You’ve seen steel roofs on barns, but how often have you seen them on residential property? It’s very likely you’ll be seeing them a whole lot more around the country. With wildfires, hurricanes, hail and other extreme conditions damaging houses, an increasing number of homeowners are taking advantage of the benefits of metal roofing.

Steel roof installations have more than doubled in the last five years and will continue to grow 15 percent per year, according to the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA). There is no material more capable of protecting a home from destructive weather conditions.

Benefits of Metal Roofing:

DURABILITY

A metal roof will last at least two to three times longer than an asphalt roof, or 40 to 60 years. In the warm, humid Southern states, metal is virtually immune to the unsightly mildew stains that often form on asphalt shingles. Properly installed, a metal roof won’t leak or rust and can withstand wind gusts up to 140 miles per hour.

Shane Scott, a real-estate entrepreneur from LaGrange, Georgia, renovates and resells older homes. He installed a metal roof for his own home in 2000 and was so pleased with it he’s purchased metal roofs for all the homes he’s refurbished since then.

“When buyers are considering a home, they’re always concerned about the condition of the roof,” notes Scott. “With metal, they know they won’t need to do anything to it for at least 50 years. With an asphalt roof, they’ll need to replace it within 15 to 20 years.”

PROTECTION

Most metal roof systems have passed UL 2218 Impact Resistance testing at its most severe level, Class IV. As a result, homeowners in hail-prone states who choose metal roofing may be eligible for discounts on their insurance premiums.

Ed Parker, a retired homeowner from Sharpsburg, Georgia agrees. “We’ve gone through two or three asphalt roofs on our home over the years and they discolor and rip off during wind storms, or leak due to hail storms,” Parker said. “Metal is much more durable.”

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

The National Association of Homebuilders Research Center estimates that 20 billion pounds of asphalt roofing is taken to landfills every year. Metal’s longevity removes the need for frequent roof replacements. Better still, it can be laid over the current roof, eliminating the costs of shingle removal and land-fill fees. If a metal roof is ever removed, it can be recycled.

Steel is the best choice for “green” buildings, where the goal is to reduce or eliminate chemical substances, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Unlike wooden shakes or some other traditional materials, steel is not vulnerable to insects, mold or rot. Therefore, it does not require the application of insecticides or other hazardous chemicals.

ENERGY EFFICIENT

Time-tested metal roofs save energy and reduce your cooling costs by as much as 40 percent, depending on location, says the MRA. The advent of new reflective paints with energy-saving properties has revolutionized the residential roofing industry.

While asphalt and cedar shingles absorb heat, the new cool pigment technology can reflect up to 85 percent of the sun’s radiant energy. Now, even dark colors achieve the “cool” attributes. An Energy Star roof can stay up to 100 degrees cooler on its surface than other roofs, so less heat is transferred into the building.

Wilmer Dykes, a homeowner from Cochran, Georgia, noticed a decrease in his energy bill of at least 25 percent after installing his metal roof. Dykes believes keeping his old roof on his home helped save energy. “By building the new metal roof over it, we created an air pocket between the two roofs, giving us an added layer of insulation,” he said.

LOW MAINTENANCE

A metal roof won’t crack, curl, split, rot or lose impact resistance with age. The only maintenance recommended for a metal roof is an annual inspection, clearing the roof of accumulated leaves or other debris and checking roof top ancillaries and air conditioners to ensure that they are properly drained and supported.

TAX AND INSURANCE SAVINGS

The U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 allows for a tax credit for homeowners who install qualified energy-efficient improvements to an existing home, including metal roofs that meet the Energy Star program requirements. For more information, go to www.energystar.gov.

AESTHETICS

For some, a stigma still remains from the old, ugly metal barn roofs. However, a host of new colors, finishes and profiles has drastically improved the look over the last 10 years.

Don Smith, another homeowner from Cochran, said that aesthetics was one of the most important factors in his decision to purchase a metal roof. “I had seen steel roofs in the high-end subdivisions and really liked the look,” he said. “Now, strangers stop in my driveway and ask me questions about my roof because they like the look of it too.

Casey Paulk, owner of Paulk Landscaping serving central Georgia, agrees. “In my business, I see a ton of homes, so I’m always comparing, contrasting and making mental notes,” he said. “When I built my new home, I did a lot of research. I decided to go with a metal roof primarily for the aesthetics – I love the way metal looks.”

BE WARY OF YOUR WARRANTY

Finding a warranty that offers complete protection is harder than most consumers realize, says Clay Smith, owner of Mid-GA Steel and Supply (www.midgasteelandsupply.com), headquartered in Grantville, Georgia. “There is no way to tell if two metals lying side by side have any difference in quality,” he said. “Unscrupulous manufacturers can make 25-year warranty claims for cheap metal that actually has just a five year life before fading.”

Because of this risk, it’s important to find a manufacturer that puts its steel vendors’ coil numbers on their warranties, which connects the buyer with the vendor and the exact metal purchased. “This will ensure that the warranty will be fully honored throughout its duration,” Smith said. “Without the coil number on your warranty, you have no protection, regardless of what your warranty might imply.”

A LONG TERM INVESTMENT

Often one of the barriers to purchasing a metal roof is the cost, which is two to three times that of a shingle roof. However, buyers who realize a metal roof is a one-time investment versus an ongoing, life-long expense understand the considerable value it offers.

Asphalt roofs typically need to be replaced approximately every 15 years due to deterioration. Conversely, a metal roof is a permanent, extremely low-maintenance roof. “Although the up-front costs are considerably more than an asphalt roof, over the long term the durability of a metal roof makes it well worth it,” said Mr. Paulk.

THE FINAL SOLUTION

The rapid increase in the number of metal roofs nationwide will likely continue to intensify, as consumers better understand the durability and both the short and long-term savings metal roofs offer. Add to that the beauty of metal roofs seen in their own neighborhoods, and it’s easy to understand the surge in growth. The market is ripe; as baby boomers pay off their homes and settle into retirement, they are looking for a roof solution that lasts a lifetime.

Wood is meant to be outdoors. Trees grow in the great outdoors, so it makes sense that furniture made from trees should be kept outdoors. It is no wonder that wood furniture, when treated and cared for properly, can last outdoors for years. So don?t be late and start taking care of your outdoor furniture by some of the ways provided below:

Types of wooden furniture to buy

As we all say, it?s better to start right then fight. The best and good way to protect your wood and make it last for years to come is to buy special kinds of wood which suits outdoor like your garden, swimming pool, etc. Treated wood is one such type due to its resistant to rotting from the key elements like water, moisture, etc. But one of the problems with treated wood is that it often comes green, giving you limited options and scarily can more easily distort than other types of wood.
Teak outdoor furniture is a popular and the best choice for outdoors. Teak wood is an extremely dense hardwood and is often praised for its durability. It also has natural oils that protect it from the elements, even when left untreated. Often grown in east Asian countries like Indonesia, Teak is very resistant to attacks by termites and other harmful insects because the high oil content makes it water repellent Other types of wood suited for outdoors are Oak furniture like Chinese oak is a dense hardwood and is a natural light wood. The tannic acid element in Chinese Oak wood makes it ideal for use in outdoor furniture because it is naturally resistant to attacks by fungi and insects. Whereas Red Cedar, especially Western Red Cedar is a very popular choice for outdoor furniture because of its beautiful color and finish. It is also naturally resistant to decay and insect damage when exposed to rain, sun, heat, or cold all year. When properly treated, Red Cedar furniture may last for decades in the harshest of environments.

Nowadays blends of wood and metal furniture?s the best suitable for outdoors. Wooden top made out of teak with cast iron or steel as support or base is the best combination for outdoors. Aluminum, UV treated frames with wooden tops. This hybrid outdoor furniture?s gives you a quality of wooden element and less maintenance required metallic touch.

Know what affects your furniture

Taking care of wood and wooden furniture especially outdoor furniture goes far beyond cleaning and dusting. Wood reacts to environmental changes, such as moisture, temperature, light, frequent usage, reactions of food spills, etc When it comes to weather and environmental conditions, obviously, the utmost importance is to maintain awareness of the weather patterns in your particular locale.

For sunny outdoors, sun can have extremely detrimental effects on wood and wood finishes. Ultraviolet rays can destroy a piece of beauty in a matter of a few weeks to months. These rays penetrate the molecular structure of the finishes, the color, and the wood itself. In this process, color will change rapidly. In this situation, It is best to keep wood away from direct sunlight in all cases. If this is unavoidable, use blinds, shades, or UV window protection to keep the sun from directly shining on your wood product. For a outdoor full of humidity and moisture can also have adverse effects on furniture. Wood, whether finished or not, absorbs whatever its surroundings have to offer. If the outdoor is most of the times wet or humid, then its better to use protective waterproof covers which easily blend with the furniture or best keep them under sheds or temporary artificial roofs. If outdoor furniture is kept in your garden, avoid standing wood legs directly on grass. The moisture from the ground may rot untreated wood over time. If your garden is such that you truly can’t avoid this, at least give wood legs some extra protection by standing table and chair legs in treatment of wood preservative several times so that as much solution as possible gets soaked into the wood. Also a dry outdoor will shrink wood and eventually cause it to split from lack of moisture. In this case, giving a good finishing which suits your furniture types before the dry weather starts is the best way to protect your outdoor furniture. Natural oil like teak oil furnishes keep your furniture wet from inside and makes it live in dry weather. Lastly the outdoor furniture should be situated in an area that will allow the look you want, but yet safe from the sun and extreme temperature variance. Also, avoid placing outdoor furniture directly in front of fireplaces or barbecue grills.

Some preventative Care and Maintenance

Lastly, before you start protecting your outdoor furniture, following list of tips and guidelines can help you further with your work;

Clean your outdoor furniture twice every season by simply wiping down with a cloth wrung from a soapy solution of mild washing-up liquid and dry very thoroughly afterwards. If your furniture is close to a pool or spa, use a hose pipe to wash them once a week, as chlorine is a risk to most wood. If possible, it is best in the long term, if you get into the good habit of wiping outdoor furniture with a dry cloth every time you go to use them. This gets off pollen or fine strands of grass that have found their way to your furniture and dried on rather than got blown away.

After you had a party in your garden or in the event of spills make sure to clean up all of the liquid, as opposed to just a quick wipe. Unless the sun is shining that day, never assume that it will take care of drying it thoroughly. If the wood takes all day to dry out, airborne pollen or other dirt may get a chance to form an invisible yet sticky film on your furniture surface. When varnishing or giving finishing to your outdoor furniture, try to avoid on top of screw fittings. The shrinking and swelling due to weathering as explained above will require the tightening of the screws is present any, and this could be a cause of worry if that area is gummed up with varnishing.

Hopefully, with a good investment of your time and personal touch, your outdoor garden and patio furniture will be with you, being part of your every family event till you gift them to your children.

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