Recla Metals Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost and life span of RCM compare to other roofing materials?
| Roof Type | Price per square (100 SF) | Average Life Span | Average Cost/Year for 1 Square |
|---|---|---|---|
Recla Metals Rusty Corrugated |
$140 - $200 | 40 – 60 years | $3.40 |
Wood Shingles and Shakes |
$140 - $240 | 25 – 75 years | $3.80 |
Asphalt Shingles |
$50 - $150 | 12 – 25 years | $5.41 |
Concrete Tile |
$250 - $300 | 30 – 50 years | $6.88 |
Clay Tile |
$300 - $600 | 50 years | $9.00 |
Slate |
$550 - $1000 | 50 – 100 years | $10.33 |
Fiber Cement (humid environs) |
$500 | 20 – 30 years | $20.00 |
Is it harder to install than other types of roofing? – Not at all. In fact, metal roofs are easier to install than some other roofing materials.
Are metal roofs louder than other roofs? – No, these panels are installed over a solid substrate and are no louder than other materials.
Can a RCM roof be installed over an existing roof? Many times the answer is yes, but it will depend on your local building code requirements and the condition of your current roof substrate.
Can we order special lengths of material? – Yes. We keep stock lengths of material, but we can cut to any length. This adds some lead time for most orders.
Is there a warranty? There are no warranties for products made from Bare Cold Rolled Steel.
What do I have to do to get the roofing to rust? This material will rust on its own if left exposed to the weather. Getting the material wet will increase the speed at which it rusts.
Will the rust stain the surrounding areas? Yes, rust run-off will likely stain porous surfaces in the surrounding areas during the initial rusting process. This decreases substantially as the panels form the protective coating.
Will the panel continue to rust? The RCM panels never completely stop rusting. The weathering process occurs after the panels are installed, but eventually that decreases and from that point on the finish acts as a protective coating for the base metal. This protective coating essentially stops the corrosion down to a negligible amount.
Does it come pre-rusted? No. In order to ensure even rusting and to present a consistent appearance throughout the rusting process our panels are not shipped pre-rusted. There may be some minor rusting on panels we ship, but we do not carry fully rusted panels.
What about color matching the screws? We carry screws in a custom painted color designed to match the finish color of the rust. These are available in a number of sizes and lengths. We also carry screws to match the Weathercoat.
Is trim and flashing available? Trim is available in 22 and 24 gauge that will rust to match the panels. We can also fabricate trim to match our Weathercoat which is a pre-weathered galvanized 24 gauge. Also 48" X 120" flat stock is available in the 22 and 24 gauge cold-rolled steel and 24 gauge galvanized. We have standard flashing details, but we can fabricate almost any custom piece, all we need is a drawing.