Most metal roofing installers have a project or two that stand out enough to use as models to sell more metal. Aaron Lenhart of Designer Roofing in Prosper, Texas, reroofed his home with a McElroy Metal standing seam roofing system and it has become a showcase for his roofing company.
Lenhart is not just trying to sell more metal; he believes this system is the best for his home for a number of reasons.
"It’s a very cut up roof," Lenhart says. "There are a lot of valleys, turrets, some penetrations. A standing seam metal roofing system gives us the best architectural look and it provides durability in an area that experiences occasional hail. This system also gives us some energy benefits.
"We had a lot of details to deal with on this home and that’s the way a lot of homes are built here. We have devised our own way to install a watertight system with these details. We’re very careful to match up the seams at the valleys and hips. We have a proprietary ridge vent system, we use an ice-and-water shield near penetrations, flashings and at the eaves and valleys. We even hem our valleys with no penetrations. It all takes more time, but it’s the right way to do things. It’s what we do every day."
The 15-year-old composition shingles, installed by the original homeowner, were in need of replacement. Designer Roofing purchased coil from McElroy Metal and completed the tear-off and reroofing job in about one week. Approximately 11,000 square feet of metal was formed on site with the company’s Zimmerman Metals roll former. Lenhart purchased the roll former in New Orleans at the 2015 Metalcon.
One of Designer Roofing’s unique offerings includes the installation of a ½-inch laminated Isoguard from Firestone, which provides an R-value of 8. The Isoguard is covered by a synthetic underlayment and topped by 24-gauge, 1-1/2-inch mechanical lock standing seam panels, 17-7/8 inches wide.
"The hail-resistant Isoguard gives us a smoother surface to work with and it provides a little more durability to the whole system," Lenhart says.
The color chosen for Lenhart’s home was Charcoal Gray, a Fluropon® PVDF coating from Sherwin-Williams. The longest panels on this project measured 32 feet in length. The steep-slope roof is at least a 10:12 pitch in all areas.
"Metal just looks so cool," Lenhart says. "More and more people are going with metal because of the look and once they understand the benefits, it becomes an easier sell."