Up on the roof 2

The standing seam metal roof on the Hidesheim Cathedral was installed in 1280 and kept the rain and snow out for almost seven centuries until it was destroyed by Allied bombing in WWII. It has since been restored and is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

A standing seam metal roof utilizes the inherent waterproofness and longevity of long sheets of sheet metal that are formed by a machine into a flat U that channels water seamlessly from the ridge of the roof to the roof eave. It is attached at the seams by clips that are screwed to the underlying roof structure.

Snap seam standing metal roof

Why spend the substantial premium over the cost of an asphalt shingled roof?

Longevity: A properly specified and installed standing seam roof is a multi-generation roof with no maintenance.

Performance: The continuous nature of the metal panels largely eliminates the possibility of ice damming and the attachment of the roof at the standing seams can be engineered to successfulluy withstand category 3 or higher hurricane force winds.

Sustainability: The combination of longevity and the incorporation of a very high percentage of recycled material has a very low environmental impact and very low carbon footprint.

Aesthetics:: In addition to natural, uncoated metal roofs such as zinc, copper, and stainless steel, coated steel and aluminium roofs tan be finished in any color and with a wide variety of finishes such as metallics and color changing coatings. The crisp architectural lines of the standing seams are timeless and work well with both traditional, transitional, and modern homes.

Traditional home in Concord, MA with standing seam metal roof.

This week we will document the installation of the standing seam metal roof on 40B Cloutmans and discuss the specifics of the materials, finishes, design, and color of our roof.