Keep your metal roof in prime condition with a good spring cleaning.
A good spring cleaning can up your home’s curb appeal and prepare it for the coming summer season.
Many projects that make the biggest impact are easy enough for homeowners to tackle themselves. That’s especially true for homes with metal roofs.
Asphalt roofs can be prone to moss, mildew and fungus and require harsh chemicals to treat and clean. Cleaning a quality metal roof is often as simple and inexpensive as using plain water.
A simple rinse with plain water oftentimes is enough to clean a metal roof. If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your metal roof, try this non-toxic solution.
How to Spring Clean a Metal Roof
Clean your metal roof yourself in five simple steps with this non-toxic recipe.
Clear Gutters
Clean out all gutters and downspouts and remove any large rooftop debris, like branches.
Rinse Away Debris
Before you mix up a cleaning solution, try a garden hose attachment to spray away dirt and debris.
Never use a power washer to clean a metal roof, because the pressure could damage the metal roof’s protective coating.
Mix Cleaning Solution
If water alone isn’t enough to remove dirt and debris, mix a quarter cup of detergent per gallon of water. You can use a mild laundry detergent, car washing soap or mild dish soap.
Don’t add too much detergent to the mix, or it could damage your metal roof.
As always, follow your metal roof manufacturer’s specific instructions to help protect and maintain roof warranties.
Clean Your Metal Roof
Apply the solution to the roof using a washcloth, sponge, soft bristle brush and/or non-abrasive pad. The goal is to use the lightest touch that will effectively do the job.
Never use steel wool, wire brushes, scouring powders, paint removers or thinners on a metal roof.
Rinse Cleaning Solution
Let the solution stand for five to 10 minutes, before thoroughly rinsing the surface with plain water.
Remember, safety is always the most important step for any type of roof maintenance, no matter what the material. Don’t get on ladders or rooftops if you are not comfortable, equipped or well-prepared to take the proper precautions.
The Metal Roofing Alliance is a nonprofit trade association that helps homeowners make educated roofing decisions and connects them with expert metal roofing professionals.
If you’re ready to upgrade to a metal roof, or just want more questions answered when it comes to a metal roof, check out metalroofing.com.
No matter what mood Mother Nature is in, metal roofing offers your home protection.
Crazy snow and ice storms, monster hurricanes, golf ball-sized hail, extreme heat and torrential downpours. Homeowners everywhere face unique climate challenges.
In this special Today’s Homeowner podcast, I’m talking with Renee Ramey, Executive Director of the Metal Roofing Alliance. We’re setting the record straight on how metal roofs hold up in extreme weather.
Metal roofing can withstand winds up to 140 mph — that’s the windspeed of a low category 4 hurricane! (Pgiam/Getty Images Signature)
‘Will a Metal Roof Easily Blow Away in High Winds?’
Extreme winds during hurricanes and tornados can literally tear off weaker, sub-quality roofs. Choosing stronger materials like metal roofs can improve the chances of riding out storms unscathed.
Metal roofing can better withstand driving rain and extreme winds including F-2 tornado force winds of up to 140 mph. Since roofs take the brunt of monster storms, an investment in a higher quality roof can help save homes from sustaining major damage and will hold up better over time.
Some metal roofing manufacturers and installers place foam under each shingle, which can help further guard against water seepage.
Metal roofs often earn a Class 4 impact-resistance rating, which is the highest possible level of protection against hail damage. (soupstock)
‘Won’t Hail Damage Metal Roofs More Easily Than Shingle Roofs?’
Quality metal roofs often earn a Class 4 impact-resistance rating — the highest level of protection against hail damage available. That means, installing a metal roof can help reduce hailstorm damage, thus preventing costly repairs and replacement.
All roof types can sustain some cosmetic damage during a hailstorm, but studies show metal roofing performs best and is much less likely to puncture as compared to asphalt.
Some finishes of metal roofing offer a rougher texture to keep snow from sliding off. (Garrett Aitken/Getty Images)
‘Does Snow Easily Slide Off a Metal Roof?’
Finishes such as stone-coated metal roofs have a rougher surface texture. This works to reduce the danger of rooftop “avalanching” by preventing snow from releasing in large, heavy and damaging sheets.
Smooth metal roofing panels, whether painted or left unfinished, have much slicker surfaces and may require quality snow guards. Snow guards are designed to hold back rooftop snow and allow it to melt more gradually.
Some metal roofs have a cool coating that actually helps emit heat gain. (sarajlic/Getty Images)
Basic, unpainted metal roofs will reflect more solar radiation than asphalt roofs. By choosing the proper colors and coatings, low-glare metal roofs reflect mostly non-visible, infrared and UV rays.
Modern high-performance metal roofing paints and stone-coated materials increase energy efficiency. Plus, darker colors reduce heat gain.
Cool metal roofs offer high solar reflectance and help emit heat gain. This reduces the amount of air conditioning needed by as much as 10-15 percent.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that an ENERGY STAR-qualified roof can lower roof temperatures by as much as 50 degrees.
The Metal Roofing Alliance is a nonprofit trade association that helps homeowners make educated roofing decisions and connects them with expert metal roofing professionals.
If you’re ready to upgrade to a metal roof, or just want more questions answered when it comes to a metal roof, check out metalroofing.com.
A wildfire burns in the background of a fire danger sign in the Organ Mountains of New Mexico. (DenisTangneyJr./ Getty Images Signature)
PORTLAND, Ore. (April 18, 2022) — Wildfire home protection should be your top priority if you live in an area with frequent wildfires.
The peak season is coming, and experts say it’s likely to be intense this year, especially in areas such as the West coast that are experiencing drought. Already, fires are burning in California, a warning sign the season may again be a brutal one in many regions.
Early spring is an ideal time for homeowners to take steps to reduce potential wildfire threats to their homes and property before hotter weather strikes. Making wildfire-smart decisions about improvement projects and prioritizing chores that help reduce risks well in advance can offer extra protection when the wildfire season flares up.
Home improvement experts at leading trade groups, such as the Metal Roofing Alliance, and emergency disaster organizations like FEMA offer homeowners a helpful checklist to guard against wildfire danger.
Trim shrubs (or better yet, remove them) from near your home to protect your home from wildfires. (Every day to do better to do everything you love/Getty Images Signature)
Keep Wildfire Protection in Mind During Spring Yard Clean Up
Wildfire home protection starts with spring home maintenance. Trim and remove shrubs and trees close to structures. FEMA recommends creating a 30-foot safety zone around the house at a minimum, more if the property is sloped (fire travels more readily uphill).
Keep in mind, some vegetation is more flammable than others. Research to plan fire-resistant landscaping by checking with your local fire department or garden center. Oregon State University Extension Service has a great comprehensive list of fire-resistant plants.
To protect your home from wildfire, remove any tree limbs around your home that are within 15 feet of the ground.
Look for Danger Prevention, Up High and Down Low
Approach wildfire home protection from all angles. Wildfires can spread underground and by flying sparks.
Remove tree limbs within 15 feet of the ground, and rake and remove fallen debris and organic matter including pinecones, dead branches, grasses and leaves.
Water is fire’s enemy, so irrigate often during wildfire season.
Keep Up Home Care and Maintenance
After you’ve trimmed your tree and shrubs, don’t keep woodpiles close to any structures. Haul away the dried yard debris piles as soon as possible.
Closely maintain the largest space a fire could start on your property: your lawn. Cut your grass often and water it on a consistent schedule.
Trapped debris in gutters creates a perfect spot for a fire to blaze, so clean them regularly.
Consider replacing your roof with a fire-resistant material, such as metal. Metal roofing has a Class A fire rating, the highest available.
Pick Resilient Materials When Making Home Improvements
Choose the right materials when making home improvements. Some building materials are more ignition-resistant than others.
In wildfire-prone areas, work to reduce and eliminate the use of wood for exteriors as much as possible. Don’t use wood, shake and traditional shingles for roofs.
Rooftops are especially vulnerable to wayward sparks and embers, even from wildfires more than a mile away. A metal roof is the best choice for a home in a fire-prone area. They carry a Class A fire rating, the highest level of protection available. They also are energy-efficient, low maintenance, and an overall more sustainable roofing material choice.
Also, make sure roof vents are covered with wire mesh to help prevent wayward sparks from finding their way inside your attic.
Don’t rake leaves or leave any other combustible material under open space beneath a deck. (msderrick/Getty Images Signature)
Eliminate Exposed Spaces
Porches, balconies and overhangs with exposed space underneath can be fuel for an approaching fire. Clear all leaves, trash and other combustible materials from underneath and do not use them for storage.
Consider fire-resistant materials when planning porch or sun decks. Extend half-inch mesh screens all the way to the ground in areas below decks and porches.
Be sure you have all your essentials in order in case you need to evacuate. (Hailshadow/Getty Images Signature)
Prepare for Emergency Evacuation
Create a plan early so all family members know where to go and what to bring should you have to evacuate quickly. Plan several escape routes in case roads are blocked by a wildfire.
Have a kit ready to “grab and go,” filled with essentials including important prescriptions, valuable information, first aid supplies and other emergency items to save time in the event of a crisis.
A dark standing-seam metal roof complements this home’s clean lines with its unique Northwest modern style.
PORTLAND, Ore.— A home renovation in Portland, Ore., combines performance and aesthetics, and that’s why it won the Metal Roofing Alliance’s fourth-quarter Best Residential Metal Roofing Project competition for 2021.
Given the home’s location in a region that receives heavy rain and moisture in the winter and spring, but has hot, dry summers that make wildfire danger a serious threat, low-maintenance and protective metal roofing was their top choice.
The dark standing-seam metal roof complements the home’s clean lines with its unique Northwest modern style. It also provides maximum peace of mind, especially since trees surround the home’s site.
“This project demonstrates how choosing a quality metal roof can accentuate great architectural design and offer easy-to-care-for, low-maintenance protection for many years to come,” said Renee Ramey, MRA executive director. “The homeowners are thrilled with their choice. They appreciate their new roof so much. They also decided to use metal for siding on the upper story and chose metal roofing for their second home on the Oregon Coast as well.”
With the final 2021 quarterly winner selected, the 2022 Q-1 competition for MRA’s Best Residential Metal Roofing competition is open and the Alliance has some exciting changes this year.
The quarterly competition is open to all homeowners as well as builders, contractors and roofing installers in the U.S. and Canada (where allowable) who believe their metal roof project is the best based on either performance, style or both.
The MRA is offering a $300 cash prize to each quarter’s winner and will showcase them in the organization’s marketing efforts.
To enter MRA’s 2022 Best Residential Metal Roofing competition, simply upload a photo and a short project description at https://woobox.com/kz4fzh.
Representing the residential metal roofing industry in the United States and Canada, the Metal Roofing Alliance was formed to help educate consumers about the many benefits of metal roofing.
MRA’s main objective is to increase awareness of the beauty, durability and money-saving advantages of quality metal roofing among homeowners, as well as to provide support to the residential metal roofing industry.
Left: Ruby LeBlanc, of Cut Off, Louisiana, observes Hurricane Ida’s damage in her neighborhood. Right: Ruby and David LeBlanc’s new metal roof saved their home from destruction.
When David and Ruby LeBlanc starred on a Today’s Homeowner television episode that featured an exterior renovation and metal re-roofing on their Cut Off, Louisiana home, they had no idea it would become the best insurance for Hurricane Ida, which would arrive shortly later.
The re-roofing project — and episode — was completed just weeks before Ida hit. The Category 4 storm lashed David and Ruby’s neighborhood for seven long hours, with torrential rain and wind gusts exceeding 180 miles per hour. Country-wide, Ida lasted from Aug. 26–Sept. 4, 2021.
David and Ruby evacuated before Ida hit, but they were on pins and needles waiting to find out how their home had fared. They soon learned that the destruction to the area was devastating. But their new metal roof remained virtually unscathed from Ida’s tremendous force. It saved their home.
“Our neighbor’s garage had exploded. Boats were flung up on the road. It took two hours to clear our driveway alone. All over our neighborhood, homes with tarpaper roofs suffered complete losses,” said David. “But our new metal roof performed wonderfully. There was no structural or wind damage and not a drop of water inside from the roof.
“If we hadn’t replaced our roof when we did, we probably would still be gutting the house all the way down to the framing.”
David and Ruby’s old asphalt shingle roof had mismatched shingles from quick repairs over the years.
The Challenge
David and Ruby’s 70-year-old home, located on the Bayou, had been hit by hurricanes before. As a result, the old roof was a hodgepodge of repairs and tarpaper (asphalt) material that suffered leaks and damage.
So, when it was time to re-roof, the owners wanted a change. Metal was the ultimate choice, and as highlighted on the Today’s Homeowner episode, special attention was paid to quality installation for maximum wind-resistance performance and longevity.
“Going with a quality metal roof was more expensive initially, but when you look at how well it performed, the damage it saved our home from and the long-lasting reliability, it was absolutely worth it,” said David.
Workers from Middle South Systems install a metal roof.
The Solution
David and Ruby selected Classic Metal Roofing’s Rustic Shingle steel in Shake Gray for their re-roofing project. Installers placed the new roof right over the old roof, using a quality underlayment and foam under each shingle, which lock into place to give the roof superior performance and hurricane resistance.
Installer Middle South Systems reinforced the new roof’s strength by securing each 2-foot shingle with three hurricane clips.
The homeowners were delighted to learn that the beautiful style of their new roof is matched only by its long-lasting reliability, as proven by standing up to Hurricane Ida.
For more information:
Representing the residential metal roofing industry in the United States and Canada, the Metal Roofing Alliance was formed to help educate consumers about the many benefits of metal roofing.
MRA’s main objective is to increase awareness of the beauty, durability and money-saving advantages of quality metal roofing among homeowners, as well as to provide support to the residential metal roofing industry.
