What is better, a galvalume or EPDM rubber roof and why? Does anybody know of a roofer installer near Panama City Florida. I prefer someone who can install styrofoam sheeting under roof metal. Has anyone experienced energy savings from a new roof. Why do you think there was energy savings?
Thanks!
roof and roofers
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David Oxhandler
- Posts: 1459
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:37 am
Re: roof and roofers
I live near Ocala, Florida. We installed a gavalume roof on my home four months ago. My home is a 1984 Fleetwood doublewide that I attached to a block home in 1994. The MH and the block section are close to the same size, about 960 sq feet each. I also have a huge screen room on the back of the home and a covered porch down one side of the MH, All included, we recovered about 2200 sq ft of roof.
The new roof system has reduced my electric bill by a bit more than a third. Needless to say I am thrilled. With the cost of electric steadily rising, and the absolute need (in Florida) to have the air conditioner running full time for 5 months, or more, every year our power bill has returned to what we were paying 10 years ago.
When I started to plan the project the cost estimates almost pushed me back to shingles. 20 year shingles last about 12 years in Florida because of the extreme heat. My wife an I are approaching retirement age and I really worried about the need to re-roof again, after we were on fixed incomes. We decided to invest in a system that would outlast us and minimize our ongoing expenses.
You are on the right track, thinking about installing Styrofoam under the metal, but that is an older method that has proven to not have longevity. Styrofoam under metal cooks, especially here in the south. After several years the Styrofoam starts to decompose and its value as insulation diminishes greatly.
We used a relativity new, space-age product, double bubble double reflective rolled insulation. The product is only about 3/8 of an inch thick but offers an R-15 insulation value. Just as important to energy savings, the reflective sides create a radiant barrier that blocks about 98% of heat intrusion. There is no other type of insulation that combines these properties as well.
Double bubble double reflective combines the benefits of insulation with vapor and radiant barrier protection. That keeps the roof cool and dry in the summer and a warm and dry in the winter. It eliminates possible condensation problems under the galvalume.
I used the mill finish (silver) galvalume to increase the reflective character of the roof and to keep the costs down. Painted metal looks great but costs more.
I am a renovator and did the job with my own crew. You will need to find a contractor that is licensed in your county to handle this job. The best approach is to ask neighbors for recommendations or pull several companies out of the local yellow pages. Get four or five to come out and give you WRITTEN prices. Be sure that each price includes the same gauge metal and the same value insulation blanket, all permits, inspection costs, along with the cost of removing the existing shingles, if required in your county. (Many Florida counties now require shingle removal prior to installing a metal roof.)
I always discard the highest and lowest bid and make my selection among the contractors that are close together in the same price range. The high bidder is often gouging. The low bidder probably cant do the job way below the price of his competition and is planning on hitting you with extra costs at the end of the job.
The most costly part of a new roof is often replacing plywood decking that has been wet and is rotting. Unless the decking has major rotted areas, it is very difficult to tell how much decking will be involved before the shingles are removed or the new roof is fastened down. SO, watch for the line in each estimate that sets the price for plywood replacement. This is often the loophole where the less than honorable, roofer will look for obnoxious profit.
I got all of the materials for the roof from Gulf Coast Supply Visit their web site. You can also call then and order the materials (including the insulation) yourself or get a price for the materials so you have a handle on what the cost would be to your contractor of choice. Gulf Coast delivers across the state and may be able to give you a recommendation for a local roofer.
Come back and let us know how the project progresses
The new roof system has reduced my electric bill by a bit more than a third. Needless to say I am thrilled. With the cost of electric steadily rising, and the absolute need (in Florida) to have the air conditioner running full time for 5 months, or more, every year our power bill has returned to what we were paying 10 years ago.
When I started to plan the project the cost estimates almost pushed me back to shingles. 20 year shingles last about 12 years in Florida because of the extreme heat. My wife an I are approaching retirement age and I really worried about the need to re-roof again, after we were on fixed incomes. We decided to invest in a system that would outlast us and minimize our ongoing expenses.
You are on the right track, thinking about installing Styrofoam under the metal, but that is an older method that has proven to not have longevity. Styrofoam under metal cooks, especially here in the south. After several years the Styrofoam starts to decompose and its value as insulation diminishes greatly.
We used a relativity new, space-age product, double bubble double reflective rolled insulation. The product is only about 3/8 of an inch thick but offers an R-15 insulation value. Just as important to energy savings, the reflective sides create a radiant barrier that blocks about 98% of heat intrusion. There is no other type of insulation that combines these properties as well.
Double bubble double reflective combines the benefits of insulation with vapor and radiant barrier protection. That keeps the roof cool and dry in the summer and a warm and dry in the winter. It eliminates possible condensation problems under the galvalume.
I used the mill finish (silver) galvalume to increase the reflective character of the roof and to keep the costs down. Painted metal looks great but costs more.
I am a renovator and did the job with my own crew. You will need to find a contractor that is licensed in your county to handle this job. The best approach is to ask neighbors for recommendations or pull several companies out of the local yellow pages. Get four or five to come out and give you WRITTEN prices. Be sure that each price includes the same gauge metal and the same value insulation blanket, all permits, inspection costs, along with the cost of removing the existing shingles, if required in your county. (Many Florida counties now require shingle removal prior to installing a metal roof.)
I always discard the highest and lowest bid and make my selection among the contractors that are close together in the same price range. The high bidder is often gouging. The low bidder probably cant do the job way below the price of his competition and is planning on hitting you with extra costs at the end of the job.
The most costly part of a new roof is often replacing plywood decking that has been wet and is rotting. Unless the decking has major rotted areas, it is very difficult to tell how much decking will be involved before the shingles are removed or the new roof is fastened down. SO, watch for the line in each estimate that sets the price for plywood replacement. This is often the loophole where the less than honorable, roofer will look for obnoxious profit.
I got all of the materials for the roof from Gulf Coast Supply Visit their web site. You can also call then and order the materials (including the insulation) yourself or get a price for the materials so you have a handle on what the cost would be to your contractor of choice. Gulf Coast delivers across the state and may be able to give you a recommendation for a local roofer.
Come back and let us know how the project progresses
David Oxhandler
[email protected]
[email protected]
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