This article reprinted from Western Roofing magazine May/June 2007.

Cool Metal

Shell Harbor’s Cool Metal Roofs on 19 Homes in Port Hueneme, Calif.

by Sonia M. Nassery, Creative Connection

When JM Development, Santa Barbara, Calif., acquired Shell Harbor, a development of 19 homes in Port Hueneme, Calif., the company also acquired a newfound interest in metal roofing. Topping many of the Shell Harbor designs are graceful, curved metal roofs, which create a unique profile for the community. The standing seam roof panels were fabricated by Custom-Bilt Metals.

“It was unusual for us,” said Matt Woodruff, vice president of operations for the JM Development, which also served as general contractor on the project. “I don’t think we’ve ever done a residential project with a metal roof before.”

Installed by Inline Sheet Metal Inc. of Newbury Park, Calif., the 19 Shell Harbor roofs feature Custom-Bilt’s TITAN® Cool Roof finish in a silver metallic color. In addition to their visual appeal, the metal roofs also offer a variety of other advantages, most notably the potential to save homeowners significant amounts of energy.

Like all Custom-Bilt Kynar® 500-finished roofing products, the TITAN Cool Roof finish is a high infrared-reflective coating that is Energy Star®-qualified and California Title 24-recognized, explained Tony Chiovare, president of Custom-Bilt Metals. “Field tests by independent laboratories have shown the TITAN Cool Roof finish can save homeowners up to 20% on their cooling bills,” Chiovare said.

JM was initially attracted by the community’s location, just a quarter-mile from the ocean, and by its urban, pedestrian-oriented architecture. The company quickly recognized that the distinctive standing-seam metal roof designs were an integral part of the community’s signature.

Designed by William Hezmalhalch Architects Inc., Santa Ana, Calif., Shell Harbor presents a contemporary, urban appearance, with small-lot architecture that Woodruff describes as “more vertical than horizontal.” The striking curved rooflines accentuate the look, and home buyers have reacted positively.

“Certainly from a visual standpoint it is definitely in keeping with the architecture and provides a very modern look to the building,” Woodruff said. Woodruff added that the design and color are unusual for Southern California, where “the typical residential buyer is used to seeing variations on clay tile, or concrete tile, or asphalt shingles that mimic wood shake roofs.”

In addition to their aesthetic appeal and long-term energy savings, the standing seam metal roofs also offer additional advantages to homebuyers, Woodruff added. “There are a number of reasons you might go toward a metal roof, the number one reason being long-term durability,” he said. “It’s generally perceived by those familiar with the roof as a high quality, durable product… I think once buyers understood what the product was they were pleased that they had it.”

Chiovare pointed out that metal roofs are also Class “A” fire rated, and are extremely lightweight, both important advantages in fire- and earthquake-prone California. “The unique aesthetic appeal, combined with the durability, energy efficiency, and long-term cost and maintenance savings, make this community an ideal showcase for the advantages of cool metal roofing,” he concluded. •••