We installed this new metal roof in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, in the summer 2015. The homeowner wanted to replace their old, worn-out wood shake roof with a roof that was more fire-resistant and longer-lasting. After reviewing their options, they decided to go with Flatiron Steel’s TufRib in Forest Green due to its price, availability, and aesthetics. TufRib is an exposed fastener metal roof. This simply means the screws used to secure it down are exposed and visible. An exposed fastener roof has the advantage of being cost-effective. Also, some folks prefer their appearance over standing seam, a concealed fastener metal roof.
Wood Shake vs Sheet Metal Roofing
A wood shake roof in the mountains, such as in Red Feather Lakes, is a bad idea due to the risk of wild fires. Without regular fire-retardant treatments, a wood shake roof is highly vulnerable to fire. This metal roof we installed in Red Feather Lakes isn’t susceptible to fire at all. Wood shake roofs don’t last that long, either. On average, a wood shake roof only lasts between 25-30 years. On the other hand, the TufRib metal roof we installed, should last 70 years or more.
Wood shake roofs are high-maintenance. Every 2 years, you should treat a wood shake roof to maintain its resistance to mold, rot, insects, fire, etc. Insects are naturally attracted to wood. Many insects live inside wood, such as in trees, and that includes a wood shake roof. Metal roofing doesn’t attract insects. Wood shake roofs also prone to splitting from hail storms. However, metal roofing is not.
Wood shake roofs are also prone to rotting since wood is an organic material. Metal roofs are not prone to rotting. In addition, a wood shake roof isn’t nearly as eco-friendly as people think, thanks to all the chemicals used to treat one. You should not burn wood shake roofs because they contain harmful chemicals. They cannot be recycled for that same reason. A metal roof, on the other hand, is recyclable. In fact, when we remove your old metal roof, we take it to the nearest metal recycling center.