Artists have to get their inspiration from somewhere, even when they work with metal roofing. For the world-famous architect, Frank Gehry, that original inspiration came from the Inland Steel Building in Chicago. It’s a big commercial high-rise building, built in the 50’s, and when Frank looked at it from just the right angle, he saw a fair amount of oil canning in the steel building.

Oil canning is what we call the waviness you see in sheet materials when they deform for various reasons. If you aren’t familiar with the term, it’s because most roofers avoid talking about it.

Often times, oil canning is seen as a cosmetic flaw, but Frank Gehry saw it as added character to each architectural building.

Maybe that’s why Frank has designed some of the most incredible metal buildings in the world, deliberately using the technique in his design.

Where the Building Meets the Eye

Image from https://travelforaircraft.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/blog-b-52_mg_8777.jpg

Oil canning will appear on anything produced from sheet metal, such as the B-52 aircraft pictured above.

The elastic buckling of oil canning can and will occur in any type of metal panel, be it aluminum or steel. Usually, metal roofing and wall panels look flat, but if you catch them in the light, just right, you might see some of that waving and wrinkling.

The canning is usually more pronounced in a bigger and/or flatter panel. The deformation is caused by stress within the metal, causing the panel to buckle ever so slightly, which is why you usually have to catch it in the right light in order to see it.

That’s metal.

During production

First, stresses are introduced during production. All metal roofing panels begin in the form of a coil, essentially as a giant roll of sheet metal. If the coil is longer in the middle or on the edges, or picks up a side edge that isn’t perfectly straight, this can cause stresses in the sheets that will eventually be visible on the roof.

The stresses are more pronounced when you get a wider or thinner sheet. But even our narrower coils usually come from a single wider coil, redistributing these forces among the child coils. When the metal sheets are formed into roofing panels, the work often results in added stresses or tiny bending on the edges of the sheet. As these processes are inherent to the manufacturing of metal roofing, the best that can be done it to minimize it with proper tooling.

Who you are underneath

No matter how perfect your surface layer is, if the support structure or sub-roofing isn’t perfectly flat, these imperfections can be translated onto the surface metal. This also translates to the entire building. Most will understand the idea of a house “settling” after being built, and that means that the tiny shifts in the structure are now stressing the roofing in a new way, causing the metal panels to conform to the new movement.

Installation

As skilled roofers and metal suppliers in Miami, we understand how materials can change during construction; materials expand and/or contract due to heat and load changes.

In fact, we plan on thermal expansion in our designs by flexing the rib and seam areas of the joints; allowing the metal room to expand.

Some oil canning results in lines along the fasteners, and this is due to the over tightening of said fasteners. It’s no different than when your drain plug for the oil pan on your vehicle is over tightened– when it gets hot again the metals expand, slightly, damaging the oil pan.

In the Eye of the Beholder

Image from Tuxyso / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

The Walt Disney Concert Hall (designed by Frank Gehry) has visible oil canning.

Some degree of oil canning is to be expected, as it is inherent to the production process of sheet metal, and there are certain elements that cause it that are beyond human control, such as thermal expansion, or movement in the primary structure.

If oil canning is a characteristic you don’t find endearing, especially to your roof, hiring a professional who knows how to properly handle the materials and installation, can significantly reduce oil canning effects.

Good engineering and design can mean the proper gauge is selected for your roof, the use of ribs, backer rods, and even the particular finish can all help to mask possible canning of a metal roof.

Oil canning is simply a part of metal roofing, but often times it’s something your builder won’t bring up.

Because we can’t change the physics of metal, be weary of those “professionals” who tell you they can prevent or cure metal canning 100%. They’re simply selling something that doesn’t exist.

Since oil canning is complex physics at work, it means flexible metal roofing panels are absorbing stressful forces that would otherwise give way to the underlying structures.

Besides, as Frank Gehry learned, oil canning can transform a plain, otherwise boring, metal surface into one that is full of beauty and character.

~J.C.

The post Oil Canning – Roofing’s Elephant in the Room appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

Metal Master Shop

After a few months of planning, we finally have in our hands the latest Metal Master Shop Brochure. Quality time was invested in this piece because it needed to be something useful for our customers on both ends; the contractors, and the homeowners. This brochure is important, because it presents metal roofing to the person who might not have all the necessary information to make a decision.

We make it a priority to be as informative as possible, because we know that when a customer compares metal roofing to any other system out there, the choice is obvious. The purpose of the brochure is to:

1.Give the contractors a tool to hand out to their customers, therefore expanding their roofing options.

2. Provide a tool to homeowners that will allow them to make an informed decision.

There are many myths surrounding metal roofs; but when it comes down to it, it isn’t only beautiful, it is the strongest, longest lasting system available. Think about those beautiful cathedrals with metal roofs standing after hundreds of years! A metal roof, when properly installed, will be the last re-roofing job you’ll have to worry about.

Some wonder why we didn’t include profiles and materials in this brochure. The answer is simple. This is not a product catalogue. It doesn’t make much sense to load a person with details on a product they don’t fully understand how it benefits them in the first place. The goal is to lay the facts down, and encourage the costumers to research and become familiar with what metal roofing is. Metal Master Shop wants contractors as well as homeowners to know about the benefits of metal roofing before they start diving into technical information that can be overwhelming for anyone. If you wish to have technical data, resources are available on our website and you are welcome to stop by the showroom to collect any samples, color charts, installation guides, Miami-Dade Approvals, etc.

We have great things planned! This is just the beginning. If you are familiar with Metal Master Shop you know that we not only take pride in the products and services we offer, but in supporting learning . We take information very seriously, and hope you find this brochure most helpful. To request a copy CALL US 305.261.9290, or stop by! We are always happy to see you.

The post Metal Roof Brochure is in the house appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

By the time you’re through reading this blog post, you’ll remember Roofer #1, Roofer #2, and Roofer #3, just as vividly. Settle in for a roofing fable– a cautionary tale about the metal roofing sales process. And, yes, there is a moral at the end of each story.

Be sure to read all the way to Roofer #3’s story– that’s where the real action is. 

Roofer #1 Gives an Estimate over the Phone

Once upon a time, there was Roofer #1 who sat upon a cushy office chair throne in his air conditioned office.. He wore a dirty t-shirt and his jeans were full of holes, for he seldom interacted with homeowners face-to-face. His record books collected dust like long-forgotten ancient tomes, and his accounting software was neglected in favor of Spider Solitaire and fantasy sports apps.

Little did Roofer # 1 know, he was living in a fantasy world of his own. One day, the phone rang. Lo and behold, it was a homeowner!

“Hello. Roofer #1 Roof Installation,” he answered.

“Hello,” the homeowner replied, “I’d like to install a new metal roof. I live at 425 Grandmother’s House Lane. Can you give me an estimate?”

Roofer #1’s office was air conditioned, and the world outside was hot, bright, and lacked quick access to fantasy sports. Springing into action, he pulled up Google Earth and found the homeowner’s dwelling.

After viewing the grainy photograph, he concocted a random number based partially on prior experience.

Thus, he spoke the estimate to the homeowner and hung up the phone. No matter if he got the job or not, there would be no fairy tale ending for Roofer #1.

Moral: Roofer #1 is lazy. Good estimates don’t come from lazy roofers, so lazy roofers seldom stay in business for long. There’s almost no chance his estimate is going to be accurate, even if the homeowner accepts it. The homeowner is left in the dark about materials and the installation process. A good estimate is not quick, dirty, and done from a distance. Either he’ll be losing money or the homeowner will be unhappy— and word of mouth travels quickly.

Roofer #2 Estimates off the Top of his Head

Roofer #2 was well-liked by his friends and peers. He wanted to do well, but he had a tendency to avoid the most difficult parts of his job. He did not care for details, either. Still, he wanted his customers to be happy with their new metal roof. He was trying and he cared. He was already a step above Roofer #1.

One beautiful summer day, Roofer #2’s phone rang.

“Hello. Roofer #2 Roofing Services,” he answered.

“Hello,” the homeowner replied, “I’d like to update my roof. I live at 425 Grandmother’s House Lane. Can you give me an estimate?”

“Sure,” Roofer #2 replied. “I’ll be over in an hour to look at your house.”

90 minutes later, Roofer #2 pulled up to the homeowner’s two-story cottage. His pickup truck belched smoke from its tailpipe like the fiercest dragon in the land. As he descended from his air-conditioned cab, the homeowner saw he was wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

‘At least his jeans aren’t full of holes,’ the homeowner mused to herself.

Roofer #2 quickly looked over the house. Judging from past experiences, he produced a number off the top of his head. He wrote the estimate on his card of business and handed it to the homeowner.

With a nod of the head, he climbed in his truck and rode off into the sunset.

The homeowner accepted the estimate, but all did not go according to plan. Roofer #2 was crushed when the project fell behind and went over budget. The homeowner was not happy. Roofer #2 wanted to do right by his customer, but he did not fully understand the metal roofing sales process.

None of them lived happily ever after.

Moral: Roofer #2 at least put some effort into his sales process. He cared about his work and his customer. Unfortunately, though, he learned that a little caring and effort aren’t enough. A good estimate requires real research. For a roofer who cares about his customers and his end-product, the sales process determines whether or not a job is successful; both in terms of homeowner satisfaction and a roofing company’s profitability.

Roofer #3 Goes the Extra Mile

Roofer #3 was one of the most popular contractors in the land. When he wasn’t slaying ogres and restoring order to the kingdom, he was answering questions from homeowners, making sure his books were balanced, and taking care of his employees.

One day, Roofer #3 was looking up material costs on a manufacturer’s website when his phone rang.

“Hello. #3 Roofing,” he answered.

“Hi. I need a new metal roof,” said the homeowner. “I live at 425 Grandmother’s House Lane. Can you give me an estimate?”

“Sure, I’ll be over in an hour,” Roofer #3 replied.

Roofer #3 arrived at the homeowner’s house approximately 50 minutes after the call. He politely knocked on the door. When the homeowner saw him, she couldn’t believe her eyes. He wore a neatly-pressed workshirt with his company logo, clean work pants, and clean boots.

Roofer #3 was tired from protecting his kingdom all day, but he still put everything he had into the home inspection. It took him a few hours to inspect the home, including the old roof, and he asked the homeowner what she preferred in regards to her new roof’s aesthetics, longevity, durability, and eco-friendliness.

“Do you have an estimate for me?” she asked.

“Not yet. I need some time to give you an accurate estimate. But I’ll call you in two hours, unless you’d like me to call you in the morning,” Roofer #3 replied.

She agreed, and Roofer #3 rode all the way back to his office.

He spent an hour and 45 minutes painstakingly researching her home, material costs, labor costs, and every other factor regarding her project.

He called her in less than two hours and gave her the estimates for steel and aluminum, for galvalume and galvanized, told her the difference between brands, and answered her questions and concerns about the color of her roof and the required maintenance.

They spent another 45 minutes on the phone, but he described available warranty packages (on both installation and materials), and clearly demonstrated the value of his services.

By the end of that fabled day, Roofer #3 built a relationship with the homeowner. She trusted him because he was professional, because he went the extra mile by answering all of her questions, and because he put in the right amount of research for her new metal roof. She felt like he cared about doing a good job and she trusted him.

Time passed, and soon the sun set on the homeowner’s roofing project. It came to an end, as all things do. The project was finished on time and the estimate was accurate.

Songs of the roofer’s skill and nobility spread throughout the land, earning him audiences with many other homeowners.

This time, they lived happily ever after.

Moral: Roofer #3’s sales process included laborious research. He took the time to understand the homeowner’s concerns, preferences, and needs. He offered her a variety of solutions, and then did his research on each one. He never pulled a number out of thin air, so the project was successful and the homeowner was happy. A good estimate is the key to a good job.

Roofer #3 understood the metal roofing sales process. He knew how to demonstrate value by answering questions and keeping the homeowner’s desires in mind. He went the extra mile and proved his services were more valuable than his competitor’s.

After all, he showed up on time, delivered an accurate estimate, and paid attention to the details. He built a relationship during the sales process and earned his customer’s trust.

The next time you’re giving an estimate, or you’re in the middle of the sales process, ask yourself one question– are you behaving like Roofer #1, Roofer #2, or Roofer #3? In that answer lies the success of your roofing business.

~J.C.

The post Metal Roofing Sales Process – Making it Pitch Perfect appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

The 2015 South Florida Metal Roofing Conference takes place July 21st – 23rd in Miami, Florida. There, you will learn the best practices for installing metal roofing.

Adding another dimension to your roofing repertoire could be the missing piece you are looking for to grow your company and make more money.

The metal roofing business has boomed the past decade, into a $13 billion dollar industry. Come discover the many benefits of metal roofing and learn how easy it is to sell their benefits to your customers.

The Speakers

The three speakers for the summer conference will be Scott Siegal, CEO of Maggio Roofing and President of Certified Contractors Network, Marilyn MacFarlane, who has built three companies’ HR departments from the ground up, and Louis Rondeau, the national teaching training manager at RHEINZINK America.

Each speaker will be sharing their wealth of knowledge in the industry to help your company thrive.

Scott Siegal will be offering insight into the 7 keys you must have in place to guarantee your success. You do not want to miss that!

Hands-On Training

Not only will you receive the best training on metal roofing, but you’ll be able to get down and dirty with it to learn how you properly install it.

For you metal roofing newbies, these workshops are very small in size and you’ll receive one-on-one training with each instructor. So come rub elbows with some of the nation’s most successful contractors so you can put their secrets into practice.

~J.C.

The post Metal Roofing Made Easy appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

Here are five tips to help you get started.

Practice Makes Perfect

1. Safety – sharp metal roofs can cut you very easily. Wear gloves while installing at ALL times. Don’t work with metal roofs in high winds. If you must, work with your back toward the wind so a gust doesn’t throw you off the roof.
2. Trim – the trim is very important cosmetically. Trim also adds durability and provides resistance to the elements. The edge must be wrapped with flashing. Make sure the drip edge trim is installed along the line of the gutter. If the trim isn’t flush with the gutter, rain will simply flow onto the yard, making it a mess.
3. Fastener Installation – gone are the nails of yesterday. Screws are much stronger and last longer. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s specifics for spacing, and fasten screws to the flat part of the steel, not the rib. A general rule of thumb is to space the fastener screws twenty-four to thirty inches apart. That would mean skipping every other rib.
4. Know the manufacturer’s specifics – the worst mistake you can make is not reading the installation instructions. If something is installed incorrectly, the manufacturer’s warranty could be void.
5. Condensation – all metal roofing manufacturers require a layer of felt to prevent the buildup of condensation. It’s standard practice in metal roofing installation for the felt to be laid down first.

Ready, Set…Go

A properly installed metal roof will last forty to fifty years. I have heard stories of some contractors installing metal roofs over existing shingles. It can be done, but we do not recommend doing so, as it voids the manufacturer’s warranty immediately.

We all have to start somewhere when installing metal roofs. By following instructions carefully, being safe, and knowing the equipment you’re working with, installing metal roofs will become a breeze. Enjoy it!

~J.C.

The post 5 Tips for the Newbie in Metal Roofing appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

Come one, come all to the South Florida Metal Roofing Conference. This is sure to be a metal roof learning opportunity you won’t want to miss. You’ll have a chance to pick the brains of many successful roofing contractors who specialize in metal roofing installation.

If you happened to miss our January conference, make sure you join us for this one! We had such a great time and learned so much that we knew it was a good idea to host another conference. You can never learn too much from these events!

The conference is set to take place: July 21st-23rd in beautiful Miami, Florida.

Beaches, sun, food, man-tools… does it get any better?

Ever wonder if other contractors share your same growing-pains? Well, now’s your chance to be a mingler amongst other “shinglers”.

Metal roofing has become more and more popular with many contractors. At the conference, you will have every opportunity to have hands-on-training and one-on-one interaction with metal roofing professionals that can offer insight and advice for all your roofing concerns.

Be sure to reserve your spot today, spots are filling up fast. For more information on the agenda and to reserve your spot, click here.

We Have Something for Everyone!

New or old, (no, we didn’t call you old!) your metal roofing knowledge is never maxed-out! There is something for all roofing levels at this conference!

New to metal roofing installation? We’ve got you covered! Before the conference, take this opportunity to download our free guide on selling more metal roofing jobs. You’ll be glad you did.

~J.C.

The post New to Metal Roofing Installation? You Don’t Want to Miss This! appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

Beyond the environmental impact, have you ever thought about your human capital? Your employees and yourself are the ones to carry every single one of those 5,400 pounds. There must be an easier, if not lighter, way!

The Weight of an Injury

CPWR.com reports that the largest complaint among construction workers is back pain. In fact, the Department of Labor research says the average number of days missed because of injuries in the construction industry is twelve – nearly two full weeks per injury.

As a contractor and a business owner, you’re already aware that accidents and injuries can cost your company a lot of money!

There is one way to get around the very heavy load: Metal Roofing Installation!

A metal roof, of the same size, weighs half as much as a traditional asphalt roof. This means that you can design with lighter weight materials! And, save your back in the process! It’s a win/win!

Another benefit of a metal roof is that it’s made of recycled materials and is 100% recyclable at the end of it’s life.

I should also mention that metal roofs last 200-300% longer than traditional roofs, which need to be replaced every 15-25 years.

Lighten Your Load

Not only is a metal roof more earth friendly and lighter weight, it will probably outlive us all!

For more information on the benefits of offering metal roofing installation, download our free report: 7 Tips for Selling Metal Roofing.

Metal roof installation may not solve all your problems, but it will take a load off your back!

~J.C.

The post Save Your Back with Metal Roofing Installation appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

Ahh, the dog days of summer where baseball rules the calendar and you’re busy hustling and bustling with all your roofing projects. Our theme for this conference celebrates America’s pastime: baseball.

If your year is going well, that’s fantastic. We want to help you make it even better! Our three day conference is centered on showing you how to increase your sales and profits through metal roofing training.

The metal roofing business has grown into a $13 billion dollar industry. Come get your piece of the pie! At July’s conference you will be given the tools and tricks to make your roofing business flourish that much more.

Hands-on Training & More, but You’ll Have to Attend to Find Out!

Bring your entire crew! Over the three days we will have roofing training seminars focused on marketing, sales, human resources, ethics, and productions.

We will also take your installation crew and offer hands-on-training on how to properly install metal roofing.

The classes are small enough so you receive the best roofing training insights in the business. You’ll also be able to meet and share ideas with other roofing contractors and rub elbows with other successful minds in the business.

Even if you’re an experienced metal roofer, come polish your skills and learn some new tricks of the trade.

A Little Taste of What You Missed

As always, our conferences are fun, engaging, informative, and beneficial. Here’s a few photos from January’s conference.

We hope to see you at our next roofing training event this summer! Click below to register and hit a grand slam with your roofing business!

~J.C.

The post A Rendezvous of Roofers & The Best Training Around appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

Gathering together as contractors, as business owners, as roofers, we always have a whole lot in common with each other, and we know how to have fun together. But, our main goal is to make sure that everyone who attends, walks away receiving valuable information that they can implement within their own businesses.

We Can Learn A Lot From One Another

We actually took the time to interview every single person in attendance about their experience at the conference. By far, the best feedback we’ve received was for the hands-on-training days themselves.

Of course, people loved the overall experience, but days two and three of the conference were spent getting our hands dirty. Gotta love it! Here’s a recap of what we covered!

Day Two

On the second day we covered:

• Roof layout and preparation
• Eave edge detailing
• Rake edge/ Roof to Wall detailing
• Soldering
• Q & A

And then, we came back for a third day!

Day Three

On our last day together, we finished up with:

• Even more soldering
• Cross Seam Detailing
• Pipe flashings

Then, we reviewed everything we went over and spent some time answering questions.

We noticed that both business owners and their installers attended the hands-on-training sessions. Some had never touched metal roofing before and were learning to install it for the very first time. By the end of the last day, they had a new found confidence in their metal roofing skills.

Planning for 2016

It’s great to learn new things and add value to your business at the same time. We feel grateful that we can be a source of support for you and your business in this way. We love this part of our job.

If you are interested in attending next years conference, visit our website. We are already throwing around theme ideas, but I can’t give that secret out just yet!

~J.C.

The post South Florida Metal Roofing Conference: The Key Takeaway! appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

For three days, we raffled off prizes, hired a DJ for break times, gave goodie bags to our VIP clients, (all while learning a lot as well) and everyone seemed to have a great time!

In all, we had about 80 people attend the first day of discussions which focused on marketing training. For days two and three, the hands on training sessions, we had about 25 people. It was awesome!

A Huge Thank You To Our Sponsors

Our fantastic sponsors really helped us take this conference to the next level! Triangle Fastener Corporation, Furman Insurance, Certified Contractors Network, G4 Marketing Group, Peterson Aluminum, Tarco Roofing, and ABC Supply: You guys rock! Thank you!

A Panel of Experts

And while we are thanking people, our expert panel has received rave reviews.

Frank Istueta of the wildly successful Istueta Roofing right here in Miami, Florida, led the group. Scott Siegal, the CEO of Maggio Roofing and President of Certified Contractors Network, added invaluable expertise. Alex Tejera, the Roofing Product Control Examiner for Miami (Dade County) brought tons of knowledge to the discussion. And, Bryan Kaskavalciyan, President of G4 Marketing, had great insights on the marketing end of any contracting business.

These guys did an awesome job getting everyone engaged and involved with every session, which really added to the experience! With such a wide variety of knowledge, there was great dialogue centered on so many aspects of implementing metal roofing into a business model, practical applications of metal roofing, marketing, and running a contracting business.

Don’t Miss The Next One – Reserve Your Spot for Next Year!

This conference was such a success that we already have people signing up for next years round! And we are already making big plans for it! For more information and to make a reservation, visit our website!
~J.C.

The post The South Florida Metal Roofing Conference was a Knockout! appeared first on Metal Master Shop.