What’s HOT in Metal

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

Why metal roofing continues to grow in popularity within residential markets across the U.S. and how to add it to your list of services.  

With the Read, Listen, Watch® (RLW) initiative, RoofersCoffeeShop® has made it easier than ever for members of the roofing and construction industries to learn how they want. Whether you want to read a transcript, listen to a podcast or watch a webinar, the Coffee Shop has made it possible for you to learn your way. 

In a recent RLW brought to you by RoofersCoffeeShop, Heidi J. Ellsworth talks with Mark McDonald of Sherwin-Williams and Nick Lee of Coastal Metal Sales about how contractors can take advantage of exciting trends in metal roofing. They also discuss changing regional residential markets and tips on how contractors can incorporate metal into their residential offering. 

“We're seeing tremendous growth overall,” said Mark. “The Metal Roofing Alliance works with the Dodge Report, and I'm on the board with the MRA as you know, and the trend that we're seeing is a pretty dramatic increase in share for metal roof.”  

They hypothesized that the leading factor of the growth in metal roofing is due to its survivability. The sheer longevity of a metal roof, especially as severe weather events become more and more prevalent, is a pressing factor to many people. There’s also the aesthetic value of metal roofing, as well as its cost efficiency.  

One market for metal roofs currently exploding in the U.S. is Florida, where Coastal Metal Sales is based out of. They manufacture standing seam metal roof panels and are witnessing the rise of metal roofing across the state.   

“[Florida] used to be a more tile and shingle [place] and now all these neighborhoods with the tile, you see metal roofs popping up everywhere,” said Nick. “The Florida Keys has always been big metal and it's even more because of the storms. [Metal is] able to survive through the big winds." 

Metal roofing is also more cost-effective from an energy saving standpoint than asphalt. However, both Nick and Mark discussed whether or not these perks were important to a homeowner or if this information is reaching the homeowner at all.  

“How is that sitting with the homeowner? How's that sitting there with their decision? Is that part of your current decision-making process?” asked Mark. “I think it is certainly a point that we're communicating to the market and trying to get that word out.” 

Read, Listen or Watch the entire interview to hear more from Mark and Nick about how you can incorporate metal roofing into your contracting business.