The Ultimate Wind Test

Metal Shingle Roof System Protects Home From Katrina's Fury

The Custom-Bilt metal roof on David Rossano's house sits unscathed while the damaged roofs of surrounding homes are covered with tarps (click image to enlarge).

RICOWI Reports Offer Unbiased Look at Roof System Performance During 2004 Hurricanes, Hail Storm Katrina Report to be Released September 6, 2007 Click images to view and/or download these reports Looking for an unbiased examination of the performance of various types of roof systems during extreme weather events? That's what you'll find in two detailed reports available through RICOWI, the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues Inc. RICOWI's members, representing all facets of the roofing industry, aren't storm chasers. Their mission instead is to go where major storms have been to document how the roofs in those areas fared. RICOWI's first report was released in April 2006 and documents the damage to roofs caused by hurricanes Ivan and Charley in 2004. It is 260 pages long and contains dozens of photos. A second report, released in October 2005, details damage caused by an especially severe hailstorm that struck Oklahoma City, OK, in April 2004. That report is 29 pages long and also contains numerous photographs. Due out on September 7, 2007, is a report on damage to roofs caused by Hurricane Katrina. To learn more about RICOWI, visit www.ricowi.com.

North Miami Beach, FL - The 2007 hurricane season is well underway, bringing with it fears that many homeowners have regarding their roofs. Advocates of metal shingle roofing systems have long contended that wind-resistance is among a metal roof’s most valuable features – a contention that was demonstrated two years ago after Hurricane Katrina roared onto the Gulf Coast.

David Rossano’s family had been evacuated from New Orleans just before Katrina came ashore. Just a year before, Rossano had a metal roof installed onto his home. “We had resigned ourselves to the fact that our home and possessions would probably be gone,” Rossano recalls. “The storm was just too powerful,” he added. When the storm had passed and they were able to navigate through the debris, the Rossano family drove through their neighborhood and saw the destruction. But when they got to the front of their home, they were surprised to find their home intact.

“We looked for major roof damage—didn’t see any. We looked for minor roof damage—didn’t see any. I looked for a dent or a ding or a missing cap, anything. Didn’t see a single problem. It looked brand new. We started laughing and joking about being so worried for no reason,” he said.

In a major windstorm, maintaining the integrity of the roof system is essential to a building’s ability to survive. Once the roof begins to fail, the air pressure within the building can increase dramatically, causing windows, doors and walls to fail as well.
“Obviously, every roof system has its limits, but homes and businesses with new metal shingles are among the most successful in resisting the uplift forces of hurricane-force winds,” explained Tony Chiovare, president of Custom-Bilt Metals, a leader in the painted metal roofing industry since 1974.

Today’s metal shingles achieve their superior wind resistance thanks to their interlocking panel design, Chiovare explained. In such systems, the metal roofing panels lock together securely on all four sides. One example is the Vail Titan Select Shingle system, which Custom-Bilt manufactures and markets under a license agreement with Vail Metals Systems.

“Metal shingles such as the Vail Titan Select have been tested and shown to resist hurricane-force winds,” Chiovare said.
Chiovare notes that metal roofing systems have evolved dramatically in recent years, allowing homeowners and businesses to choose a lightweight, wind- and fire-resistant metal roof without having to sacrifice aesthetic considerations. For example, the Vail shingle system is available in a true copper finish that weathers beautifully, as well as a Kynar 500 finish in a wide variety of colors, all of which resist fading due to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, as well as corrosion due to harsh marine conditions or airborne pollutants.

In addition to wind resistance, metal roofing systems also offer a variety of other benefits, Chiovare noted. Most metal roofing systems are Class A fire resistant, as well as lightweight and energy efficient. With adequate insulation, metal roofing offers very high “R-values.” The newest metal roofs can even help lower homeowners’ energy costs by reducing the load on the home’s air conditioner, thanks to new ULTRA-Cool coatings that help reflect solar energy away from the roof rather than absorbing it.

Custom-Bilt Metals' LAST-TIME brand of roofing products comes in a variety of metals including steel, aluminum and copper, as well as a variety of styles including standing seam, tile, shingles, and shakes. In addition to a wide palette of colors, LAST-TIME products are available in Custom-Bilt Metals' exclusive energy saving TITAN Cool Roof coating. Tests show that TITAN Cool Roof can reflect up to 60% of the sun's heat and provides energy savings of up to 20%. All products are backed with a lifetime transferable warranty. Call 1-800-826-7813; email to info@custombiltmetals.com or visit the website at www.custombiltmetals.com.