November 2, 2009 | Filed under: Company Info

A lot of people wonder what to expect out of an appointment to look at a metal roof for their home. Well, I can’t tell you what anyone else does, but here’s what an appointment with me typically goes like:

First I would like to sit down with you and talk about your home and your roof. If you are married I would much prefer to have both of you there but I can be flexible about it. I’ll ask you about your current roof, how old it is, what kind of trouble you’re seeing with it, and anything else you know about when and how it was put on. I’ll have questions about the ventilation in your attic (or vaulted ceiling if there is no attic). I’ll leave you with a fairly large photo album of our work while I go out and measure. If you’d like to measure with me, that’s fine too.

I usually try to measure from the ground, for both safety and liability reasons. I have very accurate mathematical formulas to calculate roof areas using ground measurements and roof pitches. Once I have measured, I’ll sit down with you again and just figure up the basic square footage of the roof.

Once we know that, we can begin to talk about your options. Are you considering an asphalt shingle roof as one alternative? I can give you a ballpark idea of what to expect in an asphalt roof price (although we don’t install those). I would also like to talk to you about the pros and cons of asphalt shingles. You already know most of them. Some might surprise you.

I might ask you what other options you are considering for your roof. I’d like to share with you the pros and cons of each option, along with a basic ballpark range of what that option might cost on your home.

I can then give you some ballpark ideas about metal roof pricing, and we can talk about the differences between various metal roof systems. There are a lot of choices on the market, and it can be overwhelming. I will try to keep things simple and not waste your time talking about things you are not even considering (I will not, for example, spend a lot of time talking about copper roof systems if you have no interest in copper).

Beyond that I will answer any questions you may have about your roof (any difficult areas, or things you want changed) or metal roofing, or roofing in general. I’ve been in this business for over 16 years now and I don’t claim to know it all but it’s rare that I get a question I haven’t heard before. If I don’t know the answer, I will tell you that but get it for you.

Once you have honed in on the profile, style, and options that you really want for your home, I will work up an estimate. Usually I can do that right there in about 10 minutes. Sometimes I’ll have to take it back to the office and work it up.

In either case I’ll want you to understand the warranty we offer, the terms we ask, the schedule we’re on, and any other special circumstances relative to your situation.

Before I leave I’d like to have a clear understanding of your decision process. Maybe you’ve already decided that this roof isn’t for you, and that’s fine. But if you’re not sure yet, I’d like to have a common understanding of what you would like to do next and when we’re going to hear from each other. I will leave you with a card, brochures, and a list of addresses where we have completed roofs for you to see, and past customers of mine for you to talk to.

How long does an appointment last? I’ve had them run anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on questions and discussion. About 90 minutes is typical. I know you want to learn important facts about metal roofing to make a smart choice. I hope to end your roofing worries forever and add beauty and value to your home.