Metal Tile Panel Roofing:
A Popular Alternative for Hotel Properties
Terry Holman,
Posted
08/01/2008
The look of
Spanish or Mission tile roofing is popular for hotels and motels
across the country. But the substantial weight of clay and concrete
tiles and the construction costs associated with these heavy
materials make them impractical for many properties. This explains
the growing popularity of metal tile facsimile, or "tile panel"
roofing.
This category of roofing consists of steel or aluminum panels that
replicate the look of real tile. They satisfy the demand for
tile-roof aesthetics while also offering the well-documented
benefits of metal roofing, including light weight, low maintenance,
good energy performance, durability, fire resistance, wind and
weather protection, recyclability and multiple color choices.
Metal tile panels weigh as little as 125 pounds (56 kg) per square,
just one-tenth the weight of real tile. As a result, they can go
where no tiles have gone before-on structures that are not designed
to bear the weight of traditional tile. Hotel applications
include:
New construction. A lighter roof allows for a lighter building.
Walls, framing and other substructure costs can be significantly
reduced when you design a property with metal tile panel roofing.
In the 1990s, the in-house design department at La Quinta Inn &
Suites did a cost analysis and found that metal tile panels could
deliver the desired Mission-style aesthetics at a much lower cost
than concrete tile because of its reduced substructure
requirements. Since that time, La Quinta has used metal tile roofs
on hundreds of properties.
Historic construction and restoration. Although they are made of
sheet metal, tile panels can look surprisingly authentic. As a
result, even historic properties can enjoy their benefits. A case
in point is the AmeriSuites Fort Worth Stockyards hotel, located in
the heart of the area's National Historic District. The hotel's
design was subject to architectural approval from a historical
preservation committee. The developer, TEKMAK Development Co.,
Dallas, also wanted a roofing product that would be cost-effective
and highly resistant to wind and hail.
According to the
developer: "The Met-Tile roofing product we chose was a welcome
answer to all of our concerns. The roofing material replicates the
Mission tile design we sought and, being a metal roof, satisfied
our concerns in regards to potential weather-related maintenance
issues. Once we showed the product to the various city and
historical oversight groups, we had no problems getting the
required approvals." He notes that by eliminating a solid roof deck
and applying the panels directly over open purlins, the design team
also achieved considerable material and labor savings.
Reroofing (pitched roofs). Existing properties with composition
shingle roofs can be easily upgraded to the look of tile without
weight concerns. In many cases, tile panels can be applied directly
over the old roof with no need for tear off.
Retrofitting flat
roof properties with pitched roofs. When a property with a flat
roof is being refurbished, some hoteliers opt for metal tile panels
to improve appearance and reduce or eliminate the maintenance and
leakage problems associated with flat roofs. To accomplish this,
pitched trusses are built over the existing roof and the tile
panels are applied over the new substructure. Compared to concrete
tile, metal tile panels require only about half the truss support
and may eliminate the need for plywood decking- resulting in
substantial cost savings.
This was the approach used when an old and very dated motel complex
in Redlands, Calif., underwent a complete renovation before
reopening as a Dynasty Suites property. Owner Anil Patel and
project designer Thomas R. Webb of Riverside, Calif., elected to
build the existing fl at roof design up to a relatively steep pitch
and replace the old roof with 13,500 square feet (1,254 m2) of
metal tile panels. The new roof plays a dramatic role in
transforming the appearance of the property. Real tile would have
been too heavy for the structure, but lightweight tile panels
offered a viable solution.
Decorative
applications. On properties with flat roofs, tile panels are
sometimes used as decorative accents-for example, to create fascias
or canopies over hotel entrances, restaurant areas, carports, etc.
Some manufacturers offer Spanish-style ridge and hip accessories
that further add to the decorative tile-like appearance.
Golf resorts. Roof tile breakage caused by errant golf balls is a
well-known headache to owners and managers of properties with
adjacent golf courses. Metal roofing's inherent impact resistance
makes it a practical choice, as the panels will stand up not only
to golfball-sized hail but actual golf balls. The worst case
scenario might be some minor denting of panels, but this is
generally not noticeable or detrimental to roof performance.
Metal tile panel products vary, so be sure to look at the panel
material, weight, dimensions and method of application before
making a final decision. Ask for verification of wind resistance,
hail resistance and cool roof performance: These characteristics,
too, may vary markedly from system to system.
Terry Holman is president of Met-Tile Inc., Ontario, Calif. Visit
www.met-tile.com for details.
www.met-tile.com