We're Here to Answer Them
When you factor in color, texture, hardware options (flashing, underlayment, ventilation) along with material type, manufacturer and style of roof, there are literally hundreds of different types of roofing systems on the market today.
When shopping for a new roof you are quite literally trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. For example, on just one big box retailer’s website alone, there are over 270 choices. And the worst part, nine times out of ten you’re probably going to know more about that residential roofing system than the guy that works there.
That is why we have trained professionals on staff whose only job is to inform and educate you on your options. By asking questions, our consultants are able to whittle down your choices into a manageable handful. By the time we are done, you will have a roof that you absolutely love.
First of all, we hate selling. In our experience, nobody likes to be sold anything… its disingenuous. That is why our staff is specifically trained to be consultants that inform and educate, NOT sell. This is particularly poignant because, contrary to popular belief, roofs are extraordinarily complicated.
For example, many homeowners today are upgrading their home with new windows and doors. Well, according to the E.P.A. today’s modern windows are 8x more efficient than windows that were built just 8 years ago. Which is great. But there is a problem.
As homeowners “tighten” up their homes, the accumulated moisture that use to “leak” out their windows and doors is now being forced into their attics. This causes HUGE problems. From mold and mildew, to wood rot, to reduction in your insulation R-values, moisture is a problem.
In fact, according to the Department of Energy and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory:
“You need to ventilate your home because you and your family generate moisture when you cook, shower, do laundry, and even when you breathe. More than 99% of the water used to water plants eventually enters the air… This water vapor can add up to 5 to 15 gallons of water per day to the air inside your home…typical attic ventilation arrangements are one example of a planned escape path for moisture that has traveled from your home’s interior into the attic space. It is generally recognized that every 1% of water vapor intrusion into an insulation material may increase the thermal conductivity of the insulation by 7.5% thereby greatly reducing the R Value of the insulation.”
Many roofing contractors in Madison, Milwaukee (or anywhere else for that matter) NEVER inspect your attic. And that is a huge problem. Replacing your roof won’t solve the underlying problems that are causing premature failure of the roofing material or worse… actual damage to the home.
That is why we always inspect your attic (using high tech gear) to determine exactly what your moisture content is and the best way to remove it. And we do all of this before we even talk to you about the possibility of a new permanent roof.
The list goes on, but I believe we made our point. Roofs are complicated and you need an EXPERT to help guide you through the morass. And at Metal Roofing Systems, that is EXACTLY what we are…roofing EXPERTS and your roofing advocates.
Before you consider replacing a roof, you need to know a few things. Sure, sometimes replacing your roof is as easy as exchanging one roof for another… but that is the exception NOT the rule.
The reality is that homes settle over time. A home’s roof will “settle” as well. This is due to a number of factors, not the least of which is the expansion and contraction of the roofing materials as a result of our weather extremes.
As a result, most roof frames, fascia boards, sheathing (and more) can get damaged. This is especially true if the roof is not inspected and maintained regularly. These damaged parts must be replaced before you can replace the roof.
Case in point: many roofing contractors in Wisconsin would have you believe that you need a new roof, but they never address the underlying cause. Many times it’s inadequate ventilation. This traps heat and moisture in your attic and this heat literally cooks your roof. And the moisture becomes catalyst for mold growth. These factors will lead to premature roof replacement and possibly costly mold abatement issues. See the question above a “roof just being a roof.”
Bottom Line: You should call us so we can inspect your roof, your attic and ventilation and point out to you all the issues you need to consider when replacing your roof.
The direct answer: No. In fact, our clients will experience up to 20% summer cooling cost savings after the installation of the right metal roofing system. A properly vented metal roofing system moves air between the metal panel and the underlying deck. Heated air dissipates through our exclusive ridge vent while cooler air is drawn in through the eave vents.
In short, permanent residential metal roofing in Madison keeps your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Concern about additional noise due to the installation of a permanent metal roofing system has kept otherwise eager consumers away from the product. While it is true that metal can resonate (unlike tile or wood), studies confirm that a properly installed metal roofing system yields no increase in noise compared to other roofing alternatives.
Attic insulation, proper air flow, combined with the fact that many metal roofing systems are mounted flush on a solid decking, all contribute to acceptable noise performance of metal roofing.
Short answer, it depends. Yes. While many Homeowner Insurance Providers now offer up to 35% discounts on insurance premiums, not all of them do. So make sure you check with your insurance carrier for a more definitive answer.
As we stated elsewhere on our website. Many of our metal roofing systems perform BETTER than any other roofing system on the market. In fact, many of our permanent roofing systems are warranted to withstand 120 mph winds.
Not usually… and this of course will save you money on labor and disposal costs.
Typically, permanent residential metal roofing in Wisconsin can be installed over one layer of asphalt roofing. However, unlike some roofing contractors, we will never install a new metal roof over more than one layer of roofing. Rotten decking can hide under 2 layers of old roofing rather easily and we must be sure we have a solid roof deck before we install.
Again, it depends. Here is the reality… any sufficiently sized object traveling at a high velocity can and will damage your roof. And don’t let anyone tell you different. But with that being said, our permanent roofs carry the industry highest Class 4 Hail-resistant Rating. This is the roofing industries highest impact resistance standard. There is nothing stronger on the market. And it is definitely stronger and more resilient than temporary asphalt shingles.