Is A Metal Roof Good For A House In Hurricane Zone?

Q: I love metal roofs. I have a friend who has done a lot of shingle jobs, and he has agreed to replace the roof for a good price – if I work with him. But he has no experience with metal roofs and is hesitant to take on the job.

Is it really so hard to install a metal roof, and are they twice as expensive as shingle? I think a copper-colored roof on my lovely cedar house would be beautiful, and I love the sound of rain tapping on a metal roof.

There are a couple of skylights, the roof has a pitch to it and, remember, this is hurricane country. What do you say?

A: We say go for it. If the roof is simple, you and your friend should have no trouble at all.

It happens that we were down Mississippi way this past June. We met our younger brother and an uncle in New Orleans and, after a few days in the French Quarter, drove over to Mobile via Pass Christian and Biloxi.

On the return to New Orleans, we stayed in Biloxi and ran smack into Tropical Storm Bill – no relation. The point here is that although neither of us has ever had to, as Jimmy Buffett sings, "reason with hurricane season," we do have some idea of the winds that kick up with a tropical storm. We think a metal roof will hold up well and is a fine idea for your cedar house.

We have no idea how material costs compare in Mississippi for a metal roof versus a shake or shingle roof. But that's easy to find out. Measure the surface area of your roof and contact the supplier of both the metal and the shake roofing materials. Each supplier should be able to give you a total price for the materials, as well as advice on installation.

Metal roofs are not complicated to install if the roof is not complex. If yours is a simple gable roof, installation should be a piece of cake. The only glitch may come with the skylights, and we're certain that your supplier can provide the necessary instruction and materials to overcome this wrinkle.

The critical thing with skylights is to make sure they are properly flashed so that rainwater does not penetrate.

Metal roofs are fire resistant, long wearing, shed snow beautifully and, in Biloxi, will provide the pitter-patter of raindrops.

Before Kevin changed careers, he took a job building a covered patio at a home in the Boise, Idaho, foothills. The patio roof was to match the metal roof of the house. The roof was gable style with a moderate pitch.

Metal roofing comes in 3-foot widths. The length is custom cut by the manufacturer to match the distance from the soffit to the ridge. Thirty-pound roofing felt is installed over the roof decking.

The metal roof panels are attached through the decking to the rafter by sheet-metal screws. The screws are equipped with a rubber washer so that when they are driven home the rubber forms a watertight seal. The manufacturer will give you the recommended spacing for the screws.

Once all the panels are installed, a ridge cap is screwed over the ridge joint. Then you're done. Don't worry about the metal separating from the roof decking. It's more likely that the entire roof will blow off in a hurricane.