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The Art of Metal Roofing: The Old World Style of Pennsylvania Roofers

Larry Clark’s metal roof has an art form. The owner of C&L roofing and sheet metal in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is known for its Old World style manufacturing.
The journey to grow your own business segment includes working for a roofing company that has installed slate, metal, ceramic tiles and ribbon roofs. After working there for more than ten years, he began to look for HVAC industry. There, he fine-tuned his manufacturing skills. “I learned a lot about layout shapes and forming metals through heating and air conditioning,” Clark said.
He and a childhood neighbor with roofing experience will eventually join forces to form C&L Roofing&Sheet Metal; Clark is “C” and his partner Lupole is “L”.
Success soon came. In a field that has become accustomed to metal roofing, especially the original hand-formed vertical seams, work soon came. Clark said: “Until a hailstorm about 10 years ago, we still had many roofs in the area.”
Fortunately, when they started competing, it was not a big problem. He said: “Because of our rich experience and the original roofing company we served closed down due to the owner’s retirement, it is easy to go to work.”
Their work is refurbished and refurbished around custom projects. They can also handle painted metals, and perform well in slate and copper roof installations, and have custom decorations such as custom cupolas, radial roofs, towers, aluminum grids, and more.
After nine years in his own business, Clark bought a partner’s shares and started working alone. Although he did hire some employees, the arrival of the Marcellus shale gas industry in Pennsylvania increased wages and made recruitment a difficult problem. He began to realize that one person can accomplish a lot of work with the right equipment.
He recalled: “The first house took 36 days to complete with me and an assistant, while the second house took 24 days to complete by myself.” “I found that I could continue to work with two or three people. And there are people who are dragging 50 feet behind.” He traded for NiftyLift SD 50 earlier this year.
What sets Clark apart is his affinity for the types of metals that many roofers try to avoid. He said: “Most people don’t like to use copper, stainless steel and galvanized, but I prefer.” Unpainted metal allows Clark to make more. He added: “With these non-coated metals, I can weld many details.”
To complete a job, he made a saddle out of stainless steel and installed it around a huge chimney located in the middle of a painted, vertical seam roof. With stainless steel, he can weld all seams and corners. “The customer has no problem with this. The stainless steel reflects the color of the roof and is almost invisible. When I told him it was stainless steel, he thanked me. He got the upgrade, and I don’t have to worry about caulking, so I can rest assured. Here, I have torn away a lot of joint filler and roof cement, and replaced the details with welded stainless steel or copper,” he said.
Another case he recalled was the renovation of two cottages/houses with three generations in the owner’s home. “I was asked to install upright seamed metal roofs… They were all on corrugated aluminum panels and they did a good job, but the nails refused to stay on the wood,” Clark said. “The owner wants to wear clothes like this that can last for generations.”
The initial offer was for the painted metal roof of No. 24, but the price of copper has fallen, so the price of copper has also been considered. Copper was selected as one of the cabins, and before that, the plan had been changed to include a second cabin.
This work led Clark to consider another bold step. So far, he has acquired panels from Mark Stellricht of ESE Machines in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and prefabricated panels from Petersen Aluminium, Firestone, and other national suppliers.
“This means I have to make a list before starting the entire work. I decided to buy a vertical seaming pot machine. This allows me to cut copper coils more accurately.” He said. “After looking at used machines, there were few machines available, so I decided to buy a new machine. I chose Roll Former Corporation VS-150 partly because they are one of the closest suppliers. The machine comes standard with Two double lock heights and two card lock heights. We decided to use a 1-inch double lock for work. I already own an ESE Machines powered seaming machine.”
Most of his work is still serving those who look older. “They actually wanted to add some oil cans and upright seams to the jars; he said: “This is an old style, a style that eliminates caulking. “This is a style in many small towns around Williamsport.” ”
Selling Metal If one thing bothers Clark, it is misinformation that he believes is widespread in the metal roofing industry. He said: “Most people in my area think that a metal roof is a metal roof.” “When I talked to the homeowners, they gave the impression that the metal roof they got was like a straight seam with a history of more than 100 years. The same as the roof. When I explained the fact that the lap seams and screws of the seams (on its new corrugated roof) were exposed to the weather, there were no locking seams and hidden fasteners like the old roof, they Very surprised. It convinced me that (the contractor) misled them.”
He firmly believes that customers will pay more for quality products, but proper training is needed. “I have always followed the rule that you must first educate your customers, and then, if it is a quality product, it becomes much easier to sell the product.”
Money is not always the problem. He said: “It seems that people with less money are more likely to sell them better products.” “They don’t want to pay twice for the same job.”


Post time: Jan-26-2021
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