When roofing your house, consider using a metal roof. Available in a variety of colors and styles, metal roofing is made of recycled materials and can be recycled itself, saving space in landfills. Considered a lifetime roof, a metal roof lasts four to five times longer than asphalt. And it performs better in fire, snow loads, hail, and high winds.

Metal roofing has long been associated with agricultural and industrial buildings; but these days, new sytems designed for residential use are becoming enormously popular. These standing-seam steel shingles are coated to resist corrosion and can withstand high winds, rain, snow, and ice. Installation is easy, and there is no welding involved; you just attach them to the roof with metal clips and screws.

Kevin Corcoran from Englert Roofing systems explains to Bob benefits of the company�s environmentally friendly (56 percent recycled material), maintenance free, metal roofing product. The product applied to the project house is made of carbonized steel and carries a 50-year warranty. The exterior is bonded with aluminum and zinc then coated with a layer of acrylic. The cost is generally less than stone or tile roofs, but higher than standard shingles. Mike Worsky and Jeff Smith from Al Smith Gutters demonstrate the metal cutting and crimping machinery brought to the job site. The portable roll former transforms a flat roll of steel to the standing seam panel in the proportion on the job site. Metal roofing is now being widely distributed across the US especially in areas where wildfires are an issue as metal roofs are much harder to light and may protect your home.

Bob meets with the President of the Metal Roofing Alliance and demonstrates installation of metal roofing panels.

The crew is on the new roof deck to apply a rubber roofing material. A thin layer if adheasive is applied and allowed to set up before the the rubber is rolled into place. Bob also deiscusses the flashing rubber that will be installed around the raliing posts.

Kevin Benjer in on hand to demonstrate the correct way to apply asphalt roofing shingles and a ridge vent. Chaulk lines are drawn to ensure proper alignment and then each course of shingles are added. The ridge vent is installed last and help provide ventilation to the attic.

Bob checks in on the Habitat for Humanity Blitz project in Yonkers, New York. He talks with Deane Evans of the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) about the photovoltaic roof shingles. This new product from United Solar Systems, called the Solar Shingle, protects the house from the weather and generates electricity at the same time. Ren Anderson from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows Bob how to nail the solar shingles on the roof just like conventional three-tab roofing. In this project, eight solar shingles are blended into the conventional fiberglass shingles to provide about 120 watts for charging battery-operated tools and toys in the shed below. Energy storage is provided by a 120 amp/hour battery. Ren hooks up the wires leading from the shingles to the other system components, which include a fuse, voltage regulator, and an inverter (which converts the direct current from the shingles into an alternating current that can be used by typical household appliances).

Bob Fulmer from Harraseeket Restoration, Inc. joins Bob on the roof of the breezeway to install a double-lock standing seam copper roof. Before installing the copper, a plywood deck is applied, followed by a layer of bituthene for moisture resistance and then a resin paper slip sheet. The resin paper helps absorb the condensation generated on the back side of the copper panels by temperature changes. Additionally it insulates the copper from touching asphalt-based underlayment or bituthene on which standing water creates a diluted form of sulphuric acid which will degrade the copper. The copper panels are brake-formed at the shop and brought on site ready to install. The panels are joined in a double-lock standing seam in a two-step process. First the male edge is locked over the top of the female seam. Then a second seamer completes the second lock producing a one inch high profile double-locked at the top which is rolled over into the finished standing seam using hand crimpers.. This 16-oz. standing seam copper roof should have a 75 year life expectancy. Proper application is critical. Lack of provisions for thermal expansion such as permanently attaching the copper to the roof will create stress in the panel and eventually cause material failure. Also fasteners should be from the copper family or electrolysis will set up.

Bob meets with general contractor Richard Marks and roofer Joe Wells to go over the proper installation techniques for a slate roof.

Bob and Cortney Lofton demonstrate the installation of man-made slate roof shingles. Bob discusses the composition of the shingle and the installation process.