Metal En Vogue: From the Top Down
by Lori Williams
In the North American residential marketplace, metal roofs are very much in style. The popular material allows for flexible, functional design and affords great curb appeal with many bold color choices. Add in sustained value, durability in nature’s worst conditions, and energy-efficient performance, and it’s a great fashion statement for a long-term investment.
In the Wood River Valley, no one knows roofing and metal trends better than Miley Roofing, a company that has been capping custom homes for well over 30 years, providing excellence in service and craftsmanship. They continue to team up with Drexel Metals, as certified contractors, installing Drexel’s “Metal Roofing on Demand” business model, which allows for localized fabrication. “Metal has become a popular building product because of its low maintenance and longevity,” says Troy Quesnel, Project Manager for Miley Roofing. “We’re getting asked to use metal in new and unique ways. With our skilled craftsmen, state-of-the-art equipment, and high-quality product suppliers like Drexel, we’re able to help turn those design concepts into a workable reality for the customer.” More and more, customers are looking to use metal for cost-effective ways where they may have used painted wood or cedar in the past.
With the evolution of product, technology, and even creative craftsmanship within their own team, Miley Roofing has also seen a shift in their business model. Quesnel explains, “Because of our experience in the industry, we are brought in as a valuable trade partner early on in the design and conceptual phase of projects. We can help guide decisions on desired outcomes and address potential issues in design layout early on, such as metal’s tendency to “oilcan”—a wavy appearance as a result of the diurnal cycle of heating and cooling.” Now, with more and more innovative and cost-effective uses of metal and creative applications beyond roofing, Miley Roofing has found themselves operating their own sheet metal fabrication shop.
“We’re getting asked to use metal in new and unique ways. With our skilled craftsmen, state-of-the-art equipment, and high-quality product suppliers like Drexel, we’re able to help turn those design concepts into a workable reality for the customer.”
–Troy Quesnel, Project Manager, Miley Roofing
Drexel’s high-quality raw goods provide material for a multitude of uses for home projects, in part for metal’s ability to mimic other construction materials and for the additional durability. Miley Roofing fabricates the majority of their products in-house from Drexel’s coils or sheet goods, which are shipped directly to the jobsite. “We use their coils for standing seam metal roofs as well as siding panels,” says Quesnel. “Flat sheets are used for accessory pieces like fascia, gutters, or other custom profiles, resulting in very little waste. I often work closely with the designers and the build team to come up with these profiles specific to the job. We have several different crews that specialize in different types of metal work and then we also use these same products to build custom chimney shrouds or interior range hood covers.”
Metal fabrication technology keeps advancing with the likes of Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) bending machines where profiles are programmed in and the machine bends them into different shapes. On-site roll formers cut custom lengths and shapes from coils for roofing panel application. They can bend drip edges, fascia, and valley pieces right in their shop. “Having our own state-of-the-art sheet metal fabrication shop is incredibly advantageous for the custom nature of the projects we do in the Valley,” says Quesnel. “We are able to custom-fabricate the pieces specific to their intended uses on the jobs. For a lot of our contractors, we are doing a Drexel’s black standing seam roof with black fascia, and a drip edge or base flashing that coordinates with the same color throughout the structure.”
Using the latest paint technology, Drexel produces very specific colors that are in high demand, especially here in the Valley, but they can match everything from colors of rocks to the color of your car. “Drexel’s paint system produces consistent paint colors from batch to batch,” says Quesnel. “Customers also like Drexel’s low-sheen/low-gloss product, which is desirable for roofs because they’re not as shiny and don’t reflect back as much light.”
“Training and certifying contractors is key to offering our strong warranty, which is fully transferable. This adds value to the home. Thirty-five years is a long time, and while contractors may retire or change careers, Drexel Metals will still be here and will stand behind that warranty.”
–Ken McLauchlan, Drexel Metals
With a Drexel Metal Roof installed by Miley Roofing, Drexel Metals fully warranties the product for 35 years, covering full replacement, panels, base layers, painting, and labor. Says Ken McLauchlan of Drexel Metals, “Training and certifying contractors is key to offering our strong warranty, which is fully transferable. This adds value to the home. Thirty-five years is a long time, and while contractors may retire or change careers, Drexel Metals will still be here and will stand behind that warranty.”
At Miley Roofing one can also find resources for installs on other types of materials for new or replacement roofs, seamless copper rain gutters, fabricated sheet metal, custom fireplace caps, waterproof exterior cladding, and metal siding.
“Our team is passionate about their work, and really enjoy a challenge,” says Quesnel. “We’re on the job because the client knows we can make the details work, with amazing finished results.” Miley Roofing has again won the award for best roofer in the Wood River Valley, which considers service, communications, fair business practices, and commitment to customers.
