Metal Roofing Blog

Recently, one homeowner took full advantage of the Solar and Metal Tax Rebates for their shore home near Tom’s River NJ.

When choosing a roof and solar system the homeowner wanted a worry-free and maintenance free product and after some serious debating, finally decided that a Solar Thin Film Metal Roof was the best and only option. Some of the main concerns regarding the roof project were the close proximity to the ocean and salt water as well as the risk of high winds.

Here are some of the main criteria used to choose an Integrated Solar and Metal Roof over a Traditional Shingle and Solar array :

• Most solar panels have a life expectancy of 25 years but the average shingle roof is replaced every 20 years with even short life expentancy in shore regions
• Metal roofs and in this case Galvalume have a 40-50 year life expectancy which is 2 to 2.5 times that of shingle roofs
• The new jersey shore line can be subject to high winds and no other system offered better wind ratings than metal and solar film
• Glass solar panels tend to draw in more of the moisture and salt water air requiring constant cleaning and monitoring
• Solar thin film and metal roofing looks 10x better and adds more value to any shore home where house value is at a premium (see pictures)
• Solar thin film roofs are considered Building Integrated Photo Voltaics (BIPV) and allow for a 30% tax rebate on the entire system including areas where the metal roof is covered by the solar panels! The metal roof becomes part of the whole system!!

After some permit issues, color selection and waiting on NJ State approval, the homeowner now has the home of their dreams with a metal and solar roof that is set to pay them back in full in as little as 5 years!!

Call 888-234-2929 for your free metal and solar consultation!

Metal roofing, especially standing seam metal roofing, has a highly technical application and installation process. There is expansion and contraction rates that need to be calculated and the roof needs to be measured and cut precisely or the whole project can be off. That is why experience is the number one criteria for homeowners in choosing a metal roof contractor.

It is not only important to ask your metal roofing contractor for referrals but also to ask the referrals the right questions. Global Home Improvement has hundreds of referrals in PA, NJ and DE and can shed some light on choosing the right metal roof contractor.

You should always ask:

Why did you hire this contractor? (Were any other contractors considered?)

Did they communicate well with you (before, starting and during the project)?

Was the work crew pleasant? Were they neat?

Did they clean up on a daily basis? And after the job was completed?

Did the job finish on time? (If not, why not?)

How long ago was the roof completed, and have you had any problems since then? How did they handle them?

What overall rating would you give the quality of work? (Excellent, Average, Poor, Very Poor)

Did your job come in according to budget? Were there any cost over-runs or unexpected costs? What were they?

Were the results what you expected? Were you fully satisfied?

Would you do anything differently if you had to get a new roof again?

All these questions are important because having the metal roof of your dreams often times comes down to the contractor installing the metal roof. For a Free Metal Roof Estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929!

Yes standing seam metal roofing lasts 50 years, is energy efficient, eco-friendly and weather resistant but what about the look?! We think standing seam metal roofs look great on any home but more traditional homeowners may disagree. That is why Global Home Improvement is proud to offer DECRA roofing.

Take a look at these photos!! Can you tell the difference between a shingle roof and a DECRA shingle roof??

DECRA roofs are a stone coated steel product that offers seamless transition and classic design for development homes in PA, NJ and DE!

• DECRA Shingle Roofs are more environment friendly, with more recycled content than asphalt shingle – 20 30% recycled content
• DECRA Shingle Roofs are more energy-efficient than shingle with a higher emissivity and in some cases energy star reflectivity
• DECRA Shingle Roofs are more durable than shingle with resistance to wind, hail and fire – 120 mph wind warranty and class 4 impact rating
• DECRA Shingle Roofs are more beneficial to your home’s value as it lasts 50+ Years

Call 888-234-2929 for your FREE Metal Roofing Estimate or Check out other Great DECRA Roofing Styles here!!

If you remember from two of our previous articles relating, the bp oil spill (part 1 and part 2) to the use of shingle roofing than this article will make perfect sense. Every year over 13 billion pound of asphalt shingles go into land fills, which could all be prevented because metal roofing is:

• 100% Recyclable at the end of it’s lifespan
• Metal roofing has a lifespan 2-3 times as long as shingles
• Metal roofs already have recycled content of 20-30%
• Steel is the most recycled material in North America
• Shingle Roofs are made up of more oil and raw materials (see chart)

But what about rainwater? Is there more poluttion from a metal roof or a shingle roof? The answer is shingle roofing is more toxic because:

• Shingle roofs have a permeable surface and rain water washes away the oils and particles that rise to the top of the shingle as the shingle drys out

But what about solar reflectance and insualtion? Which roof is more energy efficient? Metal roofing is more energy efficient because:

• Metal roofs are coated to reflect sunlight and have infared pigments to keeo the roof cool in the summer
• Metal roofs are also much thinner and have less mass which means they hold less heat given them a higher emissivity
• Metal roofs are tax credit eligible for the $1500 rebate!

And finally, what about integrating solar? Metal roofs are the best option for solar because:

• You can go with traditional solar panels using an s-5 bracket which requires no roof penetrations or
• You can go with solar thin film, an aesthetically pleasing and extremely durable option

For more information or a FREE metal roof estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929

To understand solar thin-film we need to understand: What exactly is solar power ?

Solar energy is radiant energy that’s produced by the sun. The sun radiates more energy in a single second than people have used since the beginning of time!

The energy of the Sun comes from within the sun itself. Like other stars, the sun is really a big ball of gases––mostly hydrogen and helium atoms.

The hydrogen atoms in the sun’s core combine to create helium and generate energy in a process called nuclear fusion.

During nuclear fusion, the sun’s extremely high pressure and temperature cause hydrogen atoms to come apart and their nuclei (the central cores of the atoms) to fuse or combine. Four hydrogen nuclei fuse to become one helium atom. But the helium atom contains less mass compared to four hydrogen atoms that fused. Some matter is lost during nuclear fusion. The lost matter is emitted into space as radiant energy.

Simply a small part of the energy radiated by the sun into space strikes our planet, one part in two billion. Yet this amount of energy is enormous. Every day enough energy strikes the usa to supply the nation’s energy needs for one and a half years!

Where does all this energy go? (If you want it to go to your house…click here for solar thin film estimates)

About 15 percent of the sun’s energy that hits the planet earth is reflected back into space. Another 30 percent is used to evaporate water, which, lifted into the atmosphere, produces rainfall. Solar energy is also absorbed by plants, the land, and the oceans. The remaining could be used to supply our energy needs.
How we use solar energy and solar thin film today ?

Solar energy can be used in a number of different ways, of course. There are two simple kinds of solar power:

* Solar thermal energy collects the sun’s warmth through 1 of 2 means: in water or in an anti-freeze (glycol) mixture.

* Solar photovoltaic energy converts the sun’s radiation to usable electricity.

Listed below are the five most practical and popular solutions solar power can be used:

1. Small portable solar photovoltaic systems. We see these used everywhere, from calculators to solar garden products. Portable units may be used for everything from RV appliances while single panel systems are used for traffic signs and remote monitoring stations.

2. Solar pool heating. Running water in direct circulation systems through a solar collector is an extremely practical method to heat water for your pool or hot spa.

3. Thermal glycol energy to heat water. In this method (indirect circulation), glycol is heated by sunshine and the heat is then transferred to water in a warm water tank. Using this method of collecting the sun’s energy is a lot more practical now than ever. In areas as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, solar thermal to heat water is economically sound. It can pay for itself in three years or less.

4. Integrating solar photovoltaic energy into your home or office power. In numerous parts on the planet, solar photovoltaics is an economically feasible method to supplement the power of your property. In Japan, photovoltaics are competitive with other forms of power. In the USA, new incentive programs make this form of solar technology ever more viable in many states. An increasingly popular and practical way of integrating solar energy into the power of your home or business is through the usage of building integrated solar photovoltaics.

5. Large independent photovoltaic systems. For those who have enough sun power at your site, you could possibly go off grid. It’s also possible to integrate or hybridize your solar power system with wind power or other kinds of sustainable energy to stay ‘off the grid.’

How do Photovoltaic panels work ?

Silicon is mounted beneath non-reflective glass to create photovoltaic panels. These panels collect photons from the sun, converting them into DC electrical power. The power created then flows into an inverter. The inverter transforms the energy into basic voltage and AC electrical power.

Solar cells are prepared with particular materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is presently the most generally used. When light hits the Photovoltaic cell, a specific share of it is absorbed inside the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is given to the semiconductor.

The power unfastens the electrons, permitting them to run freely. Solar power cells also have one or more electric fields that act to compel electrons unfastened by light absorption to flow in a specific direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by introducing metal links on the top and bottom of the -Photovoltaic cell, the current can be drawn to use it externally.

Solar Pro Arguments

- Heating our homes with oil or gas or using electricity from power plants running with oil and coal is a cause of climate change and climate disruption. Solar energy, on the contrary, is clean and environmentally-friendly.

- Solar hot-water heaters require little maintenance, and their initial investment can be recovered in just a relatively limited time.

- Solar hot-water heaters can work in nearly every climate, even in very cold ones. Simply choose the best system for your climate: drainback, thermosyphon, batch-ICS, etc.

- Financial incentives (USA, Canada, European states…) can help to eliminate the price of the first investment in solar technologies. The U.S. government, as an example, offers tax credits for solar systems certified by by the SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporation), which amount to 30 percent of the investment (2009-2016 period).

Solar Cons Arguments

- The first investment in Solar Hot water heaters or in Solar PV Electric Systems is higher than that required by conventional electric and gas heaters systems.

- The payback period of solar PV-electric systems is high, as well as those of solar space heating or solar cooling (only the solar warm water heating payback is short or relatively short).

- Solar water heating do not support a direct combination with radiators (including baseboard ones).

- The efficiency of solar powered systems is rather influenced by sunlight resources. It’s in colder climates, where heating or electricity needs are higher, that the efficiency is smaller.

The author – Barbara Young writes on solar RV panels in her personal hobby site 12voltsolarpanels.net. Her work is focused entirely on helping people save energy using solar powered energy to reduce CO2 emissions and energy dependency.

In our last article we acknowledged the BP oil spill tragedy and started to question some of our everyday habits, such as asphalt roofing, that create the demand for oil and ultimately lead to oil dependency and catastrophes like the one currently en-Gulfing us as we speak!

What we didn’t fully address last time was the severity of the down-the-road consequences that this spill is generating. Now on it’s 51st day we are starting to see serious political reactions, economic implications and wildlife deaths everyday. Because this world is one big ecosystem and in many ways so is our economy (all inter-connected) let’s look at the quality of life consequences we are soon to face and what we NEED to plan to do about it.

•    According to the US government 600,000 to 1.2 million gallons a day of oil are leaking into our ocean
•    Marine scientists have already found a 100-foot-thick layer of oil 1,300 feet below the surface about 45 miles from the well site with more discoveries each day
•    The National Wildlife Federation reports that already more than 150 threatened or endangered sea turtles are dead as well as 316 sea birds with more dying everyday
•    The oil is already in the Loop Current a significant hazard to the Florida Keys, (and entire East Coast) as well as areas of the west coast of Florida, Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico

In addition, more immediate and grave threats include:
•    The risk of even more ferocious hurricanes with oil skimming off the surface and onto our mainland because crude accumulating at the surface could be raising the temperature of the surrounding water
•    The risk of disease and widespread illness as the oil passes through the food chain and reaches us due to the bioaccumulation of chemicals and toxins

NOW THAT I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION!!!! What can be done to save our planet and our economy??? One of the answers is Solar Thin Film and Metal Roofing

Although, this is not the complete answer it represents a better way of thinking based on:
•    Renewable and clean energy
•    Low lifecycle costs
•    Sustainable material usage
•    Long-term economic value

I don’t think any of these concepts are radical but they all make sense. And here’s how:

Renewable and Clean Energy

The Sun blasts Earth with enough energy in one hour-4.3 x 1020 joules – to provide all of humanity’s energy needs for a whole year! Solar thin film is made to harness that electricity, and convert it to usable energy that gets hooked up to your energy meter and sent back into the electrical grid. On average, homeowner’s offset anywhere from 30-60% of their home electrical usage for the entire year.

This fairly new solar thin film energy system has already offset 14.2 barrels of oil in its lifetime! That’s over close to 600 gallons for just one house in less than 1 year!! Extrapolated, that’s over 15,000 in it’s lifetime.

Low Life-cycle Costs

As mentioned before, metal roofing is the least expensive roof over the lifetime of the metal roof. That includes maintenance, replacement costs and energy savings. That is just one of the reason’s solar thin film loves metal roofing. The other reason is that you get a tax credit (30% with no limit) for the metal solar roof when you laminate the solar film onto the panels. These two products combined give you 50+ years of roofing and 25 years of solar output at a high level.

In addition, the efficiency and low cost to product of solar thin film will eventually combine to eliminate crystal panels all together. At that time you will just have to re-laminate new solar panels over top the metal roof when the 25 years is up.

Sustainable Materials

Solar thin film is made in America and is much less expensive to mass produce than traditional silicon photovoltaics. Thin film solar cells use a fine layer of semi-conducting material, such as silicon, copper indium gallium selenide or cadimium telluride to harvest the electricity form the sun at a fraction of the cost.

Long-term economic (and ecological) value

As mentioned metal roofing is already a more sustainable, longer lasting and a more value-adding product over time than any other roof, especially asphalt shingle. But, what about the solar aspect?

Solar installations on metal roofs have become more and more popular because of the quick payback period (3-8 years) and the long term ROI (20-30%).

Another reason for the recent increase of metal and solar installations is the ever increasing price of OIL and FUEL. When estimating solar ROI it is impossible to predict the future oil prices but with recent events such as the BP oil spill, government regulation will increase, causing supply to decrease and energy prices to increase.

At Green is Global, it’s our hope that almost every home in America can afford solar and metal roofing. Think about your Flat Screen TV, with all the benefits at the current prices, isn’t it hard to live without one? The same goes for solar including same-as-cash financing up to $45,000!

Call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or email adam@greenisglobal.net to tell us how you feel about our solar thin film, metal roofs and the world (global) views addressed in this article.

Welcome to a quick Metal Roofing Resource Guide.  If you have looked into installing a residential metal roof than you know that there is a ton of information out there. The one thing you may not know about metal roof information is where to find it all! That is why Global Home Improvement has teamed up with New England Metal Roof to provide you the best places to learn about standing seam metal roofing, interlocking metal shingles, stone coated metal shingles, metal solar roofing and more.

Standing Seam Metal Roofing

MetalRoofingNJ.com/standingseambenefits.html - Standing Seam Benefits for NJ and New Jersey

MetalRoofingPA.com/standingseamtypes.html – Standing Seam Types in PA and Philadelphia

MetalRoofingDE.com/photo_gallery.html – Standing Seam Photos in DE and Delaware

DrexMet.com - Standing Seam Metal Roofing Manufacturer by Drexel Metals

Metal Shingle Roofing and Shingle Metal Roofs

Decra.com – Stone Coated Steel Shingle Manufacturer – Steel Tile and Steel Shake

Atas.com -  Kynar Coated Aluminum Shingle Manufacturer – Castle Top Shingles too

Classic Roof Systems - Interlocking Steel and Aluminum Metal Shingle Manufacturer

Solar Metal Roofing and PV Film

Green Solar Cafe – Renewable Energy and Green Roofing Information

Global Home Solar Thin Film – Installer of metal solar roofing in PA, NJ and DE

Uni-Solar.com - Manufacturer of Thin Film Solar in America

Mysolarroof.com – Drexel Metals Solar Thin Film Page – Integrated Solar and Metal

Metal Roofing Prices and Estimates

Metal Roofing Calculator -  Helps estimate cost of standing seam roofs, copper roofs and zinc roofs

Metal Roofing Contractors and Installers

New England Metal Roof Directory – Contractors and Installers throughout the Country

Metal Roofing Manufacturers - More Metal Roofing Contractors in the US

Metal Roofing You Tube Videos

Metal and Flat Roof Installation – Cool Flat Roofing You Tube Video’s

Metal Roofing DE Testimonials – Metal Man Video and Testimonials

We hope that this metal roofing resource guide will help you with the purchase of a new metal roof for your residential or commercial building. Make all your neighbors jealous with a metal roof that comes in over 35 different colors and dozens of different styles. Metal roofing is the “green” choice for it’s light weight, high recycled content, reflective coatings and long lifespan. If you have installed a metal roof than you are helping to make this world a better place one roof at a time. Stay tuned to GreenisGlobal.net for more metal roofing blog postings or check out another great metal roofing blog at Metal Roofing Blogspot. Thank you again for visiting our metal roofing resource guide and metal roofing blog.

For additional information and metal roofing estimates you can call us anytime at 888-234-2929.

If you live in PA or NJ, Philadelphia to the Jersey Shore and up to North Jersey…It is time to discover innovation in home renovation! If you want the best products from the best contractor, you need to call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 for your free in home estimate. To learn more read all the ways you can go green this year!

Standing Seam Metal Roofing: Metal roofs around Philadelphia are made of 20-30% recycled material and are, at the end of their life-cycle, fully recyclable. Compare this to the 13 billion pounds of shingle that end up in the landfills every year. You can also save up to 30% a year on your home cooling costs by installing a new reflective metal roof.

Integrated Solar Thin Film: Combined with a standing seam metal roof, solar thin film is extremely eco-friendly and a sound investment. You can drastically cut energy costs with a properly installed metal and solar system. In addition, they are eligible for NJ SRECs (new jersey solar renewable energy credits) that companies will buy on the open market if they can’t meet clean power guidelines. Average ROI is 6-8 years with typically a 20% return on investment over 20 years!

James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding: James Hardie fiber cement siding in PA and NJ uses only raw materials within 500 miles of manufacturing facilities, reducing transportation. In addition, the low toxicity of raw materials such as wood pulp, cement, sand, water (recycled up to 4 times), is good for the earth and your home. New ColorPlus technology ensures true color and beauty throughout your home’s siding.

Infinity Fiberglass Windows by Marvin: Fiberglass Replacement Windows Philadelphia are far more energy efficient than their wood or vinyl counterparts. They exceed all performance requirements for energy reduction in Energy Star ratings. Infinity is also Energy Star rated in all U.S. climates, something that most competitors cannot claim.

Challenger Series Triple Pane Vinyl Replacement Windows: Philadelphia and New Jersey best vinyl replacement window on the market. The Challenger far and away outperforms the competition in energy efficiency due to its triple pane construction with double krypton gas chambers. This gives the Challenger a .19 U-Factor which is well below the Energy Star minimum of a .30 U-Factor! Tax credit eligible!!

It is true that Standing Seam Metal Roofing looks great, lasts forever and has little to no maintenance but what else should residential metal roof prospects know about…

Here are the top 10 most frequently asked metal roofing questions that we at Global Home Improvement hear:

10. Doesn’t metal get extremely hot in the summer?

A: Not cool metal roofing! Our standing seam metal roofs are energy star rated because they have IR pigments that reflect sunlight and will actually keep your home cooler by up to 30% in the summertime.

9. What about metal roofing energy efficiency in the winter?

A: Metal roofs are slightly better in the winter because they create an air barrier of cool condensed air that traps hot air during the winter.

8. What about ridge vents for metal roofing?

A: It’s a fact all roofs need to breath and standing metal roofs are no different. Metal ridge vents are installed with wire mesh frames to keep birds and bats out of your attic for good.

7. What metal roof underlayments should be installed?

A: The metal roof underlayments should not be asphalt based like traditional tar paper and ice and water shield. Instead we use a synthetic breathable underlayment as well as a not granular peel and stick material for the valleys.

6. Are metal roofs more costly than traditional roofs?

A: This is the biggest misconception there it. Yes, metal roofs cost more up front but overtime they always cost less because they last 2-3 times as long as asphalt shingles. In addition, the price of asphlat shingles keep rising with the price of petroleum making metal more affordable every day!

5. Would a metal roof look right on my home?

A: Unfortunately there isn’t a right answer to this because it is all about preference. However, we feel a standing seam roof looks great on all homes! Check out these standing seam pictures and see for yourself.

4. Do metal roofs come in other styles?

A: Yes, metal roofing is very versatile and comes in both kynar coated and stone coated steel. The stone coated steel is made to look exactly like shingles, shake, or tile! Also, the kynar coated comes in the sames styles in addition to slate look, and even a castle top style.

3. Do standing seam metal roofs attract lightning?

A: No, lighting is attracted to the highes point in a give area, typically a tree. However if a metal roof is struct by lightning it outperforms a shingle roof because it dissapates the charge and is non-combustable so your roof won’t catch on fire!

2. How is metal roofing “green”?

A: Other than the fact that is lasts 3 times as long, is full recyclable at the end of it’s lifespan, is comprised of 30% recycled material, is energy star rated, has cleaner water run-off than any other roof, is up to 5 times lighter than shingles and requires less transportation resources…O wait, that’s a lot! Did we mention it also comes in the color patina green, aged copper green, forest green, hunter green and more…

1. And finally, is standing seam metal roofing noiser than shingle roofing?!

A: Believe it or not…NO!! Metal roofs typically have underlayments, plywood, airspace, attic space and insulation compared to the old tin roofs that were installed over rafter. In addition, the kynar coating which gives metal roofing a 35 year color warranty and energy star savings deadens the sound so you will not even be able to tell the difference.

I hope that this was helpful and as a special bonus question, many people want to know where they can get a new metal roof and who the experts are…well if you are in PA, NJ or DE the experts are Global Home Improvment and you can call anytime at 888-234-2929!