Metal Masterpiece - Win $250!

Did you get some metal from Metal Roof Specialties and build something really inspirational?  Did your roof or siding job come out beyond your dreams?  How about a planter box or tree house that you just can't believe you did yourself!  If you made it mostly out of metal you got from us and you want to inspire others with your ingenuity and overall experience, then send an email to Keni@MetalRoofSpecialties.com and I can get you the details that could win you $250!  Sharing ideas, technique and do-it-yourself how-to's will help others get their project off paper and into reality!  No project is too small and no idea should go unrecognized!

Language is the means of getting an idea from my brain into yours without surgery.  ~Mark Amidon

Metal Roof Reflects Sun's Heat!

We just finished Clay's house on Friday and according to him "It is presently 79 deg outside and it's 70 inside our home. No we don't have AC, we have a metal roof (of apparently the right color). I pulled down the attic stairs in the garage and went up there, it's actually cool in my attic - AMAZING!"

There is actually hard science to back up what Clay is experiencing with his new metal roof. The roof has a major impact on a homes absorption of heat from Solar Radiation - it is either reflected or absorbed into the building. "Cool" coatings focus on reflecting and shedding what heat is absorbed away from the surface. Compared to a dark grey asphalt shingle roof, a "Cool" metal roof can save 25% in energy costs.  All of the metal roofing products we use have qualified "Cool" coatings and carry the Energy Star label.  If you are in the market for a new roof, please give us a call to talk about the list of advantages when choosing metal! 

More information regarding "Cool" coatings can be found at http://www.metalroofing.com/v2/content/metal-roofing/cool-pigment-technology.cfm.

Hurray! Hurray! It Is Finally May!

May is such a great time in the Pacific Northwest.  We can almost officially stop using our furnaces and scale down to only two layers of clothing.  We are so close to going sockless in our sandals and wearing shorts with our fleece jackets and planning our weekend adventures OUTSIDE!

Now is the time to take a good hard look at your home improvement projects.  The winter takes such a toll on everything that is exposed, and your roof is no exception.  If you already have a metal roof, take some time to check it out, especially making sure all flashings are still secure and that excessive debris is cleared from behind any penetrations such as skylights, chimneys or plumbing vents.  The pollen is soon to come and it will adhere to the debris and make a sticky mess.

You don't already have a metal roof and yours is a bit overdue to be replaced?  Metal is the way to go!  Although more expensive than most composition roofing, the benefits will pay for themselves throughout the years.  We can help you understand which metal roofing is right for your project and how it will fit into your budget.  If you are ready for a new roof, please give us a call and we will get you the information to make your decision easier!  Call us at 1-800-310-4120 or come by our showroom and see all of the options available for this area.  Financing is available.

Celebrity Among Us!

We could not be more proud of Haley, our Chief Administrative Officer here at Metal Roof Specialties.  She has been chosen as a Girl Scouts of Western Washington 2012 Pierce County Woman Of Distinction.  She shares the honor for this 100th year of Girl Scouting with Chief Deputy Auditor of Pierce County - Lori Augino; VP of Environment, Health and Safety for the Boeing Company - Mary Armstrong; and for Thruston County Govenor Christine Gregoire.  The list of all recipients for 2012 can be found at http://www.girlscoutsww.org/.  Haley's contribution to the daily success at Metal Roof Specialties is only surpassed by her commitment to the community which will include President of Rebuilding Together South Sound starting August 2012.  Congratulations Haley - We Love You and All You Do!

Spring Sale On NOW!

Thinking about a little do it yourself project and metal seems like the answer.  Now is the perfect time because our most popular products are on sale.  We can get a 3' wide, 29 gauge through fastened panel (the screws go through the top of the panel and are visible) for as low as .68 cents per square foot.  We can also get a standing seam (the screws are hidden under the panel laps) in a 26 gauge, 16" wide panel for as low as $1.16 per square foot unpainted and $1.37 per square foot painted standard color.  You can view these products on our website at http://www.ilovemetalroofs.com/ under our products tab.  Look for Norclad and Skyline.  If this sounds like a good solution to your roofing or siding needs, give us a call and we can work you up a materials quote.  You can also stop into our showroom and see the products and talk about your specific project.  Products must be purchased by May 29, 2012.     - Keni

DIY Project #8 Aat's Amazing Bathroom

This is an outstanding example having a vision and finding a way to accomplish it.  In the beginning, Aat came to us with an idea, and after working with Jerry on his plans the two of them came up with the answer.  Aat's bathroom is clad in Bare Zincalume 2-1/2" Corrugated and flat sheet for the countertops.  The flashings and basin were designed by Aat and made by a local fabricator who can create just about anything.  The outcome - A TRUE WORK OF ART!       -Keni

HOMEOWNERS BEWARE!

Trust in the company you are doing business with is the hardest obstacle we as a company have to overcome when trying to convince you that we are going to do what we promise, and it's stories like this that make it that much harder.  According to the Business Examiner on Thursday, April 12, 2012:  Beaver Worx, LLC has had it's contractors license suspended by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries as of March 29, 2012.  Homeowners from Seattle to Tacoma have complaints against Beaver Worx for not paying it's suppliers which has caused the suppliers to put liens on the homeowners homes. 8 of 10 complaints with the BBB so far remain unanswered. 

This is a horror story in the making, and fortunately this extreme case is not too common.  What is common, contractors coming in to do work they are not sure of or do not have the expertise to be completing, then when the job is unsatisfactory or does not perform as expected within a year or two, the company is gone or will not respond.  We all know that hiring the right contractor is an art form.  We dance back on forth on the price between two or three potential companies, and far too often let the price be the deciding factor.  In metal roofing, without a doubt, you get what you pay for. 

As a metal roofing company how do we stand out?  WE ONLY DO METAL ROOFING!  Our installers spend every working day honing their skills that make our metal roofing projects not only look amazing right down to the last fold and hem, but to make them last through the elements the Pacific Northwest is known to dish out.  We pick the materials based on the quality of the product and the reputation of the supplier who will be providing the overall warranty.  In addition to the manufacturer's warranty, we also provide a weather tightness warranty on our installation, and the good news, we are now in our 20th year and are still responding to homeowners we helped in year 1!  When you pick Metal Roof Specialties, you are not choosing us because of the price, you are choosing us because the job will meet your every expectation.

Our heart goes out to any customer who's experience is anything less then the promise between you and your contractor.  We get calls every day on this subject and have made a commitment to all we deal with to do exactly what we promise!

Metal as Siding - Great Option!

Using metal as siding is always a great option when looking for a product that will virtually last the life of your home.  Most metal roofing products can be used as siding, and a majority can be run either horizontally or vertically which gives the homeowner many options.  Mixing and matching products, direction and color can add architectural elements that go far beyond standard lap or sheet products and using metal in conjunction with wood or cement siding gives even more flexibility.  Just an accent wall, maybe the upper portion of a gable end, how about a window wall?  Clients are finding new uses for metal as siding and we are here to encourage their creativity!  We have samples of all of the metal panels listed on our website as well as many others.  If you want to come in to the showroom and play with color chips or see how a piece looks, please stop by.  We are open from 8 to 5, Monday through Friday and are here to help get your project from your concept to completion!

Storm Damage Repair Services Available

Did Mother Nature play a little havoc with your existing metal roof?  If you had wind damage that blew off some of the panels or flashings, or you had falling debris that damaged or punctured panels, please give us a call.  We work with almost all of the metal roofing manufacturer's and can get your job done correctly and efficiently. Our office is open from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, and we monitor our phone lines all of the time to get you a quick response.  Call us at 253-926-1633 or 800-310-4120.

New Product - Titebond Metal Roof Sealant

We are now distributing and selling an amazing caulk made just for metal applications. It is called Titebond WeatherMaster Metal Roof Sealant and is a polymer formula which provides a waterproof seal against water, wind, dust and dirt.  It offers exceptional adhesion to Kynar coated metal materials, along with standard metal, aluminum, steel, galvanized surfaces, plastics, glass, wood, brass and other common building materials.  This product is ideal for use on a variety of metal roofing, trims, architectural metal siding, and gutters.

We have 7 colors in stock including transparent and it currently sells for $7.50 per 10.1 fl. oz. tube.                      -Keni

Seattle "Skyline"

Here's one of our latest little cuties.  It's a great rambler in Seattle and we topped it with an ASC Building Products "Skyline" metal roof in classic brown and to give it a bit of an kick - the flashings are in Bare Zincalume which pulled together nicely with the new gutters and downspouts.  Check out the bottom picture....cute rain barrel!  We want to welcome the Cardenas' to our family and appreciate their confidence in us!

Smashing September Sale!

This is it!  The "just can't beat our panel price" sale of the month.  For orders placed by September 27th and delivery taken by September 30th, you can get 16" Standing Seam, 26 gauge roofing in 14 standard colors for $1.89 per linear foot ($1.41 per square foot). You can also get 3' wide, 29 gauge Norclad in 9 standard colors for $2.20 per linear foot ($.74 per square foot).  These are our two most popular residential panels, perfect for the homeowner or do-it-yourselfer and with each package purchase comes our expertise!  Stop in this month and talk with Keni or Haley and let us bid your project, no matter the size, and we can get you going on a new, lifetime roof!     - Keni

Tax Credit Nearing The End

As much as it makes sense to give a credit for a product that will save thousands of dollars in the long run, cut back on landfill and reduce energy waste, so far it does not look like there will be an extension or a new credit for 2012 for metal roofing.  That being said, now is the time to take advantage of the 10% back on your 2011 tax return (up to $500) for new metal roofing installed by December 31st on your primary residence.  The good thing about the 2011 credit, it is not included in the 2009/2010 energy credit numbers, so even if you used the energy credit in 2009/2010, you can still use this one if you had the work done in 2011.  Almost all of the products we supply qualify for the energy credit and if you have any questions about how to get the 10% back, please give us a call at 1-800-310-4120 or 253-926-1633.  - Keni

Jerry Meets Julia

Jerry went out to meet adorable Julia and her family to talk about a metal roof last night.  After discussing the new roof and the color it should be (which of course Julia had a slightly different opinion then her parents) she went off to draw a picture to present to Jerry before he left.  We welcome the Pitzer's to the Metal Roof Specialties family and sweet Julia's portrait will hang proudly in his office!

Plan Ahead for Labor Day

Labor Day is just around the corner and apparently summer is already half way over. If you are planning to get a project going for the long weekend that includes metal, please give us a call and we can make sure you have all the materials to finish up without a hitch.  Not sure what you need, stop in, call or email us and we can get you the right product for the project! 

Sterling Roof and Copper Gutters - True Gems!

We just finished this beautiful home in Auburn, Washington.  The roofing is Cool Matte Black Sterling by ASC Building Products and the gutters are Half-Round produced in pure Copper. 

Sterling roofing is a 24 gauge standing seam product installed on clips for a true floating roof, ideal for long runs to allow for expansion and contraction.  The manufacturer offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty on the finish and our company offers up to a Lifetime Weather Tightness Warranty as well.

The Copper gutters are produced locally and will last a lifetime, changing colors as the years progress. Half -Round gutters get their name from the fact they have a barrel look, as if cut in half and are a great alternative to the standard K-style gutters.  They are produced in many colors, bare or copper and in different sizes.

In all the project took 83 man days for a total of 664 hours.  We removed and disposed of the original shake roofing, put on new underlayments, replaced the skylights (this is a great idea when you are having new roofing installed, skylights do not have a long lifespan) then installed the roofing, gutters and flashings all to the manufacturer's specifications.  All went smoothly and we are very proud of our crew's attention to detail and their workmanship! - Keni

You Are Very Welcome Mrs. Campbell!

Rebuilding Together 2011

This year we had the opportunity to put on a new roof section for Mrs. Leggitt for Rebuilding Together South Sound.  We got there early Saturday, May 14th and almost got it done before the end of the day (A couple of us had to return to finish up).  We pulled off the old roofing, installed new firring and insulation and installed a NorClad roof  (donated by ASC Building Products) to match the upper roof done earlier.  Everyone from our company came to help; Jerry, Haley, Wayne, Keni, Johnny, Justin, Andrew and Joe.  We also had a few additional AWESOME volunteers, G'Nel, Kim, Tarl, Leslie and her mini helpers Payton and Landon.   - posted by Keni 

Rebuilding Together 2010

I was just about to post about our Rebuilding Together Project for this year when I noticed I did not post our 2010 accomplishment.  Better late than never, especially when it comes to thanking all of the employees here who supported last summers project! 

Thank you to Justin, Johnny, Joe, Haley, Jerry, Jayce and Marty from our company and a special thank you to Leslie, Payton and Landen (Joe's helpful family)!  We were able to replace the porch roof and a  lower side roof.  ASC Building Products provided the metal roofing materials and our company provided the additional materials needed.

Congratulations Haley!

Haley is being honored by the Business Examiner as one of this years 40 Under Forty.  Haley is our Chief Administrative Officer and assists the President in all aspects of the company and we could not be more proud of her dedication to the success of all of us.  Congratulations on an honor well deserved!  You can check out the other honorees at Business Examiner 40 Under Forty.   - Posted by Keni

Work Of Art In Progress

We are nearing halfway on our current project, a beautiful log home which is being transformed with a 24 gauge Matte Black "Sterling" metal roof by ASC Building Products.  In addition, we will be replacing the gutters with 6" Half-Round Copper gutters and 3" Downspouts.

Because of the extensive detail work, this will take 65 man days to complete, which is one of the main reasons metal roofing is pricier than a conventional composition replacement.  We are proud to have been selected by this homeowner, who found us through Angie's List.

We Made The Cover...And We Didn't Even Know It!

This is one of our roofing projects from December 1999. The home was completed in 17" Design Span in a Bare Zincalume finish, and although this home has been remodeled since the roof was installed, the lifetime roofing product remains!  We are proud of our work and our workmanship, and as the years pass, the timelessness of metal roofing lends itself to home makeovers without the added cost of replacing the roofing, especially if the roof was installed correctly with a special attention to the detail work.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...behold the beauty!  Check out this article at Builder+Architect  then check us out at ILoveMetalRoofs.com.

We Proudly Sponsor Girl Scouts of Western Washington

It is easy to see why, when you check out our company, that we understand the value of each and every employee including the "girls" who keep this place running smoothly.  But don't be fooled, they are more than amazing "office" workers.  They have the confidence to do anything, including jumping right in on a recent Rebuilding Together project - helping with the tear off and installation!  And Surprise Surprise...they were part of the Girl Scouts growing up!  Our company is dedicated to help when we can and especially when the need is right here in our community.  Keep up the good work Girl Scouts of Western Washington...we all benefit from those affected by your organization!

Expert Advise for Free!

Jerry has just signed up to volunteer as a metal roofing expert on the website http://www.allexperts.com/ where you can go to get questions answered on hundreds of topics.  He will use his 35 years in the metal industry to answer questions from all over the world on performance, application, practicality, technical and detail aspects of installing and using metal roofing.  This will be a great way for Do-It-Youselfers to get free advice on any part of their metal roofing project.  If you have questions, check out the AllExperts website, or even better yet, go right to the source and give us a call!

Congratulations Haley!

Haley was recently nominated for the Pierce County Women of Distinction through the Girl Scouts of Washington and we will be celebrating her accomplishments along with the three 2011 winners at a luncheon on Tuesday the 17th.  Haley has been working for Metal Roof Specialties since April 2004 and up until recently was an outside sales representative.  She is now filling of the role of bookkeeper, material salesperson and Office Coordinator, so if you call into the office, you will probably have the honor of speaking with her.  Congratulations Haley and thank you for your dedication to your job and your community!

Breakout Your Home Improvement Plans... THE SUN IS COMING!

Are you waiting for a rain free weekend to get started on your home improvement projects?  It might be right around the corner.  The weather for Easter weekend is looking to be our first spring break from the rain and cold.  Now of course I am not guaranteeing anything, but if you have a roofing or siding project you want to get started, now is the time to order your materials so you have them at the ready (just in case I am right).  Give us a call or stop by Monday - Friday 8 to 5, and we will help you get the metal you need to whittle down that Honey Do List!

Letter From The Metal Roofing Alliance

I just wanted to share a letter from the Executive Director of the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) Mr. Tom Black.  Jerry speaks in support of the MRA annually at the Metalcon Show and also for individual companies across the United States regarding metal roofing installation and running a successful metal roofing company.  Here is the letter to Jerry:

I want to thank you for your support of MRA and your generous participation in the metal roofing industry. Each year at Metalcon you willingly share your expertise in metal roofing installation through the on-floor demonstrations. In addition, whenever I call on you to share information on running a profitable metal roofing contractor business I know that we will get an outstanding presentation full of practical insights. Thank you for your contribution again this year at Tampa.

Jerry's knowledge of metal roofing and siding products is what sets our company apart, and the good news for you is that with each materials or installation package (or even just a single part) you order from us, you get access to the knowledge first hand!