P. Allen Smith Garden Home Retreat
Follansbee Metal Roof Lends “Cool” Look to Garden Home Retreat
Metal roofing in Follansbee’s KlassicKolors material tops two buildings at renowned celebrity gardener P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home Retreat near Little Rock, AR. The vibrant red hue of the roofs contrasts beautifully with the surrounding lush green gardens, contributing to the Retreat’s stunning beauty.
Smith, who is best known as an award-winning garden designer and host of nationally syndicated television programs “P. Allen Smith's Garden Home” and “P. Allen Smith Gardens,” designed the Garden Home Retreat in accordance with his mission of creating “beautiful living spaces that blur the lines between indoors and out.”
To that end, Smith chose materials that would complement both the interior and exterior spaces, “so one area flows seamlessly into the next.” While Smith chose the Follansbee product for its intrinsic visual appeal, he says the material’s green, sustainable attributes were ultimately the deciding factor in selecting KlassicKolors.
“Not only is metal guaranteed to last, but the color coating used by Follansbee is solar reflective,” explains P. Allen Smith. “This keeps the roof cool and cuts down on energy costs – an important step in fulfilling my desire to make the Garden Home Retreat energy-efficient from top to bottom. Follansbee was the best choice for a product that fit with the traditional style of the buildings at the Retreat, and is both durable and earth-friendly.”
“KlassicKolors meets or exceeds the Energy Star solar reflectance value criteria for steep slope roofs,” explains Edward Thomas, vice president and general manager for Follansbee. “This makes the material a perfect choice for sustainable building projects.”
In addition to its sustainable attributes, the low sheen of Follansbee’s KlassicKolors coatings lends a traditional, historical look to any building, which also contributed to Smith’s decision to use the material.
“When I began researching roofing materials for the main structures at the Garden Home Retreat, I kept coming back to metal,” continues Smith. “I have lived in an historic neighborhood for many years and I’ve grown accustomed to seeing metal roofs and appreciate their beauty and durability.”
Currently the Follansbee roofs top two large buildings next to the main house – the stable and the tractor barn. As the project moves forward, the next phase will involve the installation of a Follansbee roof on the Retreat’s main building. Upon completion, approximately 12,000 sq. ft. of KlassicKolors will have been used on the three buildings.
“The next stage will be even more dramatic, as Follansbee roofing is installed on the main house,” says Smith. “We are excited to be able to demonstrate how effectively Follansbee roofing will be used in conjunction with the installation of a high-tech solar system to increase the energy efficiency of the home. This will continue to drive home the fact that Follansbee is the best choice in creating a durable, energy-efficient home.”
“Follansbee is certainly honored to be involved with a project of this magnitude,” said Thomas. “We were happy to donate our KlassicKolors product in conjunction with this unique and beautiful undertaking.”
The Retreat, which is surrounded by flourishing gardens overflowing with colorful flowers and an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs, is the location for ongoing public events. The Retreat recently played host to the International Master Gardeners Conference, held May 2-5, 2007, where more than 1,200 people toured the grounds. The completion of the main house is sure to result in additional visitors all eager to view the finished Garden Home Retreat.
KlassicKolors is a pre-painted Terne II zinc/tin coated roofing sheet offered in an extensive palette of designer colors. Its base sheet is coated with Follansbee’s patented ZT® (zinc/tin) alloy and then painted with solar reflective coatings. The ZT alloy provides enhanced durability and extends the life of the metal for many years, even if the painted surface is breached. KlassicKolors is available in a selection of hues, ranging from deep, rich tones of red, blue, green, gray to earth tones of beige, tans and browns. These colors were chosen to maintain the oxide hues that have characterized Terne roofs since Colonial times. Custom formulated colors are also available. A superior, time-tested roofing metal, KlassicKolors carries a warranty of 30 years.
About Follansbee Steel
Follansbee® Steel offers a selection of highly corrosion-resistant architectural metals that meet the needs of new and retrofit commercial, institutional, residential and historic preservation projects. Follansbee materials include Terne II®, KlassicKolors®, TCS II® and TCS Satin™ that feature a proprietary ZT® (zinc/tin) alloy for performance and longevity. The company also fabricates materials with ZT alloy for architectural applications. For more information call (800) 624-6906 or visit www.follansbeeroofing.com.