Happy Happy Happy

We could talk all day about how we feel about our work. We strive to make EVERY project an experience that the homeowner will appreciate. Sometimes a project turns out to be a little different than our original plan, but we adjust and persevere. This Thank You is from a wonderful family who's project was just such a project and in the end, this letter says it all. We are happy to add Pat and Terry to our family and are very grateful for their kind words.

Now Is NOT The Time To Skimp

Are you out there getting quotes on a new metal roof for your home? We appreciate the competition, that is what makes this a great country to live in. We just want you to understand that skimping on quality will make your investment worth much less in the long run. We consider metal roof and siding installations an art. Our crew members have been with us many years and have honed their skills on over 1,000 METAL roofing and siding projects. We want your metal roof to last a lifetime and the installation is the key! We also want you to know we will be here if you have any problems with the roof or siding we have installed. Shopping for the best price means shopping for a complete and professional roof package. There is so much more to the price of the roof than just the bottom line.

Estimate - Estimate - We've Got Your Estimate!

Need an estimate for a new metal roof? Just click on our free estimate form or give us a call at 800-310-4120.
FREE ESTIMATE FORM

Mix It Up!

Metal siding is such an obvious choice for this area because of its long life span and wear- ability, but maybe your home is not ready for a completely modern look. There are so many options for siding, how about mixing it up a little. Combining metal with other products such as cedar, cement products or even standard sheet siding will give your home a new feel. The possibilities are endless with metal because of the broad selection of panel profiles and the outstanding color choices! If you have an idea or want us to throw out a few, just give us a call (253-926-1633 or 800-310-4120) and we can get you started. The house pictured was completed in 2004 using ASC Nu-Wave in Weathered Copper as siding on the lower level.

Spring Cleaning

It's time for the Great Northwest Winds to kick up and clear your trees of loose branches, needles, sticky cherry and plum blossoms and pollen. Those of course will all land right on your metal roof. Spring is a great time to get on the roof and check for any winter damage. Check carefully around the chimneys, skylights and any plumbing penetrations to make sure debris is not wedged or built up around the flashings. This debris will just collect more debris and so on until there's enough to dam up the water and cause leaking. Roof penetrations are always a suspect spot if you have a leak and keeping them clear is the best way to maintain the flashing integrity. If your roof needs "washing" - check out Cleaning a Metal Roof for manufacturer's recommendations. I can't promise spring cleaning your roof is as fun as spring cleaning the closets...but it might be more important!

Happy Birthday Blog!

It's hard to believe we have been posting to this blog for a year already. 73 blogs - some fun, some informative and a few to let you know who we are. We have had visitors from across the United States, but are really here to help those in the Pacific Northwest understand and appreciate metal roofing and siding. We have picked up a few new followers (we always welcome more!) and we have also added our blog to our website at www.ILoveMetalRoofs.com. The way I look at it - a year with the blog means another year with the Company. WOOHOO! Do you have a favorite post? Let me know - maybe it can be resurrected for those who might have missed it. Thank you to all who visit our site!

The Fundamental Roof

Your roof selection is as important as the foundation your house is built on. Even if you take away thinking "green" or "sustainable" or wanting to gather water or solar energy, you should still seriously consider a metal roof. Roof systems are required by building codes to be resistant to wind, impact and fire and they need to protect your home from the environment. They should be durable and weathertight and maintained in some way or another. With that being said, metal roofing, installed correctly of course, goes above all building code requirements and will keep your house safe from the elements. Metal roofing is designed to be extremely weathertight and durable when used and installed correctly and needs minimal yearly maintenance. Your roof is a fundamental part of your home, and without a good roof the value and longevity are compromised.

Homeowners Association vs Metal Roofing

The history of Homeowner's Associations (HOA's) dates to the 1960's and they really took off in the late 1970's. Back then metal roofing was limited to primarily through fastener (barn style) panels and some standing seam. Either way the look was long straight metal panels not necessarily as pleasing to the eye as wood shake, tile or slate roofing. In the 70's and 80's, shake, tile and slate were about as fashionable as you could get, and HOA's preferred their look and resale value over composition and other less expensive options. Therefore, CC&R's (Convenants, Conditions and Restrictions) were written to include very specific roofing choices - mostly shake, tile and slate, excluding metal or composition roofing.

Now times have changed. Metal roofing comes in many styles, including those that mimic shake, tile and slate. Even the new standing seam panels are used on some of the highest end homes in our area. And funny thing, those roofs put on in the 70's and 80's are starting to fail. Although attractive, not very durable for this area. Not so funny, HOA's are finding it hard to accept metal roofing as an alternative to the roofing in their "original" CC&R's.

That's where we come in. We are here to help educate HOA's about the "vast" choices of metal roofing with several reasons to make the switch. Most have Energy Star Ratings and qualify for the Energy Tax Credit. Metal roofing is made from recycled materials and completely recycleable at lifes end. Most come with extended warranties (up to Lifetime) and last far longer than any other roofing choice. Their maintenance is minimal and in this area stand up to moss, tree pollen and pine needles! They maintain their look for years and years to come without chipping, fading, warping, cracking or breaking (like some of the other choices!).

If you are an HOA or a homeowner trying to plead your case to an HOA, please let us help you. It is very hard to dispute the benefits of metal roofing, and once you compare it to roofing in your CC&R, it becomes obvious that the options today stand ready to replace the options of yesteryear.

Sweet and Simple to Sublime!

It's not the size of the job that matters! It all comes down to what you are looking for. When you drive in the driveway, what is it you want to see? How many hours do you want to spend "maintaining" and do you really want to go through the replacement process again in 10 to 20 years? If you want to see the longlasting, low maintenance beauty of a metal roof....we can help you. Whether your job is big or small, sweet, simple or sublime, we can help you! Your project is as important to us as it is to you!

Going up Up UP

All of our manufacturer's have reported additional price increases expected to happen in March. We just had an increase on February 1st, but we were able to absorb most of the cost with only a few products increasing slightly. It looks like the next increase will effect all panels and flashings. These increases are being driven by higher raw material costs for iron ore, metallurgical coal and scrap, as well as the limited amount of import steel coming into the US. All quotes currently outstanding are good through March 14, 2010, and will have to be revised after that date.

Iron Ox EXPOSED!

The top picture is a comparison of ASC Building Products IRON OX metal roofing/siding panel. This panel is cold-rolled steel, and meant to weather like old barn roofing. The panel on the top left is right off the roll form machine, and the rusting was caused by the flat sheet being outside. The top middle panel was outside for 1 month in the middle of our hot summer, with very little moisture. The panel on the top right (and in the bottom picture) was outside from July to December, laying flat on the ground, over some wood. Interesting fact, both sides of the panel have virtually the same amount of rusting - so my hypothesis, it is the moisture in the air as much as the moisture on the panel (unscientific of course!). The rust color is amazing, but do plan for the run-off. Check out the link to Country Rustic Corrugated, this is a painted panel created to resemble the rusted Iron Ox. Country Rustic is a great alternative if rust run-off is a problem.

How Did We Do?

Did we install your new metal roof?
Did we provide you with a materials package and you did it yourself?
How is your roof holding up?
How did our crews do?
Did you feel high pressure during the sales portion of your project?
Do you have suggestions for the wary?

If you have worked with our company and want to share your experience, your comments will help others who are trying to find a metal roofing company they can trust. We hope you enjoyed your total experience, but we honestly want to hear from you either way!

2010 Tax Credit

The Tax Credit is carried over for this year, so if you did not take advantage of it in 2009, how about letting us show you what you qualify for in 2010. Here is the 2009 IRS Residential Energy Credit Form (Form 5696 - click here for link to IRS web page). This credit is for up to $1500 and most of the metal roofing we sell qualifies!

Steel Prices Going Up

Just a little heads up, steel prices are set to go up between 5% and 8% in February 2010. ASC Building Products has given us some warning, and usually the other manufacturers follow.

If your ready for a new roof or want some materials, call us now and get locked into the current pricing.

Back To Work!

The holiday is over...and the time off has come to an end. We are ready to take on your project, big or small. Just need materials, we can handle that too. Our show room is all spruced up for the new year and our roofers are excited for our upcoming projects. Even with the rains, we can tear-off your old roof and put on a new one without interrupting the inside of your home in the least. Give us a call or stop by and we can get you started. Happy New Year and our Best Wishes!

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!