A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF TIN ROOFS

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And to add a final trio of tin-roof routings, the large metal "shingles" are easy to install, go on quickly, and—when compared with many other roofing materials over the long haul—are generally inexpensive.

EVALUATING ANEXISTING ROOF

OK, let's say you decide that buying a house with a metal roof just might provide you with a shortcut to the country. You'll still want your new home to be topped with a healthy slab of sheeting, and you'll need to know the signs that provide clues to the condition of your prospective home's "hat".

Of course, the logical starting place is to determine the type of metal the roof is made of, and you can usually do that with just an exterior appraisal. Steel roofs—when rusty—have a reddish color. Copper oxidizes to a light green. Aluminum changes hues according to the degree of oxidation, but progressing from white to gray to black.

When you've determined the type of material used for the roof, take a look from a distance to see if there's bulging or buckling anywhere. If there is, chances are that the structure has been poorly constructed or that leaks have rotted some of the bracing or framing. If this is the case, I'd advise extreme caution . . . you could be talking about extensive—and expensive — repairs.

Try to find a way to climb up onto the roof for a bird's-eye view. Since metal roofing is laid on in large sheets, pay special attention to the seams. Also, look closely at the ridge and around the chimney (where it disappears into the roof). These are the places where you're most likely to spot signs of leaking. Are there a lot of poppedup nails or an abundance of roofing-tar patches? Again, these may indicate that the roof leaks, or has leaked in the past.

Check to see if flashings (metal "gaskets" used to direct water away from critical areas) have been installed where they should be: around chimneys and stovepipes, along eaves and hips, and in the valleys. If there's no flashing, you'll want to correct that problem right away should you buy the house.

Now go inside the building, scamper up into the attic, and—with a flashlight—peer into the dark corners. Look everywhere for signs of water damage, especially around the top of the chimney or stovepipe. And while you're up there with the dust and spiders, try to spy out the top plates of the wall studs to determine how sound they are. If they're badly rotted, it could indicate a pervasive condition in the hidden stud walls. (If a house has this problem, I'd forget about trying to make it your home.)

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