While in college, several of my friends spent their summers as roofing workers. Although I didn’t think I would be very good at roofing, I always was a little jealous of the great tans they had after only a few days on the job. My summer jobs, which mostly consisted of sitting in cubicles, did nothing to enhance my pasty skin tone.
Through my friends’ experiences I thought I knew about roofing. However, it wasn’t until after I began writing for the construction industry that I learned how intricate and demanding roofing work is. Without a roof that performs well, a structure and its contents can be destroyed. This makes a roof one of the most important components of a building. It also makes the job of the roof designer, whether he or she is an architect, contractor or consultant, very difficult. A designer must anticipate weather events, consider foot traffic during routine maintenance of the roof and rooftop equipment, and achieve an acceptable level of energy efficiency while keeping durability, aesthetics and a building owner’s desires in mind.
Fortunately, the metal-roofing industry can meet all these requirements. Not only are the benefits of metal roofing clearly outlined in “Metal of Honor,” page 95, but several other articles within this issue of metalmag focus on metal roofs and their considerations. Take a look at the new ANSI standards for fall-protection equipment in “Safety Corner,” for example.
Although metal often is considered a material for futuristic-looking buildings, it also can meet historical requirements. “Metalmag’s Featured Project,” page 38, details the intricate installation of a standing- seam roof with copper-cote finish on the Odawa Casino Resort, Petoskey, Mich. The Odawa Indians felt very strongly that their new casino should represent their heritage, and metal met their needs. In “Roofs,” page 58, the Campbell Mansion at Bethany College, Bethany, W.Va., now features a metal roof that closely resembles the original roof that easily merges into the historic architecture of the more-than-200-yearold building.
In addition, metal roofing lends itself to the fastgrowing green-building industry. “Building Green,” describes EnergyPeak, a standardized solar roofing system for commercial buildings that metal-roof manufacturers can brand, manufacture and sell as their own. Understanding the definitions of reflectance and emittance in “Field Techniques,” will help your customers recognize how metal roofs contribute to energy efficiency.
Because there is much more to discuss about metal roofing than we could cover in one issue of the magazine, we hope you will join us at the International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas, Feb. 21-23. Metalmag is the official sponsor of the Metal Roofing Marketplace, a pavilion on the exhibit floor that highlights the latest innovations for commercial and residential metal roofing. With 17 percent more exhibitors than in 2007, the Metal Roofing Marketplace promises products, services and technologies to help attendees profit in the metal-roofing sector. IRE, which is expected to draw more than 9,000 attendees, also boasts 48 educational sessions, live roofing demonstrations and a keynote by legendary National Football League quarterback Archie Manning. Be sure to visit metalmag’s booth, no. 1406, while you’re at the show. We look forward to talking metal roofing with you!