<p>We’re in the market for a new roof. Does anyone have any experience with steel or metal slate roofs?</p>
<p>We have a slate roof, but it’s on an old house. I love a slate roof, though they’re not inexpensive in upkeep. The main difficulty is finding people who can still repair a slate roof. They’re out there, but because there are so few, they can usually charge whatever they like. With “metal slate,” I’m assuming you’re talking about something different and newer, though. I’ve seen roofing material that’s supposed to mimic real slate, and I hear it’s excellent roofing material, but the look is much flatter and more even than real slate. May actually be more durable, though I’m not sure about that. I know our slate gets knocked off and chipped every time there’s a storm, and a tree limb falls on it.</p>
<p>Real slate is nice. I don’t haven’t seen metal slate. I have seen this rubber slate - and it’s pretty convincing: <a href=“http://oikos.com/products/moisture/ecostar/[/url]”>http://oikos.com/products/moisture/ecostar/</a> I put a metal roof on the house I designed for my parents. It was rather noisy when it rained.</p>
<p>Slate is the most expensive roofing option available, with the possible exception of solid copper. My father put a red standing-seam metal roof on his place in rural Oregon. On his fairly simple farmhouse the metal roof looks great, and it wasn’t that expensive. A good metal roof is at least a 40 or 50 year purchase. Slate is forever, as is copper.</p>
<p>Here’s a nice article from This Old House magazine: <a href=“http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/knowhow/exteriors/article/0,16417,198504,00.html[/url]”>http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/knowhow/exteriors/article/0,16417,198504,00.html</a>.</p>
<p>We have a standing seam metal roof. Love it. I also really like the way it sounds when it rains, but there is a lot of insulation, so the sound is not sharp, as I’ve heard with other metal roofs. We live in a neighborhood where lots of people have cedar shake, and our metal roof requires so much less maintenance, and it’s so much safer…</p>
<p>My Mom has had a standing seam metal roof for about 8 years now, and has no problems.</p>
<p>Thanks. This “metal slate” is a new material that looks great in a picture but I haven’t seen it up close.</p>
<p>My guess is that it’s a good quality roof. You should be able to find out from the dealer where there’s an installation so you can eyeball it. My mother loved her noisy standing metal seam roof, it was me (the architect) that was less sure about it! If I were to do it again, I might beef up the insulation.</p>
<p>As someone who has had several unusual types of roofs over the years, including a metal seam roof, I would be concerned about it being a new product. One roof I had was new and supposedly state of the art, but it was discovered after a few years that it shrunk.</p>
<p>The metal seam roof was fine except I did not like how it held it’s color after about 15 years. I couldn’t find a painter to paint it. A neighbor did paint hers, and the paint was wearing off after a year. The thingies holding the seams together would occassionally pop off and need to be repaired by a professional. Yes, they are noisy during heavy rain and hail storms, but mine never leaked.</p>
<p>Those of you who’ve had metal roofs, did you notice a savings on your utilities?</p>
<p>I needed to replace a cedar shake roof with something else and strongly considered the metal roofs you’re referring to but ended up going with lightweight tile instead. Cost can be a factor with the metal products - especially if done properly (i.e. not over the top of an old shake roof as is sometimes done).</p>
<p>Go and see the metal shakes installed. They are not for everyone.</p>
<p>If you have a slate roof, consider a conc tile roof. that’s a nice look.</p>
<p>Standing seam or corrugated roofs are lower maintenance–but check with your realtor. They often devalue a house.</p>
<p>Also, Look at GAFs ‘wood shake’ asphalt tiles. They offer a fairly fgood look.</p>
<p>Never seen metal. Everyone has S-tile or slate around my area.</p>