Gandhi Residence
GALVESTON, TEXAS
When owner, designer and builder Paul Gandhi set out to construct his vacation home, he wanted a roof that could withstand the elements while offering environmental benefits. He chose Ontario, Calif.-based Met-Tile’s tile-facsimile roof system in a coral blue cool-roof paint finish because of its energy savings and hurricane resistance. Panels are 3-feet (0.9-m) wide in lengths from 3 to 20 feet (0.9 to 6 m) made from 26-gauge Zincalume steel. Loredo Roofing Co., Houston, was the roofing contractor for the 8,000-square-foot (743-m2) roof. Paul Gavranovic of Houston served as the roofing consultant and manufacturer’s representative.
The beachfront residence, constructed on pilings, has 4 stories, including a seven-car garage at ground level, 2 stories of living space, guest quarters with a balcony and a small lookout room surrounded by a 300-square-foot (28-m2) widow’s walk at the top of the house. Large balconies and patios take advantage of the views, and a 100-foot- (30-m-) long walkway provides direct access to the beach. “The house and roof are so unusual that people take photos of it on a daily basis,” Gandhi says.