Our experience with the "competition": The lower number of metal roof installations they have completed, the lower their price will be. The lower their price, the shorter time they will stay in the metal business. The shorter time they stay in business, the quicker you will need them in the future. It's a vicious cycle and we agree - PRICE MATTERS!

Tax Credit Revisited

Another call today about the tax credit. The inquiry was "I have a quote for metal but I don't know if it qualifies for the tax credit". I wish this were as easy as the government should make it for us to understand, but honestly it is up to the manufacturer to qualify their products. For you, this means what they say goes. BUT, and this is a big but! The manufacturer of the product you are using must provide you with a certificate which contains the following specific information about the product you are using:
1. Calls out and lists the specific product (in metal roofing this is the paint used).
2. States how the product qualifies (in metal roofing this is through reducing heat gain - usually).
3. States that it meets or exceeds the requirements.
4. That it qualifies in accordance with IRS Notice 2006-26.
5. Has a perjury declaration statement, and
6. Is signed by a person authorized to bind the manufacturer in these matters.
In other words...don't take their word for it - get it "Certified"!

Here Comes The Rain....How's Your Umbrella?

It's official - I am looking outside right now, and the rain is here (11:00 on October 13th). We have really been lucky with a beautiful spring, summer and beginning of fall, but now is when the weather tightness of your roof will really show. If you are thinking about replacing your roof, we are ready to help you out. We work year-round, and take special care during the "rainy" times to keep you dry until your new, beautiful roof is installed. And to top it off, once you have a metal roof installed by our company, you never have to roof again!

Confused About The Tax Credit?

We are hearing more and more about metal roofing suppliers in the industry who are stating their products qualify for the energy tax credit when the reality is "some" of their products qualify. "Tax Credit" are major buzz words right now. We hear them on the radio and TV for windows, doors, roofs, etc. So roofing companies are throwing them around, without narrowing down exactly which products qualify. There is a specific list of paint systems which qualify for the credit, and we can help you understand if the product you are thinking about is part of the credit. Pin down your roofer or contractor and get it in writing, through a paint certificate or qualifying documents. As the purchaser, you are responsible for obtaining and keeping the proper documents for your tax records with regards to the tax credit...so be diligent - it's your money!

Energy Tax Credit for ASC Products

This brochure explaining the details, benefits and how to apply for the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit for 2009 and 2010 is from one of our manufacturers, ASC Building Products. Their painted products all qualify for this program, as described by the Energy Star web site. If we provided you with the materials for your project, you can contact our office for the Manufacturer's Certification or you can print a copy as described in this brochure.

DRAG SCREWS 101

This is a 24 gauge panel system, installed up at Alpental, so the snow during winter is DEEP. The weight of the snow actually ripped the panels right off the roof, the screws cutting through the 24 gauge material. Before installing the panels, the Drag load needed to be determined to establish the number of "Drag Screws" to use. Drag Load is the force imposed upon a sloped panel caused by gravity and sliding snow. Standing seam panels, those attached to the roof structure with concealed clips, are free to “float” with expansion and contraction. If left completely free, they would slide off the roof. Drag load has to be combated by “fixing” one end of a standing seam panel. This is typically accomplished under the ridge/peak flashing to conceal the screw. At the “fixed” point, the panel is through fastened to the substrate. The type and number of screws needed, per panel, to resist drag load forces are determined by investigating the substrate material, slope, length of panel, panel width, and geographical snow load. It all comes down to the importance of following the manufacturers recommendations, reading and calculating the load tables, and understanding all of the conditions that might effect the metal roof installation.

Roofing Repair Work Put On Hold

Wow....within weeks, it became very clear that there is far too much metal roof repair work for us to take on right now and keep up with our new projects. We really wanted to help customers in a timely manner, but because repair work takes very skilled crew members, we found we cannot afford for them to be gone from our current new projects. We continue to back up our work with a lifetime installation warranty and will be there for our family of customers if there should ever be a problem, but we will not be looking at metal roofs that we did not originally install at this time. We can still take your calls and possibly help you out with suggestions in specific areas, but for now we are not taking on any more repair work nor do we have any other company to refer you to.

Metal Roof Repair

Metal roofing has become so popular it has lead to a quickly growing "repair" market. We are starting to get calls weekly from homeowners who need some work done on their existing metal roofs. We always recommend they contact their original roofer, but a majority of the time, they are not to be found. Repairs can be anything from leaking, flashings that have come off, destruction to the roofing by fallen trees, etc. We start by asking you a few questions about the problem and if you know the product you have, or can describe it based on the panel width, number of ribs or striations (bumps in the panels) and/or how high the major ribs are (pictures of the roofing and visible damage can be emailed to us to help us understand your repair). Then our operations manager will set up a time to take a look at your issue. There is a service call fee involved, to cover our time, and sometimes we can fix the problem while we are at your location. Other times, we will have to order parts, or panels and schedule a crew to come out and make the repair. We will provide you with a written proposal if we need to return for more work. We have access to almost every metal roofing panel available, and over 30 years experience in the metal market. Some panels are no longer produced, but many times a very similar product and color can be substituted. Metal roofing maintained properly and repaired quickly if their is damage, will last your lifetime, so choosing a dependable company to install and/or repair your roof is a wise investment of your time and money.

Parts of a Roof

Not sure what to call a part of your roof? This drawing gives some common terms to help you discuss your roofing project.

Common Metal Roof Flashing Terms

These are some of the common metal roofing flashings and where they will go on your project. Most manufacturers offer standard parts and pieces to complete common roofing and siding jobs, but when a standard part just won't work, we can get a custom piece made. Pricing for custom pieces is based on amount of material used and the number of bends/cuts, so they are very similar in cost to standard parts. Each type of metal roofing has slightly different flashings to fit the profile of the roof (meaning how high and far apart the ribs might be).

IronOx - Cold-Rolled Steel

Let your creative juices flow! This panel naturally rusts and will provide an artistic oxide finish. It's meant to look like the old-fashioned steel roofing that has graced the countrysides for years - without the wait! IronOx is made by ASC Building Products in 22 gauge with a 36" out-to-out width. It is unpainted and untreated steel and has no warranty from the manufacturer. The above picture is: Left - Nu-Wave in Bare Zincalume Finish; Middle - IronOx right off the cutting machine; Right - IronOx after sitting outside for 30 days (very little rain). We have another panel outside and will post it after 6 months. You can see it doesn't take much to get this to a "rusty" stage.

Skyline Metal Roofing Projects Slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We got this great note from the Barrientos-Zepeda and Munoz families. We worked on their houses back in April during our Rebuilding Together Project for 2009. Most amazing was spending the day actually helping them accomplish projects that they would otherwise have to hire professionals. More and more families are finding it necessary to rely on outside help, especially now during our current economic downturn. Now is the time to check with your neighbors who might need you.

Eligible Metal Roofing Products for $1500 Tax Credit

The link below is the Roofs Product List of eligible "Energy Star" rated roofs that qualify for the $1,500 American Reinvestment and Recover Act tax credit for 2009 and 2010. This list shows the manufacturer's and their panel profiles that qualify, however, the Warranty column is not 100% correct and the Model column does not include all colors which qualify. Let us know if you have any questions about products you are interested and and whether they qualify or not.

http://downloads.energystar.gov/bi/qplist/roofs_prod_list.pdf

Do-It-Yourself Project #6 - Party Pavillion

We made this pavillion to keep the pine needles off the BBQ. To keep the cost down, we used 29 gauge Norclad in Bare Zincalume (unpainted) and then used Classic Brown trim pieces. It is easy to keep the debris from building up, just a quick few brushes with a push broom.

Through Fastener Panels

Getting ready to roof or side your shop, maybe a pole building or even a pavilion to keep your BBQ guests dry. One of the most economical solutions we have is called "Norclad" by ASC Building Products. Typically sold in 29 gauge, this panel will span 2' and still be walkable. Norclad has a 36" coverage, a 5/8" high rib every 9 inches, with 2 minor ribs in between. A screw with a neoprene washer goes in the top of the panel at a flat spot and through to the substrate below. Norclad has a variety of standard flashings, but custom flashings are no problem either. The turn around time for ordering is about 4 days, and the panels are cut to the exact length you need within 1/4" increments (angle cuts are up to you). See Do-It-Yourself Projects #1 and #6 for pictures of projects clad in Norclad.

Firehot Fireworks!

Burning fireworks flying about the neighborhood on Saturday will be fun...and if you have a metal roof - you will have one less thing to worry about! Have a safe Fourth of July!

Rock Bottom Prices - Act NOW!

The word on the street....metal prices are on the rise. We have been told by most of our manufacturers that steel pricing is starting to go back up and that we are at the lowest price for metal roofing right now. There is a strong demand for steel by the Chinese market, which is leading to increased demand, which we all know leads to increased prices. We are currently about 25% lower than we were this time last year...and metal roofing prices are only going up from here. Current pricing, combined with the $1500 Tax Credit means now is the time to get that metal roof on your home.

Standing Seam Roofing

Standing Seam is a common term used to describe many manufacturers panels. In most cases, standing seam refers to panels that are full length from the ridge to the eave, usually between 12" and 18" wide, with a high rib (about 1" to 2") on each side and either a flat surface or some minor ribs in the middle. The panels will either have a flange on one side for screwing directly to a substrate, or they will have clips which are installed onto the substrate then the panels snap into the clips. Standing seam panels are very popular in the Pacific Northwest. One major benefit is the screws are hidden, which is aesthetically pleasing and helps eliminate debris buildup such as pine needles. Manufacturers in this area produce a variety of standing seam panels and we are here to help you pick the best panel for your project.

AEP Span in Tacoma

When you place a materials order with us, if you are picking it up and it is bigger than we can lift by hand, we will have you pick it up at AEP Span in Tacoma. Their address is 2141 Milwaukee Way, Tacoma, 98422. They are open from 7am to about 5:45pm. You can call us ahead of time (253-926-1633) and we can verify the order is ready for you. We will also provide you with a pick-up number which will make it easier to locate. The map above shows their location off Highway 509. Please note you will turn in just before Milwaukee - you cannot get into the AEP Span yard from Milwaukee.

Some tips:

1. Call us first to verify your order is ready (253-926-1633).
2. Bring your pick-up number we have provided.
3. Prior to leaving the lot - check your packing slip to verify the number of boxes and skids.
4. Note any visible damage to packaging or parts not packaged prior to leaving.
5. Tie down your loads.

Once you unpack your materials, if there is any damage, please let us know asap. If we need to replace the materials, we will need the damaged panels/flashings returned. Pictures of the damage are very helpful too.

Who's Byline?

It's me - Keni Taylor. I am posting these blogs and keeping you informed on the daily hulla-ballo at Metal Roof Specialties. I have been working for MRSI for almost 4 years now. I sell materials packages, answer the phones, type the contracts, keep the place organized and help out where ever I can. We started this blog to keep up with the times, but it is proving to be a great way to share what we know about metal. If you have any questions, feel free to post or send me an email at keni@metalroofspecialties.com. Let me know what you think about our blog...I'm pretty tough for a girl - I think I can take it!

Raise the Roof! Go Haley, Go Haley!

Sometimes it's worth sharing with everyone what it takes to be a successful company. It's not just how we help our customers, but how we help our community. Lucky for us, we have one incredibly giving person amongst us, and we are proud! I am talking about Haley. She is a board member of Rebuilding Together South Sound which takes a lot of her personal and business time. She has many meetings, and as Rebuilding's annual event approaches, it gets very hectic for her. She just finished meeting with the homeowners from our project in April of 2009 and soon will start planning for the next event.

But it's not just Rebuilding Together. Haley manages to take on several charities each year; participating in bicycle and motorcycle rides, 1/2 marathons, walks and auctions. She seems to love them all and puts her heart and soul into each event. But that's the kind of person Haley is ... she jumps in with the same two feet every day at work too. Part of what makes this such a great company to work for is to work along side someone like Haley. We all have our gifts, and hers is sharing with others. Lucky us!

MBA Annual Golf Tournament

Metal Roof Specialties was a sponsor at the MBA annual golf tournament at Lipoma Firs Golf Course in Puyallup on Friday, June 12th. Wayne and Haley were set up at Hole 5 on the Gold course, where they had an opportunity to shmooz with vendors and contractors in the building trades. They held a drawing for a great DeWalt Radio/Tool Charger and the lucky winner was....drum roll please....John Rush from Waste Connections. Way to go John and see you all next year!

Cleaning A Metal Roof

This is probably the most frequent phone call we get..."How do I clean my metal roof?" It's a great question, and one of the most important steps you can take to ensure the longevity of your investment. Roofs must be regularly washed, either by fresh rainwater or by cleaning with a light cleaning solution. The roof must not be cleaned with abrasive or chemical cleansers. One third (1/3) cup of a common laundry detergent (such as Tide) containing less than 0.5% phosphate dissolved in (1) gallon of water will work. You can use a soft bristled brush, like a long handled RV brush, to get the "sticky" stuff loosened. Light pressure washing may be enough to do the trick - but keep in mind the word LIGHT! Keep valleys and areas around screw heads clear of pine needles and debris build-up. While you're up there, cut back any vegetation from overgrown trees and bushes so nothing is resting on the metal roofing. Remember to use proper safety gear when on your roof, keeping in mind wet metal can be very slippery. Proper maintenance is a requirement to keep most warranties in effect. If you have a metal roof with a granular surface, check with the manufacturer for specific cleaning instructions.

Do-It-Yourself Project #5 - Kevin's Cozy Cabin

Welcome to Kevin's cabin, built in 1958 by his grandparents and parents. The shake roofing in the before picture served well for about 50 years, but it was time to update. Kevin picked metal for a couple of reasons...minimize the fire hazard, minimize the cleaning and maintenance, and never have to reroof again. He went with 16" Skyline in Forest Green. It blends with the environment, looks great with the logs on the cabin, and the hidden fasteners of the Skyline roofing eliminate visible screw heads that catch pine needles and debris and get tugged and pulled at by heavy snows.

Kevin and I started emailing each other on a Friday, the following Friday he was on his way to the cabin with the panels, and by Monday he was done and back to work. "Wear gloves" and "measure carefully before you order....I would hate to have to cut all the ends", says Kevin. He did a great job, the cabin looks amazing with a fresh green roof, and I really appreciated working with him. Sweet cabin Kevin...THANKS!

Using Neoprene Closures in Vented Ridge - Skyline Panel

This is a variation of the Vented Ridge (R17) installation if the panels are NOT being turned up at the ridge, and a Neoprene Closure is being installed. The closure and the turn up of the panels have essentially the same effect, keeping water and debris from blowing up into the ridge. If you have extreme conditions, such as low slope and high winds, then turning up the panel AND installing the closure might be necessary. For most, it is easier to install the closures then to turn up every panel but there is a slight added cost (unless you need to purchase the turn up tool - then it will come out pretty even). When we sell a materials package for Skyline, we always include the closures unless a customer is confident about turning up each panel.

Do-It-Youself Project #4 - Going To The Dogs!

This is Russ and Lynda's Doggy Den. These guys are a testament to the importance of buying your materials from someone who will be there when you have an installation question. We talked them through the installation process step by step, and the success of this project led to an even bigger endeavor - their cabin in Cushman. Russ and Lynda used 16" Rustic Red Skyline and some great looking timbers to create this pooch oasis! Nice Work!

Do-It-Yourself Project #3 - Rocky's Rambler

Before and After

This is Rocky's Place. He used 16" Skyline in Cool Everglade. It really gave his house a nice clean look and the weight of the color grounds the otherwise light building. He did it all on his own and really did a nice job in all areas, including the valleys, which can be one of the harder parts of installing a metal roof. Nice job Rocky (and I think his little grandson may have even helped out!)

Bye Bye Birdies

We came back from the holiday weekend and the nest was empty. One of the little fellas hung out on a branch for most of the day, but by the close of business, he too was gone. We enjoyed watching them go from egg to robin, and are grateful for their successful flight into the future. Spring has officially sprung!

Feeding Time!

We taped the bird babies for about 1 and a half hours to come up with some sweet video of them hunkered down in their nest. Sterling came and fed them a couple of times. They are growing so fast....we will try and get them taking off.

Three's A Crowd!

These babies are growing fast! They have filled up their nest now and are finally lifting their heads and making some noise. Sterling (the momma) is not real happy with the paparazzi, and in fact, she is beginning to speak her mind when we come near. We are still trying to keep our invasions to a minimum, but they really are fun to look at. We are going to video them in a few days when they start feeding more, and will post the video asap.

Baby Bird Picture

Here is our new bundles of joy. Three little cuties, and if you look closely and to the right you will see one little yellow beak.

Welcome Baby Birds!

Sterling (our resident Robin) is the proud momma of the cutest little fuzz balls. They look newly hatched and are staying in a little group huddled together.

MRSI Showroom in Fife

This is our showroom, located at 712 54th Avenue East, Fife, Washington, 98424. We are open from 8am to 5pm, Monday thru Friday, and welcome everyone interested in metal roofing and siding. Our showroom has samples of the most popular panels for this area, as well as brochures, color charts and information sheets on most panels sold in the Pacific Northwest. Estimators are here to talk with you about your specific project and needs. We can discuss the design, best products and installation whether you want us to do the work or you want to do it yourself.

Hog Ridin' Ron at the Taste Washington

This is Rancher Ron (one of our devoted followers - of which we now have 5!) sitting on Jerry's hog at the Taste Washington. Ron is an awesome radio celebrity from 710 Kiro and you can hear him with Don from 3 to 7 every weekday - you know...The Ron and Don Show! Ron is an official member of our family every since we put a metal roof on his farm house last year (which reminds me...respond to pig roast evite).

Jerry and Haley hosted a Metal Roof Specialties booth at the Taste Washington on April 5th. Over 200 wineries and 60 restaurants shared their best with those who attended.

Joe's A Daddy!

Baby Landon has been added to our team. Born last Thursday, he joins his baby sister Payton and proud parents Joe and Leslie (Joe is one of our crew members) to make a cute and happy family!

No New Eggs

Quick check this morning while Sterling was away, and there are no new eggs to report, so based on information I have read on Robin's, I think she is done laying.

Do-It-Yourself Project #2 - Steve's Barn Bonanza!

This is Steve's barn, and he did an amazing job using 16" Weathered Copper Skyline. He originally put the roof on in 1998, then had a tree go through it in December 06, which made for the perfect opportunity to put in a dormer. So he cut out a section (top picture), built the dormer and roofed that in the same material. The repair element made it a little difficult, but Steve managed to flash around the new dormer making it look like it was there all along. This truly is one of the best looking barns we have seen! Kudos Steve and thanks for sharing this project with us.

Sterling Update

She now has three beautiful blue eggs in the nest...so I guess we are not disturbing her too much at this time.

Momma's Not Happy With Us!

We have a new resident in our building, and she has decided to bring her young into the world not 2 feet from our door. For the last two weeks, a fat, red robin has been dive bombing us everytime we come in, or go out of, our back door...and now we know why. She has made the camellia bush her home, and today we spotted two bright blue eggs in a fairly big nest. We are going to share with you this sign of spring (since the weather is no indication) with high hopes that in about 12 days (or less) we will have little chicks to brag about. We have named her Sterling and at this time we are going to try and let her have some peace. We will check as often as we can on her progress without disturbing her too much.

$1500 Energy Tax Credit Update

The IRS has finally posted some information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and you can see it at the following web site:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206869,00.html

This has a brief explanation of the tax credit and how it applies to metal roofing. They do not have the tax forms posted or instructions, I will post those links as soon as they are available.

The manufacturers for most of the products we sell qualify, and we will provide certificates which you will keep with your tax documents. In addition, you will need a detailed reciept/invoice for the purchase of the materials.

As stated in the IRS web site, more information will be coming after June 1st.

Do-It-Yourself Project #1 - Lee's Leisure World!

I thought it would be fun to post pictures of projects customers have installed on their own. About 30% of our sales are in materials only -vs- supply and install, so it is very important to us to make sure customers who want to do it on their own have the right product, a clear understanding of how the materials should be used and installed, and a complete materials package to ensure a finished project. This home was done by Lee and his wife. They started with the roof and installed Super Span in a Bare Zincalume finish. That went so well, they decided to side the entire house in Norclad Old Town Gray with Tahoe Blue Trim. Lee even did the underside of his porch in Winter White 16" Skyline and his soffits with an Alcoa soffit material. Most was done with standard trim pieces, but we did have to design a few custom flashings, which is very easy and does not add much cost to the project, but adds that special look. Come on by our showroom or send us an email about your project, we would love to help get you going on installing your own metal roofing or metal siding.

What A Day...What A Difference!

Rebuilding Together 09 - Eight hours on a partly overcast Saturday, about 80 volunteers, lots of smiles and hard work...IT WAS PRICELESS! It is really hard to convey the feelings which arise while you are participating in something so much larger than yourself. We showed up not knowing our job, since our project was cancelled the night before, but within minutes it was clear what needed to be done. We were assigned to the "Westway" Project, a small community of multiple family homes, many of which needed repair work including gardening and fence building, painting, wiring and plumbing, drywall and replacing appliances. We just jumped right in, and by the time the day was over we had almost completed all of the tasks for each of the three houses (a few small items will get finished this week). The families we helped were there and joined right in, and their kids were as sweet and helpful as could be. And that's what made the day so rewarding, getting a first hand look at the appreciation they all felt for the small tasks we accomplished. That really is the reason volunteering is so important. It is hard for some to keep up with even the smallest parts of their daily lives, but as a goup, it is much easier. It's just as hard to give up a Saturday...until you are there, then the first thought that crosses your mind is...WHAT A PERFECT WAY TO SPEND THE DAY!

Saddness in our Family

It's a sad night. We were all set for Rebuilding Together tomorrow morning, but we just found out Mrs. Henderlite, the sweet lady whose house we were going to work on, has died. She was elderly, and although we really did not know much about her, we knew that she needed our help. We were just going to do some weeding and tree trimming for her, simple tasks that had become too overwhelming for her to do on her own. It makes us realize how important it is to check on our neighbors, and help out even in simple ways. We will still participate in Rebuilding Together tomorrow....because there is always someone who needs us!

"One is not born into the world

to do everything

but to do something."
--Henry David Thoreau

Finishing Touches

Tony and Andrew putting on the final touches around a chimney on an ASC Sterling roof in "Cool Leaf Green". Our guys spend a lot of time tweeking the metal to get it just right, expecially in places that need to be sealed against the weather.

Rebuilding Together

This is us last year at Rebuilding Together, and once again we are gearing up for a great project. Our norm for Rebuilding Together is to install a new roof for someone in our community, but this year we are going a bit out of our element and taking on a landscape venture. We've had a little sneak preview of what lies ahead...and we have been told to bring our chainsaws! Our crews wield a wicked screw gun, so chainsaws should be NO PROBLEM! Really, we look forward to these projects every year and will keep you posted on how we do on Saturday!

Delivery Truck

This is how big the delivery truck really is....can this fit in your driveway? If you need your ASC products delivered, they will come on a full-size semi-truck and trailer (75 feet long) with a boom offload. The truck will need access to the property, a way to get in and out, and clear overhead (no power or phone lines) to off-load using the boom. We will verify the method of delivery with you, and make sure the best option is used for your situation.

Brad

Say hi to Brad, the best delivery guy ever! We are very fortunate to work with metal roofing suppliers who take every detail seriously...including the delivery of your materials. The drivers are professional, courteous, and make every effort to get materials to your job site on time and ready to install. Brad can't delivery everything...but his friends do a pretty good job too!

Sweet roof (and place)

We just got a couple pic's of an awesome metal roof we installed awhile ago, check it out!

Tax Credit

If you haven't already heard, there is a tax credit available for up to $1,500 for installing an energy star rated metal roof in 2009/2010. Check out the list of qualified metal roofing manufacturers to see if the contractor you select installs the qualifying products!

For more information check back, the IRS website should have updated information soon and we will let you know.

(posted by Haley)

Paint Plant

On Friday Jeff took Keni and I on a visit to Steelscape, where most of the metal panels we use are painted. Eric gave us an amazing tour of the plant and we left with our minds spinning.....what a fascinating place! Thank you Eric, Andrea (from Steelscape) and Jeff (from ASC Building Products) for making this happen, you're great!

(posted by Haley)

Why we started a Blog...

Our company is called Metal Roof Specialties, and guess what? We install metal roofs in the Puget Sound area. We also sell the material and get a ton of questions from the Do-It-Yourself-ers. So on this blog we'll give some good DIY tips and take you behind the scenes of our company.

You'll meet our staff, see us working on actual jobs, check out some of our specialized gear, and hopefully learn something along the way.

We'll see you soon on the new blog.
Jerry and Haley.

You can check out our main website at www.ilovemetalroofs.com
(Posted by Haley)