Anyone have experience with KasselShakes?

[kwschumm]

We're building a new house and are looking for a steel roof. I ran across some real nice looking steel shingles and am wondering if anyone here has any experience with this company (Kassel & Irons) or the KasselShake products. Thanks in advance. Here's a link:

https://www.kasselandirons.com/roofing-products/kasselshake-steel-shingles/

 

[tomroblee]

My wife's cousin used a similar product (it's been about 20 years ago, and I don't recall the brand.) It has held up well. The only negative comments I recall was that it was relatively expensive. As I recall, it was very time consuming to install. The installer was very experienced, but this was his first time using this type of material.

 

[calif phil]

Those look great. Any idea on the cost ?

 

[kwschumm]

Those look great. Any idea on the cost ?

I'm waiting for a price quote, will report back here.

 

[kwschumm]

I'm waiting for a price quote, will report back here.

Rep told me they were $825-900/square. Probably not in the budget for me.

 

[HWgeek]

Had the Kassel and Irons product (shingles version, versus shakes) put on our roof (about 4600 sq ft). LOVE IT. Went with the new cedar color. On a bright sunny summer day it has that new cedar color. Just awesome. Snow slides right off.
Warranty is NON-prorated. That is worth a lot.
We didn't want to do another roof job in our lives so looked at quality rather than cost.
Multiple valleys and details on the roof line, had to make sure we found someone who knew how to work and install metal.

The overall cost vs. a quality high end roof (350lb/sq range) was 20% higher. Well worth it.

Shakes vs shingles. The shakes are HUGE. If you don't have enough roof, or design style to support it, go with the shingles. They are about 40% bigger than shingles afaik, and look correct on our house.
We did three recommendations to friends etc, and they all went with the product. One had an A-Frame and went with the shakes, they look great on the A-frame.

Some notes about asphalt roofing:

I spent about 8-9 months researching roofing. It isn't all the same. Your budget shingle (or any shingle) from the big box stores (HD, Lowes etc.) isn't the same as a quality shingle. The key is the weight of the shingle. More weight is more material.
Also architectural shingles are a style not a "better" shingle.
Asphalt shingles use the tar waste from the refining process. there is less tar waste than in decades past. (better fuel refining) So more filler in shingles now than in your granddads time.
Watch those warranties, they are prorated, some pretty steeply. Lots of caveats.

The installer is just as important to research. We found one guy who makes his living with K&I product. Knows it inside and out. Worked out really well.

Feel free to PM for more details, just a very satisfied customer!

 

[kwschumm]

Thanks for the info! I hadn't considered the shingle vs. shake size. We are planning a 3500sf two story house with 12/12 roof and a 1500 sf shop with similar roof. Not small but not huge. Plans are not finalized so not sure of the exact roof size yet. If you don't mind, how much did you pay per square installed?

There is one certified installer in my area. I guess we can get a quote and see vs. conventional roofing. I was thinking of a high end asphalt shingle instead, maybe up to $200/square for material. That is far less than the $825+/square I was told the KasselShakes cost. In your research what did you think was the best brand/type of asphalt/fiberglass shingle?

Thanks again for the great info!

 

[HWgeek]

Although right now I don't have the sq ft of the house, (I think the roof was 4200sq but have to double check) I did dig up our price quotes from 2012 (that far back, wow!!)
Certainteed Landmark Premium (300lb/sq) $24,800
Kassel & Irons Kasselwood $28,200
Kasselshakes w/thermobond sand type finish $33,400

Those were from the same contractor with same/similar under work (ice and water shield, how the valleys were to be finished etc.)

K&I also have/had very nice competent technical support that helped answer any detailed questions. (We tend to dig in a lot on the details).

A friend had his raised ranch done with addition, makes its a L that's huge, basically the footprint is 2800 sq ft of floor space. Standard ranch roof pitch. He needed some roof repair work, also added in underlayment heat to certain sections he knew he had problems with in the winter. He paid $36,700 and mentioned that the pricing was comparable to higher end shingles. Like us he liked the idea of no snow on the roof, no prorating and shingles deteriorating etc.

Best advice for asphalt shingles is do a lot of research.
Check out the pro-rated warranties, the loopholes on how they get out of paying (there is a line where the nails have to go, if the are not on the line, warranty may/can be considered void).
How steep and fast is the prorating.
What materials is the shingle made out of, how much is the square weight.
Of course can your roof support a heavier shingle?

Your house is in the same ballpark as mine I'm working up plans for a detached garage and plan on of course! the same roof material.

The only two downsides - don't put too many snow brakes on the roof. those little things easily hold snow. We ended up having to take a bunch out so the snow would finally come off.
Multiple feed valleys and choke points need to be considered carefully. If you get snow make sure you aren't causing congestion to hold the snow in place. We have a detail of a window that we should have pulled, but it gives the house part of its character. And we have a gambrel dormer that with the roof line above it, feed to a valley, thats a lot of snow to clear through. Most of the time it clears, once in a while (due to poor heat ducting in the attic in the same area) I have to get a roof rake out and clear it.

 

[kwschumm]

HWGeek, thanks a bunch for this good information! If it's a third more than a premium asphalt shingle then we could probably swing it.

We usually get maybe 6" of snow at a time and it disappears in a few days. Some years none at all, other years more, but I've never seen more than a foot or so on the ground.

Our drawings should be done in a couple of weeks and we can then start getting bids. I'll post back with how it works out.

Thanks again!