This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Building Enclosure logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Building Enclosure logo
  • News
  • Products
  • Sections
    • Columns
    • Project Profiles
    • Trade Shows
    • Sustainable Roofing
  • Technical
    • Codes
      • Waterproofing
      • Roofing
    • Details
      • Waterproofing
      • Roofing
  • University
    • BE University
  • System Designs
    • Low-Slope Roofs
    • Pitched Roofs
    • Metal Roofing Materials
    • Waterproofing
    • Sustainability
    • Roof Decks
    • Insulation
    • Exterior Claddings
    • Wall Systems
    • Building Envelope
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Magazine Issue
    • Digital Editions
    • eNews
    • Store
    • Events
    • INTEX Expo
    • CEU
    • Market Research
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
  • Multimedia
    • Infographics
    • Videos
    • Image Galleries
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • eBooks
    • Podcasts
  • Quiz
  • Contact
    • About Us
    • Advertise
  • Directory
    • Directory: Roofing Resource
Home » Metal Roofing's 'Graduation'
Metal Roofing Materials

Metal Roofing's 'Graduation'

October 17, 2016
Rick Damato
KEYWORDS Metal Roofing / plastic
Reprints
No Comments

In the opening of the 1967 film classic, “The Graduate,” the young Benjamin Braddock has just returned to his parents’ home after graduating from college, and now faces the choice of what to do with the rest of his life. At his graduation party, Braddock was accosted by one of the guests offering career advice in one word: “Plastics.”

Only one word in the movie and little to do with the plot, but I’ve always found it intriguing. It turns out that if you chose plastics as a career path in 1967, you may have done very well. Since its invention in 1907, products of virtually every description are made completely or partially from materials that derive from plastics. 

If one of my children was graduating from college today, and he or she was interested in a career in roofing, I might likewise give them one word of advice, “Metal.”

As a segment of the roofing industry in this country, metal remains one of the smaller ones. But I continue to see this segment grow and believe it will continue to do so until it becomes part of the mainstream of all roofing systems, both low- and steep-slope. And there are more opportunities in metal roofing than simply installing new roofs.

Here are a few things to consider if you’re not presently involved in metal.

You can start small. It’s possible to purchase pre-made metal roofing products of all descriptions. There’s a relatively low cost to enter the field, especially if you’re an experienced and well-equipped roofing contractor. You already know metal as it’s part of virtually all roofing systems. You know what watertight means. You must learn how to put it all together, but you have many manufacturers equipped to train and get you going.

I know more than one roofing contractor who started out installing accent metal roofing on residential shingle jobs. One thing led to another and they became equipped to do more of the fabrication in-house, and now have the capacity to compete on large-scale metal roofing projects.

If you know your way around metal roofing, you may be able to offer all manners of remedial and retrofit work from a re-flash and coat project to flute-fill, insulate, and recover systems, to complete, remove-and-replace projects.

And the choices in metal roofing products that mimic all manners of other steep-slope products such as shingles, shakes, slate, and tile continue to grow. Many of these products are being introduced by manufacturers of asphalt and other roofing products.

Why the prediction for growth? From the perspective of life-cycle cost, metal offers a very competitive proposition. Metal checks nearly all the boxes required for green construction — it starts out recycled and ends up recycled. Many metal roofing products do a superior job of resisting damage from wind and hail. Oh, and it’s cool!

It’s been nearly 50 years since “The Graduate” first appeared. My bet is that 50 years from now, metal will be considered a very conventional roof covering product. But beware: by then all roofing may have been replaced by some form of (as-of-yet not invented) plastic.

 

Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to Building Enclosure Magazine.

Recent Articles by Rick Damato

Homeward Bound: The 2014 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project Helps Dallas Community

Set in Stone: Observations on Natural Slate Roofing

An Extraordinary Past A Promising Future

The Safe Roof Initiative

Rick Damato is the editorial director of Roofing Contractor. He can be reached at 770.246.3448.

Related Articles

New Metal Retrofit Systems Price-Competitive with Single-Ply

Challenges on a Retrofit Roofing Project

Adding Curve and Character to Fire Station

Case Study: PAC-CLAD Metal Panels Redefine Marist School’s Appearance

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Sign up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Registration Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Greeley City Center in Denver, Colo.

Permeability and Performance in Water-Resistive Barriers

Poettker Construction Company

Updating Building Codes

Breaking News Image #1

Arbnco Announces New Building Optimization Technology

Seattle Opera

Seattle Opera’s New HQ Hits High Note with Metal Panels

breaking news1

Kingspan Launches Plans to Tackle Climate Change

ARW eNews

Products

Plaster and Drywall Assemblies Manual

Plaster and Drywall Assemblies Manual

This is a comprehensive manual that goes beyond codes and standards, providing expert guidance in design, detailing, material selection and troubleshooting for plaster and drywall.

See More Products
ARW University

Building Enclosure

Building Enclosure Fall Cover

Fall 2019

The Fall issue of Building Enclosure features an in-depth look at roof coatings, continuing education, building codes and details, and more.
View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • List Rental
    • Web Exclusives
    • Construction Group
    • Privacy Policy
    • Survey And Sample
  • Want More
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing