Up on the roof 3 — 40B Cloutmans Lane Reconstruction

The standing seam metal roof on our home at 40B Cloutmans Lane is complete. We expect it to keep the elements out, in this seaside location, without any maintenance, for not only the rest of our generation but also for all of Adam’s and Luke’s and perhaps baby Hayden’s too.

What are the specifics of this roof?

Material: Aluminum was chosen for the substrate for its resistance to corrosion and reasonable cost. Titanium, copper, zinc, and stainless steel all make for wonderful roofs and all are expensive to prohibitively expensive. Galvanized steel is a cost effective option but lacks, in this seaside location, the resistance to corrosion that is necessary insure a long life.

Finish: A bare aluminum roof will oxidize to a dull gray and, even in this salt air laden location, perform well. We know first hand; our trusty 21’ cuddy cabin boat, Thumper, having completed 17 seasons, is bare aluminum. But we wanted a jauntier look.

The finish for the aluminum coil stock (sheet aluminum that is produced in long rolls) that the roof is made from is a high performance architectural 70% polyvinylidene fluoride coating (PVDF). It is recognized as the best finish for exterior metal coating and is used world-wide on institutional and high-rise buildings. Polyvinylidene fluoride is popularly known by its original trade name Kynar – it is a fluoropolymer (PVDF or PVD2), a family that also includes Teflon and Halar. The key to this resin is the bond created between carbon and fluorine, the strongest possible polymeric connection. Years of testing demonstrate that PVDF is most durable when it makes up 70% of the overall coating.

Design: The primary design elements of a standing seam roof are the characteristics of the seams and the spacing of the seams. A 1 1/2” high snap lock seam was chosen with spacing of 15”. The snap lock system tends to remain straighter than a crimped standing seam and the narrow 15” spacing is proportional for this small home and minimizes the possibility of oil canning, the warping of the flat surface of the metal roof.

Color: In a sea of grays and beiges, Ann and I wanted something more colorful, friendlier, more likely to bring a smile to one’s face when you come upon the house by land or sea. In forest settings, forest green is a popular color for standing seam roofs. We chose a color that picks up the blue of both the sky and the sea.

Next post; the image of a home.