A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF TIN ROOFS

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Galvanized steel: This is a wonderfully inexpensive roofing material that will last 60 years or more . . . if properly cared for. It's made of alloyed steel, with a protective coating of zinc. Galvanized steel is also highly rust--resistant.

Aluminum: The use of aluminum as a roofing metal is becoming increasingly popular, since it resists corrosion and requires little maintenance. Aluminum also tends to reflect heat better than steel, thus keeping a house cooler during the summer. Aluminum roofs will last about 35 years.

Copper: You won't see copper being used for roofing much these days, even though it's by far the longest-lasting of all roofing materials (many penny-metal lids have lasted hundreds of years and appear to have hundreds more left in them). Unfortunately, this material is not only quite expensive, but also difficult to obtain.

PROS AND CONS:A GENERIC VIEW

Is a metal roof— any metal roof—worth considering if you're shopping for a home . . . or if, perhaps, you're in need of a new top for the old shanty? It's hard to say—flat out—either yes or no. But, in hopes of helping you make the choice that's best for you, I've compiled a list of tin-roof characteristics . . . both good and bad. First, let's take a look at the bad news:

To provide protection against lightning, you'll need to spend a few bucks to rig a proper grounding arrangement. What's more, in seacoast areas where the air is laden with corrosive salt, a metal roof's life span may be fairly short. Similarly, polluted air in industrial areas makes tin topping less enduring than nonmetallic roofing. And finally, metal roofs are noisy in the rain. (But what might be an "infernal racket" to one person could be a "comforting tap, tap, tap" to another.)

And now for the good news:
Metal roofs are durable (Monticello—Thomas Jefferson's Virginia home—still wears its original "tin" roof . . . and it's in fine shape to this day). And in areas that receive heavy snowfalls, such lids—with their slick, low-friction surfaces—shed the white stuff so quickly that it rarely has a chance to build up to weighty depths.

Most roofing metals are also tough enough to resist damage from hail and falling tree limbs. Moreover, since metal doesn't burn, it's especially appropriate for houses with stovepipes and chimneys . . . a comforting thought when you live far from the nearest fire station.

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