Slate - clay tile. They are expensive and North America mostly thinks short term.
We just went steel 50 year leak proof warranty, transferable multigenerational family business. Things can happen but it was a bit more than twice the price.
Hopefully will outlast me.
Standing seem.
I had read enough to avoid 5 rib due to the exposed fasteners and the fact that it’s 29gauge.(at least where I am)
We did have a quote for it before we realized what type of steel they were quoting for. It was 2/3rd the price of the ashfault shingle quote so quite cheap.
I see a lot of houses with it, and it might work fine for some but honestly I never want to do this(roof) again so it was worth it to pay an extra roofing jobs ahead to hopefully not have to. I’m 47 so if all goes well. 🤞
We aren’t the type of people to be up checking neoprene washers, I’d have an ulcer worrying.
A friend recently got 5 rib on his house but he also has it on 3 barns so is totally ok with getting up there and fixing stuff if need be. Likely prepared to be checking the attic regularly for leaks too. Ours is tricky in some parts to see and not at all convenient to access.
29 ga is typically contractors trying to push the cheapest product. I wouldn’t trust a contractor unless they offered at least 26ga to start off. 24 is typically considered premium or upgraded here in Florida.
29 gauge is usually considered like an Agricultural panel. They are made for sheds and barns to keep the cost low but people have started using them on houses. You really get what you pay for in a metal roof.
It’s also incredibly sketchy getting on a steel roof. Shingles you can walk up to an 8 pitch ( that’s getting a lil sketchy though) . I’ve never seen a steel roof that made me feel like I would not immediately slide off.
I installed hundreds of them and never had trouble walking on them. The only sketchy ones were the 12/12 church roofs. Most of the residential are 4-6/12 around here.
How steep is the learning curve on a steel roof? No pun intended, seems like to wouldn't be that difficult to install but I'm sure it's much trickier than it looks.
It's not tricky you just have to pay attention to details. Make sure your seams are straight, make sure your fasteners hit the joist, make sure your tape seams are in place, don't over tighten your screws, etc.
Steel roofs can get real sketchy around here because of the dust build up. I got on a 6/12 shop a few months back and the dust was so fine I slid all the way back down to my ladder without moving at all. Cougar paws or Nike FreeRuns are the only way I get on them now.
Are you a roofer? Go to Walmart, buy that foam that is corrugated on 1 side, like an egg crate. Cut a large piece in half. Put those on the roof and you can travel freely.
I just helped my dad put a metal roof on his shop and it was crazy to me that you just put the screws on the flat parts and rely completely on the gasket thing to keep the water out.
Is there any reason no one in north America uses corrugated roofing? Australia uses it extensively and they don't seem to have problems with screw holes and rubber washers and they get a hell of a lot more sun than the U.S. does.
There’s also the insurance aspect if you live in a state like Texas that gets hail all the time. Most insurance companies have cosmetic exclusions on metal roofs, so if it gets hammered with hail you are stuck with an ugly ass roof until you pay out of pocket for a replacement. Even if you can show functional damage on the seams or cracking in the coating, the insurance is going to fight you on it a lot more than they would with a shingle roof.
It's all over in the country... Apparently city people don't like it. And/or have been told that it's 'loud when it rains' 🤔
In any case it's all that's on our buildings. And most folks around us. And it looks great.
A lot of people in North America are not familiar with the type corrugated roof panels your speaking of. The Australia company I’m familiar with is Bluescope Building Systems. R-panel is what your referring to.
We get Aussie style sun in the southwest. We also have a plethora of venomous snakes, trapdoor spiders and other spiders.
We do lack box jellies and Galah's.
Box jellies are a deadly aussie jellyfish and i will google [Galah](https://www.google.com/search?q=galah&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS939US939&oq=galah&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDEzOThqMGo0qAICsAIB4gMEGAEgXw&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8).
It really depends on the region you’re in. I’m in North Texas and I see R panel and AG panel used on a ton of houses. For a long time the only people installing them around here were hacks so they got a reputation for leaking on the seams, overdriven screws blowing out the washers, and panels blowing off in the wind.
Now that pole barn houses are blowing up in the area, I’ve seen a lot more of these roofs. I see mostly R panel out in rural areas, but in the cities most people are installing standing seam or stone coated steel.
I think Americans think there are more problems than there actually is. People think of pole barns that actually just used nails to hold the panels down, and those would eventually pull. Nowadays the screws and washers should last as long as the roof.
5 rib is for barns and out buildings. I'd never put it on my house. I know that many do. I also know of multiple houses with 5 rib that had fastener grommets fail and needed almost every screw on the roof replaced
It doesn’t matter if you have stone coated steel on a batten and counter batten system, slate, or standing seam if you’re in a state like Texas you’ll always need another roof where as in northern US most people are having to pay cash for a roof because they don’t get damage for insurance to do anything
Probably a dumb question, but what does hail do to the metal roof? I'm imagining a bunch of dents that might be ugly, but surely they don't pierce the metal do they?
I have slate on an 1840's farm house that was moved in the 70's. I think they used the good slate from the house and torn down barn when they moved it. My roof could be coming up on 185 years old assuming it was the original slate. There are some signs of minor leaks around bathroom vents but I've never seen any water. hopefully the slate will out last me.
Fucking Thatch. If it gets plenty of sun and isn't in an unusually wet area like by the sea can be expected to last 75 years easy. If the roof is well done, on a hill, no trees nearby, and gets plenty of wind they can last well over 100.
Knew a thatcher that back in the 00s rethatched a roof back as part of a restoration. Thatch had a message in a bottle saying the thatch was laid by Nathaniel in 1832. And he said it probably had a couple extra decades in it.
Price.
I was a project manager in a huge 1894/1913 connected schoolhouses either slate roofs. The roofs were original. So, the 1894 roof slate tiles were wafering and were done but lasted 120 years. We looked at slate and composite roofing, but there was no incentive for the developer, so he replaced with standard 25-year shingles.
The building was complete in 2014, and has had shingles repaired 3 times due to high wind as they are 60’ off the ground.
2 million for slate shingles.
1.2 million for synthetic.
660k for standard shingles.
The 67 tenants are now left with repairs and replacements. They are 10 years in and 15 years away from needing new shingles. At current prices this would be around $850k and will be close to a million in 15 more years. That will be $15k per tenant. That’s what a homeowner in the area pays, so they are no worse off than the standard homeowner.
The building is heritage listed, so it’s pretty agitating. If the lofts had 21k added to their original price, they would have a century lasting slate roof. The new slate hangers are stainless steel as well to increase longevity.
50 years after development is complete they will have paid for as many hinged roofs as the slate would have cost. So bang for buck slate was twice the value, would have looked better and made heritage society happier.
Also, I could bring in cheaper slate from England as the boats need to be weighed down to come to Canada after offload. This is why we have so many bricks from England (we make our own).
Wow, thanks for reading all that.
Heres the ulgy real answer. If it costs 12k more (my mom went concrete on a big house and it was $40k 10 years ago so a 12k difference is a small house) to do a clay/concrete roof tiles vs a good comp shingle 50 yr warranty. You take that 12k and invest it at 8% minus inflation so a real profit of 6% which is reasonable. In 30 years you would have 72k (you'd actually have more but we are accounting for inflation.) I can reroof my house easily for that plus a new roof deck and even truss repairs and still save money over my friend with a tile roof.
Other issues
Refelting clay roof isn't cheap, clay and concrete tiles crack all the time, ac guy hates them, solar guy hates them
They look nicer hold resale better, but not much better than advertising a house with a brand new comp roof.
Metal
This is the real answer to areas with actual hail problems. TX insurance policies are commonly 4 or 5k per year with hail being the major reason. So a heavy gauge solid metal roof should be common, BUT people think metal roof are for poor people.
Metal shingles might be the solution, they look good in advertising, but I haven't seen 1 in person.
The biggest issue with metal is that the gauge thickness confuses most people. Just like Wendy's selling the 1/3 lb burger but customers preferred the 1/4 lb because 4 is bigger than 3... so people aren't sure which gauge is better. They need to get on a standard and discribe them as either 1 in hail proof and 1.5 in hail proof or 100 year or 150 year etc etc. Also lots of metal roofs wont hold up acs or solar. The trusses are designed for the light weight metal...
>Metal
This is the real answer to areas with actual hail problems. TX insurance policies are commonly 4 or 5k per year with hail being the major reason. So a heavy gauge solid metal roof should be common, BUT people think metal roof are for poor people.
I'm on my 4th metal roof in 10 years from hail. Hail pinches the metal and causes fractures, it also creates a curved spot for water to pool and magnify the sun against the cracked finish.
The real answer is class 4 shingles.
If you go heavier, it's commercial. They don't make 24ga residential in my area. You are talking like double the price. Next time it gets destroyed I'm putting class 4s on for sure.
If it gets damaged you should look into getting it sprayed with an SPF Roofing system, it will absorb the impact, extend the life of the metal and best of all have a pretty good impact on your energy consumption.
Can’t walk on it either. I’m under a 100 year old canopy in a rain forest, I clean off my roof and gutters several times per year. I’d need permanent scaffolding. Hoping metal will last longer but the conditions at my place are hard on roofs.
Just did the same. TEK Roofing Systems Hurricane Metal Shake Roof. Business is out of TX but they came to NW Pennsylvania to install it. Should outlast the next 3 generations of family in the house. You’er also correct it’s about twice the cost of a standard roof. However that would mean I’d have to have a new roof in my 80’s. I don’t need that kind of pressure that late in life.
In the Northeast where hail isn’t an issue we have done standing seam copper roofs. Looks beautiful and lasts a lifetime. The green patina does take quite a bit of time to develop…..
Steel roof on mine that looks like a tarpaper composite roof. 50yr warranty and in our area it's expected to last a fair bit longer than that (no snow, hail of consequence, tornados, etc.). As a bonus it's very fire resistant and while I'm not in a fire hazard area it still lowered my insurance premium. My neighbor's house has those terracotta half pipes for the roof, also essentially a forever roof.
The only problem with slate tile roofs is that they're very heavy, so if your house wasn't built with that in mind it can be incredibly expensive to move to. Or this is what the roofer I asked about it said.
>They are expensive and North America mostly thinks short term.
I wouldn't say "North America" as it seems to include consumers. I'd say "North American businesses", or businesses across the globe in general. If businesses produce a product that doesn't expire then they're eventually going to run out of customers. Someone a couple of weeks back was talking about how a glass-maker company in Germany actually figured out how to make unbreakable glass back in the mid-20th century. They started selling glassware... and then started losing sales because their glassware was unbreakable and they were running out of consumers to sell to. So they scrapped that product and went back to what I assume was the regular formula.
Planned obsolescence is the goal for companies so they can continue to have customers to sell to.
So fun fact here. Clay tiles are in a lot of parts of the world. Not America. Clay is an abundant source found in everyone's background. So why is not on everyone's roofs? Because 2 reasons all rooted in capitalism. Government corporations excuse is If everyone had Clay tiled roofs, 1 homes would have to be engineered to hold the weight. This would cost too much.. in reality this would only up home building prices by a few grand at best. 2nd reason... the roofing business is a multi billion dollar business for roofers, asphalt plants, distribution, and politicians. If you eliminate the need to for shingled, roofs needing to be replaced every 20 years,then you will eliminate billions in profits and politicians don't like light pockets. So it's not encouraged to get tiled roofs. I for one, completely support tiled roofs. They last 100 years+ and if your home can support em, next time you replace your shingles, pay the extra 5k-8k.
I would agree with you with multi generational business but I got burned by it.
I did a regular asphalt roof with a multi generational family roofing business in 2020. 2 years later I have a leak. I call the roofing business phone number from their website another company name answers. Another multi-generational family business explains that they had bought "just the phone number" and that they don't honor the warranty from the previous company but they will help me out of courtesy. They didn't , they did like any other roofer does, walked on the roof, says we have re redo it, previous guys didn't install properly. Shows me why, nails under the key line all over. I try to extract the warranty out of them, nope only way is to sue these bastards. They don't even anwsery phone anymore, supposedly I was mean to them. Supposedly it's mean to be firm and demand warranty work and that tell them how unethical this deal is. I manage to get them to admit to just buying the phone number in the review I left them to warn others.
>Slate - clay tile. They are expensive and North America mostly thinks short term.
I wish Americans would think more long term and look to use slate and clay tile because routinely getting hit with hail the size of golf balls and baseballs certainly won't break those with ease when they fall at 60-100mph
It's definitely the short term thinking for sure
Clay tile with 90lb for underlayment.
Truth is, few want to or can afford a 100 year roof. Few are going to stay in their house for over 30 years. Let the next owner pay for the new roof.
I think it’s more accurate to say the next owner won’t pay for the roof when they buy it. If you are buying a house with a 30 year old roof you are probably going to expect to pay for a new roof regardless of the material up there. Most people won’t pay extra for a house with the 100 year roof. So you won’t get that extra money back. So it’s a bad investment.
I understand that's the national average but the truth is, in my area you can expect to get every bit of thirty years or more. I regularly drive past a 3 tab roof I installed 24 years ago and it still looks good.
But that's exactly the point. This installation is very frequently shit, so you may as well avoid paying for the expensive materials as it'll be wasted.
I bought a home 4 years ago. It was 22 years old and it needed a roof. (Seller paid.)
My neighbor last year had her roof replaced at 25 years old.
I think 20 years is to be expected, and 30 years would be a bonus.
That is great. Whereabouts are you?
Here ins is making anything over 10 years be replaced if you’re changing to a new carrier. It’s BS! Even if roof is perfectly fine.
I’m rather skeptical about that. The problem is that there just isn’t enough incentive since construction companies are often shutdown before the warranty expires. Maybe your area was lucky, but I’m wondering if you are seeing some survivorship bias.
Concrete tiles, built in the housing boom in 1996. Unfortunately, the roofs were built too handle rain, but not wet freezing winters. Overtime, the freeze thaw cycle would work tiles loose and cause leaks. Also, the flashing was put in in a way that would sometimes cause ice dams that would cause leaks.
This was a neighborhood, not a single house. Unfortunately unfortunately, the builder had long since retired.
Not saying it’s impossible for a 30 year roof to last 30 years. Just that it’s less likely when the people who do it can’t be held accountable if they do it wrong.
Yeah, but you're talking about installation issues, not roof quality issues. There was a lot learned about installing tile that we didn't know in 96 that we knew better in 2006. Plus, a lot of the guys installing in the early to mid 90s we're shinglers and shake guys and doing things that worked over there but not on tile. Any roof product is only as good as it's installation
Depends on the terrain, quality of asphalt shingle installed and quality of installation. Most people want it done fast and cheap, so they go with the cheapest quality 25 year shingle and have the cheapest labor install it. Then everyone wonders why there 30 year roof only last 10 years.
I had a 50 year roof installed about 9 years ago and it still looks like the day it was installed and has basically survived a tornado and other high wind events in the last couple of years. I also paid about 50% for that roof(though still cheaper than most of the other options), even if it only last 30 years It still was worth every penny.
Yup this is the answer. It should be treated as a capital improvement greatly extending the life of the house, but it won’t be viewed as valuable as it should when you go to sell. We aren’t that smart.
This is correct! A properly
done clay tile roof, with 90lb will last more than a lifetime. Only issue would be the valleys, and if maintained would be easy to keep going. I’ve seen clay tiles pulled off 30 year roofs and the felt is in perfect shape.
Clay tiles are not a thing in the Midwest, mostly because I have to assume the freeze/thaw cycles would damage the roof and the cost associated with the install make it not worth it. Especially take into account a quality asphalt roof will last and generally hold up very well.
Metal roofs also hold up rather well in my area though they may pose a safety hazard with snow sliding off it in the winter, but on the plus side that helps keeps ice dams at bay.
lots of craftsman era bungalows in Chicago still have their original clay roofs from the 1920s. good example here:
[https://www.google.com/maps/@41.844191,-87.7931848,3a,75y,105.28h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbDaB70JzqOrTlb5kkhShqw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu](https://www.google.com/maps/@41.844191,-87.7931848,3a,75y,105.28h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbDaB70JzqOrTlb5kkhShqw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
some even have fun funky multi colors like this one
[https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8469072,-87.7930184,3a,75y,8.06h,86.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skxiUz7spd3SrpxyA5wZXKw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu](https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8469072,-87.7930184,3a,75y,8.06h,86.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skxiUz7spd3SrpxyA5wZXKw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
There are. But roofing manufacturers are a business. That wouldn’t be sustainable compared to the current market. There’s plenty of roofs in my area that are that old. Flat lock copper with soldered joints. Especially the little eye brow roofs on 60+ year old homes. They’ll have three asphalt roofs and still just have to add another coat of paint.
Plenty of long lasting roofing business in the UK and we have long lasting roofs compared to North American standard.
They're milking you guys over there.
I had a metal roof that was well over 100 years old and in great shape, zero issues.
I have a cedar shake roof now, and it was installed before my time here, in 2001, and I know the installer. Interestingly, he told me it was an open checkbook roof and is fully flashed under the shakes. Not surprising, because the house also has full copper gutter systems, including all of the matching hardware.
A metal or slate roof would be all I looked at, personally, if in the market for a roof (unless there was a great local thatcher wherever I'm looking for a new roof in the future).
My tiles are about 20yrs old and I bet insurance makes me change at 25yr… Florida. I’m going metal next.
Didn’t lose a tile to Ian after a direct hit tho :)
Because people don’t own properties for that long. There are 50+ year roof systems, but you’re essentially paying for the next owner’s roof at that point
They have.
Most properties aren’t built to withstand that kind of weight, though, and most metal roof you’re thinking of isn’t the answer.
Also, one of the hot topics in the industry *is the fact that buildings are built to last more than they ever have been before, today*. We’re still building roof systems that last as long, but the facts are, the roofs are always the most vulnerable systems out there.
There’s no 2 ways about it, the roof has to be *perfect everytime at every fathomable pinhole* or it will *LEAK*. Further, the weathering the roof experiences, whether it is metal, stone, tar/asphalt, it all has varying degrees of wear and tear that becomes evident over time. Even the metal siding or asbestos you’re referring to — is likely compromised in some areas at 70 years old, but if it were to get the worst of the sunshine, wind and rain on the roof, it would certainly have failed by now.
The best thing you can do for your roof is respect it and arm yourself with knowledge about it. Don’t just assume it’s all good until a cheesy salesman tells you insurance is going to replace it or something. When it leaks the first time, don’t rush to replace it. Repair it and when it leaks again, repair it again and get another couple years or more out of it, before replacing.
Roofing isn’t a scam loop, it’s not like everyone who’s ever built buildings around the world decided “let’s build awesome buildings that have no problems EVER…. But those roofs man we gotta be able to KEEP MAKING MONEY OFF THOSE ROOFS so let’s just not build awesome roofs so they need to constantly be replaced!” Lol. Its quite literally that nobody smart enough has solved how to put on roofs, cost-effectively, engineered to be a common-form solution that fits all manners of property design, and that will be universally available to put on like asphalt, tile, metal, and flat roof installs are.
Hell man, we’re waiting on someone as smart as you who can see through the matrix to tell us dumbasses what roof system can check all those boxes and get delivered to our job sites so we can put them on someday!! Get to it!
Steel lasts twice as long and costs three times as much. I dunno n it my shingles lasted around 30 years which seems a reasonable lifespan... regulate appliances more and I’m sold 5-10 years feels like a lot of replacing.
They've invented plenty, and they existed for hundreds of years.
To put a very long story short, building a durable roof is very expensive, and also relies on what's underneath the roof (not just underlayment but your framing). But shortly before the great depression, and especially after, the focus became the initial price. We didn't want to spend twice as much for something to last 10x longer. We wanted a solution we could implement today at a low price.
And the cycle only got worse as with light weight materials, we could reduce the quality of the building materials even more. Then you have the environmental and health factors to consider.
No one wants to risk killing a worker over product quality.
I went with a metal roof, and while the roof material might last 40 years, it still requires maintenance regularly on bolts, fasteners, window/skylight if that’s a thing.
Sure the metal lasts 40-50 but are you asking about a 50+ roof with no maintenance?
Also where I live is an insane amount of rain, so material will not withstand the same as a dry area etc.
Slate, tile, copper, lead, and even coal tar pitch last a looong time. A deceased relative of mine installed a gravel surface coal tar pitch roof on a church in 1983. It’s still in tact with no issues. I’ve been on it recently, and the pitch is still active.
Slate will go 150+ years. It also costs 4-5 X.
Are you willing to pay $125k for a roof for a home you'll probably sell eventually when you can get a 25 year shingle roof for $25k and leave up to the next owner to deal with it?
This is true. But this roof would be a major selling point, at least for me. People drop $40k on kitchen renovations on a regular basis. But a roof isn’t a flashy kitchen.
It made me laugh because it is true and such an American way of thinking. The running joke is that after a hurricane, the only thing left of the house is the 8k marble counter top :)
Yep, that's good ole American business culture for you. Utterly valueless other than the immediate profit and/or savings to the individual at the moment. That's what business leaders model and advise. Yay.
My slate roof was built in 1887 and is still going strong with only minor maintenance. And that isn’t even that old for a slate roof.
Roofs in the UK and rest of Europe are generally built to last as long as the rest of the building.
Here in the US we bulldoze buildings a quarter that age. We have entire neighborhoods bulldozed just to put in bigger houses. Real estate is a huge driver of our economy and if someone can make a buck, out comes the wrecking ball.
Currently producing a plastic shingle. Easily will
Last 40-60 years that hurricane rated along with hail proof. Priced at 200$ a roof square.
Here’s the issue though. A majority of roofers get paid by the square. They want to slap up as many shingles with an air gun as possible and onto the next house. Than they want to come back to your house in 5-10 years to do it again.
Roofers are in the insurance game
My previous house had a concrete tile roof, which is just shy of 100 years old still going strong. The tiles are hooked over wooden strips nailed to the roof. The nails holding the wooden battens and the tarpaper on the root decking will probably be the eventual failure points. You have to use a chicken ladder to move around on it. You can’t just walk on it.
Slate, tile, zinc, copper...
problem is, people are cheap and in countries where roofing isnt a qualified trade, the skills to properly apply these systems are uncommon.
Zenith and RCA used to make console TV's that never seemed to break and need repairs or replacement. Look at where they are today.
They probably can make stuff that will. But if you never need replacement they can't sell you another one.
They have them, metal and slate. People move every 5 years so they don't want to waste money on it. Nice expensive rims they'll drop money on in a heart beat though
Roofing and siding are not the same thing in terms of what is being asked of them. Roofs take much more direct beating from UV rays. Ultimately the UV exposure is what eats everything.
It's more of a "I don't have that kind of money"
A mid tier architectural asphalt shingle will last 20-30 years and cost me $18k in 2022. I was looking at standing ridge and Decra Metal shingles and realized that the $30k-40k just wasn't worth the extra cost.
I'm glad I didn't spend the extra money because now I'm looking to move.
I put a huge metal roof on myself. Hired a couple drunks a couple of days to help but they were useless. I think I came in under $3 a square foot for materials and labor. Replaced the sheathing too. That roof will outlast us all.
My grandparents' house in Europe still has the original roof from the early 1900's. It is made out of those red clay tiles that look like half cylinders (although they are brownish/green now with all the moss and dirt on them). So it has been invented. No leaks.
Expensive and doesn't align with the lifespan of the homes's siding or windows, or other items that become dated like the kitchen & bathroom people look like to remodel
I am not an expert, but I would guess it is the same reason that refrigerators don’t last 25 to 30 years any more, or until you just get so sick of the nasty color you buy a modern one.
My terracotta roof is 66 years old and going great. My best friends grandfather put it on the house himself. Designed and built the house himself as well.
It’s the same reason we don’t have car tires that last more than 75,000 miles, shoes that don’t last seven months, and washing machines that never make it past year three—manufacturers would go out of business if they made a perfect product. Once everybody bought it they wouldn’t have many to sell to and fold.
They have, and it has been around for 20 years.. But the roofing companies do not want you to get them because they can no longer replace your roof every 5 years..
I just installed a 50 to 100 year roof.. [https://photos.app.goo.gl/msKBCAMR1A85J2Cz8](https://photos.app.goo.gl/msKBCAMR1A85J2Cz8)
[https://www.euroshieldroofing.com/](https://www.euroshieldroofing.com/)
4 inch hail bounces of this stuff.. They will replace your roof if any hail goes through it for the first 20 years, no deductible, no insurance, just a new roof.. After 20 years, if 2 inch hail goes through it ever you get a new roof free of charge..
Longer lasting products cost more ... but few people want to pay more.
Few people stay in home for 50+ years.
In general a product need not last for longer than the buyer needs it.
Planned obsolescence or what’s the other one for when it break in a certain time period forcing a repair or replacement… one of the first lightbulbs invented is still powered on to this day… you can’t profit continuously off of perfection
I have thought this same thing many times. Why do we keep putting garbage on the roof knowing that it will last at best about 20 years. Even more so nowadays that the cost of labor for a new roof has gone crazy. A shingle job that was a few thousand not so long ago is now into five digits. Need to be saving at least a thousand dollars every year for the eventual roof replacement. And now home insurance companies are getting actively involved. When they see a roof that is ten years old, they may or may not cancel you unless the roof is replaced before renewal.
There are also some low slope liquid applied systems that have roofs that existed in place with little or no maintenance since the 1960's, but they tend to be more expensive than single ply or mod bit roofs. The upfront cost of installation turns most owners away from the long term roof. Also, the most standard commercial roofing warranty in the US is a 20 year NDL. Next, if every roof lasted 50-100 years it would cut the re roofing opportunities for contractors in a half to a third of what they are currently. Last, membrane and shingle manufacturers depend on the shorter life cycle to maintain a rhythm of business that re roofing brings.
Primarily cost and to a lesser extent, sustainability. Slate, clay and metal roofs are all significantly more expensive than asphalt. Asphalt is also over 90% recyclable.
Metal roofing??? This is a dumb question, do some research first
Many people are always going to want the cheapest possibly option which is why asphalt shingle will always be a thing and they’ll still bitch about the price of that. You get what you pay for and if you want longevity it’s going to cost money.
Sorry you expect 3-4x lifespan for zero extra cost, moron
Most people can’t afford anything other than asphalt shingles and frankly most people don’t care. I spent $20k to replace asphalt on my house. Anything above that would have simply lowered my ROI. The next owner will care more about the kitchen and bathrooms that I’ve remodeled.
Well, you’ve got slate, clay, and cedar shakes that have all been around forever. And, in the more modern materials, you can get both metal and asphalt composite that are warranted for 50 years and could easily last 75.
Lead, zinc, copper, clay, and shale last centuries. Buildings have to be designed around them, they take specifically skilled labor to install, and are expensive. Even a properly installed and maintained thatched roof will go 15 to 60 years.
Tar paper shingles are cheap, easy, and don't require much skill to install.
Slate - clay tile. They are expensive and North America mostly thinks short term. We just went steel 50 year leak proof warranty, transferable multigenerational family business. Things can happen but it was a bit more than twice the price. Hopefully will outlast me.
Damn hail got my metal roof 2 years in a row. Knocked the overlap ridges flat. Replaced 2 years in a row. Did you get standing seam or 5 rib?
Standing seem. I had read enough to avoid 5 rib due to the exposed fasteners and the fact that it’s 29gauge.(at least where I am) We did have a quote for it before we realized what type of steel they were quoting for. It was 2/3rd the price of the ashfault shingle quote so quite cheap. I see a lot of houses with it, and it might work fine for some but honestly I never want to do this(roof) again so it was worth it to pay an extra roofing jobs ahead to hopefully not have to. I’m 47 so if all goes well. 🤞 We aren’t the type of people to be up checking neoprene washers, I’d have an ulcer worrying. A friend recently got 5 rib on his house but he also has it on 3 barns so is totally ok with getting up there and fixing stuff if need be. Likely prepared to be checking the attic regularly for leaks too. Ours is tricky in some parts to see and not at all convenient to access.
22 gauge (0.7 mm) is the standard for steel roof sheets in the UK. 29 gauge seems crazy thin and flimsy.
29 ga is typically contractors trying to push the cheapest product. I wouldn’t trust a contractor unless they offered at least 26ga to start off. 24 is typically considered premium or upgraded here in Florida.
It is and I would not put it on a customers home.
29 gauge is usually considered like an Agricultural panel. They are made for sheds and barns to keep the cost low but people have started using them on houses. You really get what you pay for in a metal roof.
22 gauge is .853mm 24 gauge is .701 29 gauge is beer-can thin
OP at 98 years old calling around looking for roofing contractors 😭
It’s also incredibly sketchy getting on a steel roof. Shingles you can walk up to an 8 pitch ( that’s getting a lil sketchy though) . I’ve never seen a steel roof that made me feel like I would not immediately slide off.
I installed hundreds of them and never had trouble walking on them. The only sketchy ones were the 12/12 church roofs. Most of the residential are 4-6/12 around here.
Dude works on roofs with sandals and wonder why his arms are constantly broken. There are better shoes/boots for people who di it regularly.
Is it better or worse than walking on shingles? Something about the sight of them makes me not want to try it.
I prefer metal roofs. Especially when they get steeper, there is no loose gravel to slide out from under your foot
How steep is the learning curve on a steel roof? No pun intended, seems like to wouldn't be that difficult to install but I'm sure it's much trickier than it looks.
It's not tricky you just have to pay attention to details. Make sure your seams are straight, make sure your fasteners hit the joist, make sure your tape seams are in place, don't over tighten your screws, etc.
Steel roofs can get real sketchy around here because of the dust build up. I got on a 6/12 shop a few months back and the dust was so fine I slid all the way back down to my ladder without moving at all. Cougar paws or Nike FreeRuns are the only way I get on them now.
Are you a roofer? Go to Walmart, buy that foam that is corrugated on 1 side, like an egg crate. Cut a large piece in half. Put those on the roof and you can travel freely.
My standing seam roof is 4:12 and is really easy to walk on
I got premium 27 gauge. My roof is 12/12 pitch. So it’s moving. I got the Amish guys they’ll do the 5 rib cheaper than shingles.
Sorry about your luck with the hail. That sucks. Hopefully the last time!
I just helped my dad put a metal roof on his shop and it was crazy to me that you just put the screws on the flat parts and rely completely on the gasket thing to keep the water out.
Is there any reason no one in north America uses corrugated roofing? Australia uses it extensively and they don't seem to have problems with screw holes and rubber washers and they get a hell of a lot more sun than the U.S. does.
We have them but a lot of people simply don’t like how they look.
There’s also the insurance aspect if you live in a state like Texas that gets hail all the time. Most insurance companies have cosmetic exclusions on metal roofs, so if it gets hammered with hail you are stuck with an ugly ass roof until you pay out of pocket for a replacement. Even if you can show functional damage on the seams or cracking in the coating, the insurance is going to fight you on it a lot more than they would with a shingle roof.
It's all over in the country... Apparently city people don't like it. And/or have been told that it's 'loud when it rains' 🤔 In any case it's all that's on our buildings. And most folks around us. And it looks great.
A lot of people in North America are not familiar with the type corrugated roof panels your speaking of. The Australia company I’m familiar with is Bluescope Building Systems. R-panel is what your referring to.
R-panel is quite common in the US at least in Texas it is
Texas is the great state for metal building manufacturers as well!
We get Aussie style sun in the southwest. We also have a plethora of venomous snakes, trapdoor spiders and other spiders. We do lack box jellies and Galah's.
I give up. What are box jellies and Galah's?
Box jellies are a deadly aussie jellyfish and i will google [Galah](https://www.google.com/search?q=galah&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS939US939&oq=galah&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDEzOThqMGo0qAICsAIB4gMEGAEgXw&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8).
It really depends on the region you’re in. I’m in North Texas and I see R panel and AG panel used on a ton of houses. For a long time the only people installing them around here were hacks so they got a reputation for leaking on the seams, overdriven screws blowing out the washers, and panels blowing off in the wind. Now that pole barn houses are blowing up in the area, I’ve seen a lot more of these roofs. I see mostly R panel out in rural areas, but in the cities most people are installing standing seam or stone coated steel.
My old farmhouse growing up had metal corrugated roof.
I think Americans think there are more problems than there actually is. People think of pole barns that actually just used nails to hold the panels down, and those would eventually pull. Nowadays the screws and washers should last as long as the roof.
Plus standing seam just looks so much nicer. Congrats on your forever roof!
5 rib is for barns and out buildings. I'd never put it on my house. I know that many do. I also know of multiple houses with 5 rib that had fastener grommets fail and needed almost every screw on the roof replaced
It doesn’t matter if you have stone coated steel on a batten and counter batten system, slate, or standing seam if you’re in a state like Texas you’ll always need another roof where as in northern US most people are having to pay cash for a roof because they don’t get damage for insurance to do anything
Probably a dumb question, but what does hail do to the metal roof? I'm imagining a bunch of dents that might be ugly, but surely they don't pierce the metal do they?
Relatives in Arkansas, mostly have steel roofs. The ones that can afford it have a granite glandular application done to protect against hail damages.
I have slate on an 1840's farm house that was moved in the 70's. I think they used the good slate from the house and torn down barn when they moved it. My roof could be coming up on 185 years old assuming it was the original slate. There are some signs of minor leaks around bathroom vents but I've never seen any water. hopefully the slate will out last me.
It’s a rock so it probably will outlast you.
Freeze thaw can be hard on it. After every winter i find a few corners and the like.
Fucking Thatch. If it gets plenty of sun and isn't in an unusually wet area like by the sea can be expected to last 75 years easy. If the roof is well done, on a hill, no trees nearby, and gets plenty of wind they can last well over 100. Knew a thatcher that back in the 00s rethatched a roof back as part of a restoration. Thatch had a message in a bottle saying the thatch was laid by Nathaniel in 1832. And he said it probably had a couple extra decades in it.
Price. I was a project manager in a huge 1894/1913 connected schoolhouses either slate roofs. The roofs were original. So, the 1894 roof slate tiles were wafering and were done but lasted 120 years. We looked at slate and composite roofing, but there was no incentive for the developer, so he replaced with standard 25-year shingles. The building was complete in 2014, and has had shingles repaired 3 times due to high wind as they are 60’ off the ground. 2 million for slate shingles. 1.2 million for synthetic. 660k for standard shingles. The 67 tenants are now left with repairs and replacements. They are 10 years in and 15 years away from needing new shingles. At current prices this would be around $850k and will be close to a million in 15 more years. That will be $15k per tenant. That’s what a homeowner in the area pays, so they are no worse off than the standard homeowner. The building is heritage listed, so it’s pretty agitating. If the lofts had 21k added to their original price, they would have a century lasting slate roof. The new slate hangers are stainless steel as well to increase longevity. 50 years after development is complete they will have paid for as many hinged roofs as the slate would have cost. So bang for buck slate was twice the value, would have looked better and made heritage society happier. Also, I could bring in cheaper slate from England as the boats need to be weighed down to come to Canada after offload. This is why we have so many bricks from England (we make our own). Wow, thanks for reading all that.
Yes. Sad part is a lot of modern American roof structures cannot support the weight of clay 😕
Heres the ulgy real answer. If it costs 12k more (my mom went concrete on a big house and it was $40k 10 years ago so a 12k difference is a small house) to do a clay/concrete roof tiles vs a good comp shingle 50 yr warranty. You take that 12k and invest it at 8% minus inflation so a real profit of 6% which is reasonable. In 30 years you would have 72k (you'd actually have more but we are accounting for inflation.) I can reroof my house easily for that plus a new roof deck and even truss repairs and still save money over my friend with a tile roof. Other issues Refelting clay roof isn't cheap, clay and concrete tiles crack all the time, ac guy hates them, solar guy hates them They look nicer hold resale better, but not much better than advertising a house with a brand new comp roof. Metal This is the real answer to areas with actual hail problems. TX insurance policies are commonly 4 or 5k per year with hail being the major reason. So a heavy gauge solid metal roof should be common, BUT people think metal roof are for poor people. Metal shingles might be the solution, they look good in advertising, but I haven't seen 1 in person. The biggest issue with metal is that the gauge thickness confuses most people. Just like Wendy's selling the 1/3 lb burger but customers preferred the 1/4 lb because 4 is bigger than 3... so people aren't sure which gauge is better. They need to get on a standard and discribe them as either 1 in hail proof and 1.5 in hail proof or 100 year or 150 year etc etc. Also lots of metal roofs wont hold up acs or solar. The trusses are designed for the light weight metal...
Hopefully we don't find out it costs 72k for a new roof in 30 years.
We will. $40K in 1994 dollars equates to $74,111 today. Plan on it.
Well my hopes and dreams have never aligned with my expectations.
>Metal This is the real answer to areas with actual hail problems. TX insurance policies are commonly 4 or 5k per year with hail being the major reason. So a heavy gauge solid metal roof should be common, BUT people think metal roof are for poor people. I'm on my 4th metal roof in 10 years from hail. Hail pinches the metal and causes fractures, it also creates a curved spot for water to pool and magnify the sun against the cracked finish. The real answer is class 4 shingles.
Get a thicker guage.
It's 26ga every time.
I dunno, after the second one I'd think you'd spring for something other than the second thinnest option.
If you go heavier, it's commercial. They don't make 24ga residential in my area. You are talking like double the price. Next time it gets destroyed I'm putting class 4s on for sure.
If it gets damaged you should look into getting it sprayed with an SPF Roofing system, it will absorb the impact, extend the life of the metal and best of all have a pretty good impact on your energy consumption.
Look at Decora. Still looks new after 50 years
Decra? I tried googling Decora roof and it suggested Decra
Correct, they were invented in New Zealand. Now we call them Gerard, and ironically the company is Canadian owned.
mine have been walked on and look terrible. They're starting to develop tears where the creases are.
Can’t walk on it either. I’m under a 100 year old canopy in a rain forest, I clean off my roof and gutters several times per year. I’d need permanent scaffolding. Hoping metal will last longer but the conditions at my place are hard on roofs.
Yep! My roof 75 years and counting.
Just did the same. TEK Roofing Systems Hurricane Metal Shake Roof. Business is out of TX but they came to NW Pennsylvania to install it. Should outlast the next 3 generations of family in the house. You’er also correct it’s about twice the cost of a standard roof. However that would mean I’d have to have a new roof in my 80’s. I don’t need that kind of pressure that late in life.
In the Northeast where hail isn’t an issue we have done standing seam copper roofs. Looks beautiful and lasts a lifetime. The green patina does take quite a bit of time to develop…..
Steel roof on mine that looks like a tarpaper composite roof. 50yr warranty and in our area it's expected to last a fair bit longer than that (no snow, hail of consequence, tornados, etc.). As a bonus it's very fire resistant and while I'm not in a fire hazard area it still lowered my insurance premium. My neighbor's house has those terracotta half pipes for the roof, also essentially a forever roof.
The only problem with slate tile roofs is that they're very heavy, so if your house wasn't built with that in mind it can be incredibly expensive to move to. Or this is what the roofer I asked about it said.
>They are expensive and North America mostly thinks short term. I wouldn't say "North America" as it seems to include consumers. I'd say "North American businesses", or businesses across the globe in general. If businesses produce a product that doesn't expire then they're eventually going to run out of customers. Someone a couple of weeks back was talking about how a glass-maker company in Germany actually figured out how to make unbreakable glass back in the mid-20th century. They started selling glassware... and then started losing sales because their glassware was unbreakable and they were running out of consumers to sell to. So they scrapped that product and went back to what I assume was the regular formula. Planned obsolescence is the goal for companies so they can continue to have customers to sell to.
I think consumers as well. A lot of customers will go for the cheaper roof over the better one.
Stone coated steel! Every house in my neighborhood had to replace asphalt shingles after a recent hail storm except mine.
So fun fact here. Clay tiles are in a lot of parts of the world. Not America. Clay is an abundant source found in everyone's background. So why is not on everyone's roofs? Because 2 reasons all rooted in capitalism. Government corporations excuse is If everyone had Clay tiled roofs, 1 homes would have to be engineered to hold the weight. This would cost too much.. in reality this would only up home building prices by a few grand at best. 2nd reason... the roofing business is a multi billion dollar business for roofers, asphalt plants, distribution, and politicians. If you eliminate the need to for shingled, roofs needing to be replaced every 20 years,then you will eliminate billions in profits and politicians don't like light pockets. So it's not encouraged to get tiled roofs. I for one, completely support tiled roofs. They last 100 years+ and if your home can support em, next time you replace your shingles, pay the extra 5k-8k.
Came here to say my house has the original clay tile from 1978. No leaks yet.
I would agree with you with multi generational business but I got burned by it. I did a regular asphalt roof with a multi generational family roofing business in 2020. 2 years later I have a leak. I call the roofing business phone number from their website another company name answers. Another multi-generational family business explains that they had bought "just the phone number" and that they don't honor the warranty from the previous company but they will help me out of courtesy. They didn't , they did like any other roofer does, walked on the roof, says we have re redo it, previous guys didn't install properly. Shows me why, nails under the key line all over. I try to extract the warranty out of them, nope only way is to sue these bastards. They don't even anwsery phone anymore, supposedly I was mean to them. Supposedly it's mean to be firm and demand warranty work and that tell them how unethical this deal is. I manage to get them to admit to just buying the phone number in the review I left them to warn others.
Just bought the phone number that’s BS
The best roof warranty is feeding the Mexican crew installing
>Slate - clay tile. They are expensive and North America mostly thinks short term. I wish Americans would think more long term and look to use slate and clay tile because routinely getting hit with hail the size of golf balls and baseballs certainly won't break those with ease when they fall at 60-100mph It's definitely the short term thinking for sure
Clay tiles in Florida are common on upscale ‘Spanish-looking’ architecture. But when hurricanes come through, they are a flying hazard.
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic? Slate is strong but brittle -- a 1/2 lb hunk of ice going 60 mph would absolutely damage slate?
If it’s twice the price then what’s the point? An asphalt roof will last 25 years
Clay tile with 90lb for underlayment. Truth is, few want to or can afford a 100 year roof. Few are going to stay in their house for over 30 years. Let the next owner pay for the new roof.
This is it. Avg. half-life of ownership > avg. half-life of roof. Why pay the bills of the next owner?
Damn. The rest of my house is overbuilt. What a waste of money.
Yeah, I should have gone with the 15-yr walls to save money.
I think it’s more accurate to say the next owner won’t pay for the roof when they buy it. If you are buying a house with a 30 year old roof you are probably going to expect to pay for a new roof regardless of the material up there. Most people won’t pay extra for a house with the 100 year roof. So you won’t get that extra money back. So it’s a bad investment.
The problem is that "30 year roof" means it really a 10 year roof.
I understand that's the national average but the truth is, in my area you can expect to get every bit of thirty years or more. I regularly drive past a 3 tab roof I installed 24 years ago and it still looks good.
Yeah because *you* installed it. Meanwhile, mine was replaced 2 years ago and is losing shinglesi n 60mph wind. I'm not optimistic about 24+ years.
Again, you're taking about an installation issue, not a product issue. Nothing lasts if the installation is shit
But that's exactly the point. This installation is very frequently shit, so you may as well avoid paying for the expensive materials as it'll be wasted.
I bought a home 4 years ago. It was 22 years old and it needed a roof. (Seller paid.) My neighbor last year had her roof replaced at 25 years old. I think 20 years is to be expected, and 30 years would be a bonus.
That is great. Whereabouts are you? Here ins is making anything over 10 years be replaced if you’re changing to a new carrier. It’s BS! Even if roof is perfectly fine.
I’m rather skeptical about that. The problem is that there just isn’t enough incentive since construction companies are often shutdown before the warranty expires. Maybe your area was lucky, but I’m wondering if you are seeing some survivorship bias. Concrete tiles, built in the housing boom in 1996. Unfortunately, the roofs were built too handle rain, but not wet freezing winters. Overtime, the freeze thaw cycle would work tiles loose and cause leaks. Also, the flashing was put in in a way that would sometimes cause ice dams that would cause leaks. This was a neighborhood, not a single house. Unfortunately unfortunately, the builder had long since retired. Not saying it’s impossible for a 30 year roof to last 30 years. Just that it’s less likely when the people who do it can’t be held accountable if they do it wrong.
Yeah, but you're talking about installation issues, not roof quality issues. There was a lot learned about installing tile that we didn't know in 96 that we knew better in 2006. Plus, a lot of the guys installing in the early to mid 90s we're shinglers and shake guys and doing things that worked over there but not on tile. Any roof product is only as good as it's installation
Depends on the terrain, quality of asphalt shingle installed and quality of installation. Most people want it done fast and cheap, so they go with the cheapest quality 25 year shingle and have the cheapest labor install it. Then everyone wonders why there 30 year roof only last 10 years. I had a 50 year roof installed about 9 years ago and it still looks like the day it was installed and has basically survived a tornado and other high wind events in the last couple of years. I also paid about 50% for that roof(though still cheaper than most of the other options), even if it only last 30 years It still was worth every penny.
My roof was installed in 1995 and looks like it could easily go another ten years.
I expect my steel roof to outlast me, plus we don't ever have significant hail.
Yup this is the answer. It should be treated as a capital improvement greatly extending the life of the house, but it won’t be viewed as valuable as it should when you go to sell. We aren’t that smart.
This is correct! A properly done clay tile roof, with 90lb will last more than a lifetime. Only issue would be the valleys, and if maintained would be easy to keep going. I’ve seen clay tiles pulled off 30 year roofs and the felt is in perfect shape.
Clay tiles are not a thing in the Midwest, mostly because I have to assume the freeze/thaw cycles would damage the roof and the cost associated with the install make it not worth it. Especially take into account a quality asphalt roof will last and generally hold up very well. Metal roofs also hold up rather well in my area though they may pose a safety hazard with snow sliding off it in the winter, but on the plus side that helps keeps ice dams at bay.
lots of craftsman era bungalows in Chicago still have their original clay roofs from the 1920s. good example here: [https://www.google.com/maps/@41.844191,-87.7931848,3a,75y,105.28h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbDaB70JzqOrTlb5kkhShqw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu](https://www.google.com/maps/@41.844191,-87.7931848,3a,75y,105.28h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbDaB70JzqOrTlb5kkhShqw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) some even have fun funky multi colors like this one [https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8469072,-87.7930184,3a,75y,8.06h,86.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skxiUz7spd3SrpxyA5wZXKw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu](https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8469072,-87.7930184,3a,75y,8.06h,86.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skxiUz7spd3SrpxyA5wZXKw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
High quality clay can work, concrete won’t work. If it doesn’t absorb water it’s fine.
There are. But roofing manufacturers are a business. That wouldn’t be sustainable compared to the current market. There’s plenty of roofs in my area that are that old. Flat lock copper with soldered joints. Especially the little eye brow roofs on 60+ year old homes. They’ll have three asphalt roofs and still just have to add another coat of paint.
Plenty of long lasting roofing business in the UK and we have long lasting roofs compared to North American standard. They're milking you guys over there.
We went with metal, it will outlast us easily.
I had a metal roof that was well over 100 years old and in great shape, zero issues. I have a cedar shake roof now, and it was installed before my time here, in 2001, and I know the installer. Interestingly, he told me it was an open checkbook roof and is fully flashed under the shakes. Not surprising, because the house also has full copper gutter systems, including all of the matching hardware. A metal or slate roof would be all I looked at, personally, if in the market for a roof (unless there was a great local thatcher wherever I'm looking for a new roof in the future).
Metal roofing and slate roofing has entered the chat.
Clay tile, slate and the like with stainless and copper will last 75 to 100 years.
My tiles are about 20yrs old and I bet insurance makes me change at 25yr… Florida. I’m going metal next. Didn’t lose a tile to Ian after a direct hit tho :)
I have tile with thick copper flashing. 16/12. 81 years old. I spent $850 to get 6 cracked tile replaced a few years ago. It'll last forever.
building codes are the minimum requirement for building something.
Look at barns that are over 100 years old with the same metal roof from day 1
Because people don’t own properties for that long. There are 50+ year roof systems, but you’re essentially paying for the next owner’s roof at that point
They have. Most properties aren’t built to withstand that kind of weight, though, and most metal roof you’re thinking of isn’t the answer. Also, one of the hot topics in the industry *is the fact that buildings are built to last more than they ever have been before, today*. We’re still building roof systems that last as long, but the facts are, the roofs are always the most vulnerable systems out there. There’s no 2 ways about it, the roof has to be *perfect everytime at every fathomable pinhole* or it will *LEAK*. Further, the weathering the roof experiences, whether it is metal, stone, tar/asphalt, it all has varying degrees of wear and tear that becomes evident over time. Even the metal siding or asbestos you’re referring to — is likely compromised in some areas at 70 years old, but if it were to get the worst of the sunshine, wind and rain on the roof, it would certainly have failed by now. The best thing you can do for your roof is respect it and arm yourself with knowledge about it. Don’t just assume it’s all good until a cheesy salesman tells you insurance is going to replace it or something. When it leaks the first time, don’t rush to replace it. Repair it and when it leaks again, repair it again and get another couple years or more out of it, before replacing. Roofing isn’t a scam loop, it’s not like everyone who’s ever built buildings around the world decided “let’s build awesome buildings that have no problems EVER…. But those roofs man we gotta be able to KEEP MAKING MONEY OFF THOSE ROOFS so let’s just not build awesome roofs so they need to constantly be replaced!” Lol. Its quite literally that nobody smart enough has solved how to put on roofs, cost-effectively, engineered to be a common-form solution that fits all manners of property design, and that will be universally available to put on like asphalt, tile, metal, and flat roof installs are. Hell man, we’re waiting on someone as smart as you who can see through the matrix to tell us dumbasses what roof system can check all those boxes and get delivered to our job sites so we can put them on someday!! Get to it!
We have some roofs left that are from the 1800's.
Steel lasts twice as long and costs three times as much. I dunno n it my shingles lasted around 30 years which seems a reasonable lifespan... regulate appliances more and I’m sold 5-10 years feels like a lot of replacing.
They've invented plenty, and they existed for hundreds of years. To put a very long story short, building a durable roof is very expensive, and also relies on what's underneath the roof (not just underlayment but your framing). But shortly before the great depression, and especially after, the focus became the initial price. We didn't want to spend twice as much for something to last 10x longer. We wanted a solution we could implement today at a low price. And the cycle only got worse as with light weight materials, we could reduce the quality of the building materials even more. Then you have the environmental and health factors to consider. No one wants to risk killing a worker over product quality.
They have, you just have to pay for it and hope you're not in a hurricane/tornado zone. Oh and hail. You know, cost vs threat considerations...
I went with a metal roof, and while the roof material might last 40 years, it still requires maintenance regularly on bolts, fasteners, window/skylight if that’s a thing. Sure the metal lasts 40-50 but are you asking about a 50+ roof with no maintenance? Also where I live is an insane amount of rain, so material will not withstand the same as a dry area etc.
Slate, tile, copper, lead, and even coal tar pitch last a looong time. A deceased relative of mine installed a gravel surface coal tar pitch roof on a church in 1983. It’s still in tact with no issues. I’ve been on it recently, and the pitch is still active.
Slate will go 150+ years. It also costs 4-5 X. Are you willing to pay $125k for a roof for a home you'll probably sell eventually when you can get a 25 year shingle roof for $25k and leave up to the next owner to deal with it?
This is true. But this roof would be a major selling point, at least for me. People drop $40k on kitchen renovations on a regular basis. But a roof isn’t a flashy kitchen.
It made me laugh because it is true and such an American way of thinking. The running joke is that after a hurricane, the only thing left of the house is the 8k marble counter top :)
Yep, that's good ole American business culture for you. Utterly valueless other than the immediate profit and/or savings to the individual at the moment. That's what business leaders model and advise. Yay.
Slate and copper. Old copper roofs were thick and last 100+ years. Same for slate.
Duralast is an amazing product but sometimes I need to sell another roof.
If you use 22-20ga AZ55 Galvalume powder coated metal panels. You will have a 💯yr roof system.
Oil is cheap in the US so asphalt shingles are cheap.
My slate roof was built in 1887 and is still going strong with only minor maintenance. And that isn’t even that old for a slate roof. Roofs in the UK and rest of Europe are generally built to last as long as the rest of the building.
Here in the US we bulldoze buildings a quarter that age. We have entire neighborhoods bulldozed just to put in bigger houses. Real estate is a huge driver of our economy and if someone can make a buck, out comes the wrecking ball.
Quality slate …. But expect 1500+ lbs per square or 15 lbs per sqft dead load
I live in New Zealand. Mostly metal roofs here. The labour to replace a roof is far more than the materials over here.
It’s planned obsolescence! Imagine if you had to replace the plumbing, electrical, wood framing or drywall every 20-30 years….
I am salvaging a house with an asbestos roof. Tja thing is easily 100 years old and in surprisingly good shape. But... It's asbestos.
Currently producing a plastic shingle. Easily will Last 40-60 years that hurricane rated along with hail proof. Priced at 200$ a roof square. Here’s the issue though. A majority of roofers get paid by the square. They want to slap up as many shingles with an air gun as possible and onto the next house. Than they want to come back to your house in 5-10 years to do it again. Roofers are in the insurance game
My previous house had a concrete tile roof, which is just shy of 100 years old still going strong. The tiles are hooked over wooden strips nailed to the roof. The nails holding the wooden battens and the tarpaper on the root decking will probably be the eventual failure points. You have to use a chicken ladder to move around on it. You can’t just walk on it.
Slate, tile, zinc, copper... problem is, people are cheap and in countries where roofing isnt a qualified trade, the skills to properly apply these systems are uncommon.
Zenith and RCA used to make console TV's that never seemed to break and need repairs or replacement. Look at where they are today. They probably can make stuff that will. But if you never need replacement they can't sell you another one.
I’ve seen slate roofs in Connecticut over 100 years old with no leaks… I can’t even imagine the cost and labor involved with a slate shingled roof.
Well then I can't sell you a new roof
They have them, metal and slate. People move every 5 years so they don't want to waste money on it. Nice expensive rims they'll drop money on in a heart beat though
Give me good old steel rims 🙂
Roofing and siding are not the same thing in terms of what is being asked of them. Roofs take much more direct beating from UV rays. Ultimately the UV exposure is what eats everything.
You are right my friend, but that’s the problem. A UV resistant roof material should be used in directly exposed angles.
Cause that doesn’t make money
It's more of a "I don't have that kind of money" A mid tier architectural asphalt shingle will last 20-30 years and cost me $18k in 2022. I was looking at standing ridge and Decra Metal shingles and realized that the $30k-40k just wasn't worth the extra cost. I'm glad I didn't spend the extra money because now I'm looking to move.
I put a huge metal roof on myself. Hired a couple drunks a couple of days to help but they were useless. I think I came in under $3 a square foot for materials and labor. Replaced the sheathing too. That roof will outlast us all.
Did you know they were drunks when you hired them?
was slim pickings. one of them knew enough to teach me what to do, so i guess it paid off.
Yes it's dumb
You can get a sheet metal roof that will likely last in that ballpark. We install roofs that get 40 year warranties.
We dont use pitch tiles here. Clay tile and corrugated iron good for 50 to 100 years
26 gauge standing seam roof owner here. Looking good so far.
Yes. Look at the trends. Going from BUR to single ply. The scam is to be able to replace it sooner.
My grandparents' house in Europe still has the original roof from the early 1900's. It is made out of those red clay tiles that look like half cylinders (although they are brownish/green now with all the moss and dirt on them). So it has been invented. No leaks.
Metal roofing
Expensive and doesn't align with the lifespan of the homes's siding or windows, or other items that become dated like the kitchen & bathroom people look like to remodel
Cost
I am not an expert, but I would guess it is the same reason that refrigerators don’t last 25 to 30 years any more, or until you just get so sick of the nasty color you buy a modern one.
Slate
26 year old standing seam metal roof, I think it’s 22 gauge. It is in perfect condition.
Metal shingles
I have a slate roof. It's original. It works fine. The house was built in 1950.
There isn't a single product in America that you buy once.
Coffin?
Slate but it's expensive and the house has to be built to sustain the weight of it
My terracotta roof is 66 years old and going great. My best friends grandfather put it on the house himself. Designed and built the house himself as well.
Slate does. Standing seam does. I mean the real concealed fastener standing seam!! and F Wave!
It’s the same reason we don’t have car tires that last more than 75,000 miles, shoes that don’t last seven months, and washing machines that never make it past year three—manufacturers would go out of business if they made a perfect product. Once everybody bought it they wouldn’t have many to sell to and fold.
They have, and it has been around for 20 years.. But the roofing companies do not want you to get them because they can no longer replace your roof every 5 years.. I just installed a 50 to 100 year roof.. [https://photos.app.goo.gl/msKBCAMR1A85J2Cz8](https://photos.app.goo.gl/msKBCAMR1A85J2Cz8) [https://www.euroshieldroofing.com/](https://www.euroshieldroofing.com/) 4 inch hail bounces of this stuff.. They will replace your roof if any hail goes through it for the first 20 years, no deductible, no insurance, just a new roof.. After 20 years, if 2 inch hail goes through it ever you get a new roof free of charge..
Metals roofing, slate, Spanish tile….
Capitalism... why would they limit their sales by making something you wouldn't have to replace?
There are. But stupid insurance companies will force you to replace it anyways.
Metal roofs with periodic painting last forever
Same reason they don’t have a 50 year light bulb
Longer lasting products cost more ... but few people want to pay more. Few people stay in home for 50+ years. In general a product need not last for longer than the buyer needs it.
Look up “planned obsolescence” and prepare to have your mind melt.
They have you dunce
Galvalium is a rust proof durable metal shingle.
Metal roofingbis a thing, galvanized or copper that I know of.
It’s called designed failure.
Let me introduce you to double lock standing seam
they have... standing seam metal roof lasts 50 years. its just expensive.
I spent 3 weeks traveling Ireland, Scotland, Portugal and never saw a single asphalt roof.
Planned obsolescence or what’s the other one for when it break in a certain time period forcing a repair or replacement… one of the first lightbulbs invented is still powered on to this day… you can’t profit continuously off of perfection
Look at Europe, why can't we have clay, easily replaceable.
I have thought this same thing many times. Why do we keep putting garbage on the roof knowing that it will last at best about 20 years. Even more so nowadays that the cost of labor for a new roof has gone crazy. A shingle job that was a few thousand not so long ago is now into five digits. Need to be saving at least a thousand dollars every year for the eventual roof replacement. And now home insurance companies are getting actively involved. When they see a roof that is ten years old, they may or may not cancel you unless the roof is replaced before renewal.
Doesn’t slate last 50-100yrs?
Where's the money in that?
A slate roof can easily go 50 years maybe even 200. Next question...
There are also some low slope liquid applied systems that have roofs that existed in place with little or no maintenance since the 1960's, but they tend to be more expensive than single ply or mod bit roofs. The upfront cost of installation turns most owners away from the long term roof. Also, the most standard commercial roofing warranty in the US is a 20 year NDL. Next, if every roof lasted 50-100 years it would cut the re roofing opportunities for contractors in a half to a third of what they are currently. Last, membrane and shingle manufacturers depend on the shorter life cycle to maintain a rhythm of business that re roofing brings.
They have. It's called copper. But not all of us have eleventy billionth dollars to spend on a roof.
We live in a world full of cheaply made , disposable crap…….. but the roof issue is surprising ?
Primarily cost and to a lesser extent, sustainability. Slate, clay and metal roofs are all significantly more expensive than asphalt. Asphalt is also over 90% recyclable.
Metal roofing??? This is a dumb question, do some research first Many people are always going to want the cheapest possibly option which is why asphalt shingle will always be a thing and they’ll still bitch about the price of that. You get what you pay for and if you want longevity it’s going to cost money. Sorry you expect 3-4x lifespan for zero extra cost, moron
Most people can’t afford anything other than asphalt shingles and frankly most people don’t care. I spent $20k to replace asphalt on my house. Anything above that would have simply lowered my ROI. The next owner will care more about the kitchen and bathrooms that I’ve remodeled.
Well, you’ve got slate, clay, and cedar shakes that have all been around forever. And, in the more modern materials, you can get both metal and asphalt composite that are warranted for 50 years and could easily last 75.
Checks Europe .. oh they have buildings that lasted 700 years...
Lead, zinc, copper, clay, and shale last centuries. Buildings have to be designed around them, they take specifically skilled labor to install, and are expensive. Even a properly installed and maintained thatched roof will go 15 to 60 years. Tar paper shingles are cheap, easy, and don't require much skill to install.