Metal Roofs Reno

If you're ready to upgrade to a metal roof, and you happen to live in the Reno area, Metal Roof Network should be your first stop. In addition to our fine network of qualified installers, we've got great pricing, a range of materials and profiles, years of experience in the industry, and a refreshing perspective to boot! We're proud to offer free estimates, so give us a call today on our toll-free line - 855-321-ROOF - or check us out here.

The BEST Metal Roofing Blog

Looking for a blog about metal roofs? You just found it! The Metal Roof Network blog is bursting with pictures, customer stories, anecdotes, observations and more - and it's all centered on metal roofing. For homeowners considering the upgrade to metal roofing, architects, designers, LEED consultants or just folks interested in the industry, this is the metal roof blog to follow.

And if you like this, check out our website!

"Rustic" New Metal Roof in California

It can be quite difficult to get a new metal roof to look like an old metal roof with most of the materials on the market today. Every metal roof manufacturer expends great effort to make their material as absolutely consistent as possible and as corrosion resistant as modern metal production can create. For so many applications, these qualities are a high priority for end users. However, there is a certain class of project where these attributes are secondary to the objective. In the case of this re-roof with metal in the East Bay area of San Francisco, California, the owners were renovating the barn, stable and pump house on the property and wanted a metal standing seam roof. Along with the lines of a vertical panel roof material, they also wanted a rustic finish consistent with the old buildings. They were trying to avoid installing a new metal roof that would like too slick and shiny, but they weren't too anxious to compromise performance either.

We were able to offer them our standing seam profile in "Old Barn Tin." This is a type of zinc-coated steel roof material that has a bare zinc alloy on the weathering side. It starts out slightly irregular and ages over time to a dull, zinc-gary color. Unlike common galvanized steel, "Old Barn Tin" is much darker and duller giving the appearance of being "old" when just
newly installed. Although it doesn't have a warranty because it is unfinished metal, in a dry climate like Northern California this material will have a life span measuring in the decades. Just down the street there are 40-year old farm buildings with less sophisticated galvanized steel roofs that have been doing the job for nearly 50 years. This one should outperform any of those as it has a much more advanced fastening system and superior metallurgy.

So, for a modern solution to the desire to "look old" without going to an exotic metal like copper or solid zinc, our "Old Barn Tin" standing seam roof is about a perfect a solution as can be had. And the price is right, too.

Get more information about our standing seam roofing in "Old Barn Tin" here.

Low Priced Metal Roofing California

A lot of people think of metal roofing as expensive, and certainly that can be the case. It's also about the best performance roof covering money can buy, so like everything else it's true that in the case of roofing materials you get what you pay for. However there are projects like this one where some of the features of the best of the metal roof profiles just aren't required - or even desired. This client was seeking a metal roof for the sake of appearance and performance to replace the old wood shakes. But they wanted to keep the old farmhouse look and use a material that wouldn't look too sophisticated or slick. We have just what they needed - amazing coincidence or what?

What the client choose was our value panel in finished steel. Our value panel has many of the features of our better standing seam panels, but is a lot less money. It's still very corrosion resistant Zincalume steel with and excellent color finish, but it doesn't have the intricate profile and details of the higher-end products. This "low tech" look was exactly what the client wanted - something that looked appropriate to an old, low tech farm house and garage. It worked a treat.

The contractor and the client are happy, and the job looks great! What a huge upgrade over the old wood shakes...definitely an economical way to take advantage of the benefits of metal roofing. It's low priced metal roofing and it's truly transformed this lovely home in California.

Take a look at our value panels here or check out all our materials and profiles here.

Metal Roofs and Economic Crises

Perspective is everything when it comes to judging circumstances, and to illustrate I offer the summary of two recent conversations.

In the first, I spoke with the owner of a roofing contracting company about the state of business. To say he was pessimistic would be grossly inadequate. “Despondent” or “shell-shocked” are probably more apt. In any event, he was unable to grasp how his recently successful business was now on the verge of failing and he was wondering from where he might find his next job. He was down from six or seven installation crews to one, and even they were not working full time.

You see, he had built his business installing roofs for “tract” builders. As a result, he had enjoyed a robust enterprise for nearly 10 consecutive years. Now, there is no tract work at all, and what was left was so competitive as to be worthless. What puzzled me, even at the time of our talk and even though discretion prevented me from commenting at that moment, was that he would be surprised at all by the turn of events. Did he not see that he was supplying labor to an industry that was rolling in an orgy of speculation and leverage? How could anyone think that the constant parade of new developments would continue unabated into the indefinite future? Was he surprised that I was not?

My second conversation was with an established contractor specializing in remodeling and custom building. His perspective on the current state of business mirrored my own: Things were definitely slowing down, but there was still plenty of projects needing attention and although one had to be more competitive, there was no shortage of good business about.

Stepping back, it makes perfect sense that the owners of buildings that have moved little, plan on staying put, and remain proud of their home or business have changed little. Their priorities remain the same: efficiency, low maintenance, good looks and long service life. No wonder metal roofing is the fastest-growing segment of the roofing products industry. I'm reminded of a trip to a South American country where I was struck by two things: How slowly things were built, and what attention was given to the details. The explanation by my host was rather simple, “That it takes a few months more or a few months less to build hardly matters when the owner is planning to live in that house for the rest of his life, and then pass it on to his children.” How could I argue with such sound logic?

At the end of the day, an owner is still going to spend more money on a nice metal roof that one of the disposable alternatives (like asphalt), but when this recession has faded into history with all of the others, the permanence of metal will remain. I'm glad metal is my business.

Need a New Metal Roof in Northern Nevada?

Metal Roof Network is your source for the best metal roofing for your project and the most qualified and experienced installers for the job. We're based right here in Reno, and we've supplied beautiful metal roofing for locals from Gardnerville and Carson City to Stagecoach, Lake Tahoe, Fernley, Reno and all points in between.

Estimates for your new roof are complimentary, and we're always happy to answer any questions you may have. Give us a call today, toll-free 855-321-ROOF, or visit our website for pictures and details about our materials and our network of installers.

Looking for a New Roof in Reno, NV?

If these high winds are wreaking havoc on your roof, it's time to talk to Metal Roof Net! We're based right here in northern Nevada, and we've supplied material to hundreds of local residents. If you're ready to think about a new roof, call us toll-free at 855-321-ROOF or check us out for pictures and details about why metal roofing is the best possible choice for our high-wind area.

We're the ONLY source for the best metal roofing for your application, plus the most qualified and experienced installers for the job. We hope to hear from you soon!

How to Price a New Metal Roof...?

Someone asked me recently to “ball park the price of a metal roof." I'm afraid I insulted him when I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

The useful answer is so long and conditional as to be almost useless. Our company alone offers metal roofs that start at under $1.00 per square foot and go up to over $15. Adding labor on top of these numbers and you can easily have a range of prices that might be equal a spread of nearly 20 to 1. So I could have answered, “Somewhere between $5,000 and $100,000. How’s that for a ball park?"

The fact is there is just such a range of options that any attempt to ball park is apt to establish a ridiculous standard against which any given job will have no bearing. We have “economy” roofs that are intended to be utilitarian and fast to install. They’re not particularly pretty, and a lot of people wouldn’t want them on their home, but they work for what you pay and some people are just tickled pink with the result. On the other hand, I have clients who want the best and want their investment to showcase their home. For that class of client, few things announce “Estate Quality” like a solid copper or zinc roof.

Metal roofing materials also have the distinction of having possibly the widest variable in labor rates for their installation. Since there is such a colossal difference in detail levels between the cheapest styles of material and the finest, the labor is correspondingly miles apart in cost. The time it takes to slap down and “through fasten” long, seamless panels on a walkable pitch roof is possibly one tenth of the time it might take to custom-fit the details around architectural details on a steep, complex English Tudor mansion. As one considers the range of variables, it becomes easier and easier to understand why “ball parking” is fraught with peril when it comes to metal roof prices.

One thing is certain, whether you’re after the most functional or the most impressive, few materials offer the breadth of value and appearance afforded by metal roofing materials. If you visit our metal roof sales website, www.metalroofnet.com, to investigate metal roofing options, you’ll quickly see from the wide variety of looks why it’s tough to approximate metal roof prices. However, what would be useful is to pick a profile or two from a few of the photos you like, and see if there’s a style of building or home that’s close to yours. With a profile and an approximate roof line to consider, a quick phone call to us and a few more questions answered and you could come away with something approximating a useful number. Of course, if you really want to do your homework, visit www.ReRoof101.com and order a computerized aerial photo map and price formula for you home and get VERY useful numbers indeed. Then you’ll be a long way ahead of even experienced roofers in having good numbers from which you can make decisions about your next roof – metal or otherwise.

Rusty Diamond Shingles in Northern California

We supplied gorgeous steel diamond shingles for a one-of-a-kind cabin near St. Helena and here are a few shots of the installation process. Can't wait to see the final result!

Like what you see? Find out more about our beautiful diamond shingles here.

Cool Metal Roofs

Tidy little article touting the benefits of so-called "cool roofs." And, of course, metal roofs are among those recommended!

Find out more about the endless benefits of metal roofing here.

Diamond Shingles for a Beautiful New Construction

One of our newest customers will soon be the proud owner of a beautiful home with rusty diamond shingles. They'll be the perfect topping to her lovely forest home, and we couldn't be happier.

From her email today: "I love my new roof and am so happy to have found you. It was all about your web page - worth the trouble and the effort."

Thank you! We can't wait to post pictures!

A Homeowner's Guide to Re-Roofing

It happened just as we had intended: a homeowner researching his roofing options came across our site and downloaded a free copy of our re-roofing booklet from the homepage. He read it "cover to cover," as he explained to Chris when we called, and he set up an appointment on the spot because "only two-thirds of the way in, [he] already knew [he] wanted metal."

Our newest customer was in the process of filling out the checklist on the last few pages when we arrived for our meeting. He told us how helpful the booklet had been in educating him on his options, helping him figure a ballpark price, and giving him plenty of photographs and charts for comparison purposes. He was so well-prepared, in fact, the meeting essentially boiled down to choosing a color for his new metal roof. He's happy, and we are too!

Researching a New Roof

A little research goes a very long way, and that's very true when it comes to a new roof. Even the cheapest comp will cost a few thousand dollars, so it's in any homeowners best interest to explore the options first. And who knows what you may find? In the words of one potential customer: "I'm new to the metal roof concept but have been convinced by your Web site that it might be an attractive alternative I should consider."

Smart. Very smart.

Metal Roofing "Experts"

Observing multiple metal roof installations in various cities and states, it becomes more and more clear that the world of roof contractors and installers is a a remarkably polarized one. The number of roofers who claim competency at installing “all kinds of roofs” is very near 100%, but getting a close look at their work puts the lie to that boast - and yielding a dramatically lower percentage of truth-tellers.

With my concern being exclusively metal roofing, my concern is focused there and all of my recent experience is proving again that the 80/20 rule applies to roofers as much as any profession. While it’s true that laying down any roof material isn’t rocket science, it’s also true that training, care, and attention are required before any job can stand the test of time. The number of shortcuts that can be found by roofers working alone up high in the air (almost certain that no one will be around looking over their shoulder!) shows remarkable resourcefulness!

I understand completely why the average building owner can regret their buying decisions because one of the identifying characteristics of roofers is price. Roofing labor is exactly like roofing materials - you get what you pay for. I know good roofers and roof contractors that have had the same people with them for 5, 10, 15 years or more – and for good reason. They get paid well. So many contractors consistently hire whoever’s available when a job comes along and take a chance that no one will notice that they might have a new and un-tested crew up there on the roof. Besides, money’s tight and the bid was low to get the job and we’re not paying the crew very much as a result. Makes it easy to understand how second-rate work results when you think about it for a moment.

So, when you think about picking a material that might cost two or three times as much as something like an asphalt roof, consider carefully your installation options and don’t immediately dismiss a contractor who might be considerably higher in price that the bottom-feeders. There’s likely a good reason for the difference – and well worth the matching extra investment.

Re-Roof in Reno

A new testimonial from a happy customer:

"When we needed to replace our wood shakes, we wanted to find something that would look similar but last longer and perform better. After talking to Chris, we knew a metal roof would be perfect. And so far, it's been great. We don't worry about our big wind storms blowing bits of the roof all over the yard and actually, our home even feels tighter and more secure now. It's also very quiet during rainstorms. The new roof is the perfect compliment to our home. We would definitely recommend Chris to anyone ready to re-roof for the last time."

Check out what other customers had to say about their new roofs and their experiences with us here. And if you're ready to tackle your roofing project, give us a call at 888-485-6841 or visit our site. Roof options are as many as the day is long, so we're a great resource to start your research.