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History Facts

Stone-coated steel, tile and shake: The best kept secret in the roofing industry

by Richard Lulkin
Condo Management Online

Mention the words "stone-coated steel roofs" to most general contractors, property managers or homeowners and you'll get a blank stare. Many state that they've never heard of them, let alone seen any. However, chances are that you've seen stone-coated steel roofs quite often but never knew it. In fact these roofs look so much like Mediterranean tile or wood shake that you simply can't tell the difference when looking from the street.

But the real strength of stone-coated steel is not in the elegant look, as important as that is. The reality is that steel does not break, it does not burn and it can withstand extremely high winds. These strengths alone give it a tremendous advantage over other reroofing products that are available. It's nearly five years since a hurricane called Andrew became America's worst natural disaster, a $15 billion swathe of destruction across southern Florida. It virtually obliterated a town called Homestead even as it put it on the map.

After the storm, the number one priority for building authorities was to improve roof performance.

In a tough appraisal of why Andrew caused so much damage, the Southern Building Code Congress International said, "The most critical need is the development of more realistic testing procedures to assess the wind performance of certain roof covering types." The code authority's blunt assessment reflected eyewitness statements. Many observers noted that most of Andrew's damage was caused by flying roof tiles. "They were deadly, crushing through windows, into vehicles, shattering wood and thumping against outside walls," said one report.

By no small coincidence, Florida is home to several top laboratories for testing how roof materials perform in high winds. And Dade County, which occupies the southernmost tip of the state, has established a 120-mph wind-resistance requirement, the highest standard in the nation.

The stone-coated steel roofing industry has set even higher standards for itself. Because a stone-coated steel roof is installed directly over old wood or asphalt roofs, its tile and shake are tested even tortured beyond the limits of clay and concrete products. Among the latest tests is a series completed by the Center for Applied Engineering, Inc. in St. Petersburg. A standard stone-coated steel tile roof was installed on an 8-foot-by-10-foot test deck and an aircraft engine wind generator was directed at the roof's edge just two feet away. The generator was set to replicate 130-mph winds, with gusts up to 150 mph. The results were impressive: Nothing happened. Or as the report put it, "No lift or movement of any roof component after 15 minutes of wind application at an average speed of 130 mph." The premise of stone-coated tile and shake is the direct opposite of some traditional materials.

The roofing industry often considers that asphalt shingle roofs don't warrant wind resistance, since they are less expensive to replace than to upgrade to a higher wind resistance. But structural engineers consider a roof to be the major factor determining whether or not a structure survives a windstorm, especially when speeds exceed the 75 mph hurricane threshold. As Hurricane Andrew demonstrated, a lost roof causes damage three times over. A building that's open to the weather suffers damage to its attic and insulation, drywall, furnishings and fittings. The loss of a roof weakens a building, making it prone to further structural damage even collapse. Finally, if tile and shake become airborne, they can too easily cause damage to adjacent properties. Worse, flying tiles can cause serious injury.

So with all of these advantages, why is stone-coated steel tile the best kept secret in the roofing industry? It's quite simple. These products can only be installed by contractors that meet exact requirements for training and experience. I personally refuse to lower my quality standards by using just any roofing contractor. This ensures a high level of quality, while at the same time protecting the homeowner, general contractor and property management company from unscrupulous contractors. Although this may reduce their visibility somewhat, it does ensure that all stone-coated steel products are installed correctly the first time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Richard Lulkin is principal of Omni Building Systems in Naples, FL