Frequently Asked Questions

Listed below are some of our more frequently asked questions. If your question is not answered on this page, email us and we will gladly answer it for you. Click on any question to see the answer.

  • What makes Rustic Shingle unique?
    Classic Products' Rustic Shingle looks like hand split cedar shakes, but is manufactured from durable recycled aluminum. It provides the distinctive look of natural wood preferred by home owners. The deeply textured surface, custom finish, and incredible durability make Rustic Shingle the perfect choice in this "roof-hostile" environment.
  • How long has Rustic Shingle been on the market?
    Rustic Shingle was engineered by a major aluminum manufacturer in 1959. It is the original aluminum shake roof. No competitor has been able to match the water tightness and wind resistance of its patented interlock system. Thousands of homes across the country, including over ten thousand in the most prestigious neighborhoods of Houston, Texas, are protected by this product. Rustic Shingle's superior performance has already made Classic Products, which purchased the product in 1980, the leading manufacturer of residential aluminum roofing.
  • What warranty is offered on Rustic Shingle?
    Rustic Shingle is backed by an industry-leading three-part warranty including:
    • Lifetime Warranty protection for the original purchasers of a Rustic Shingle roof, so long as they live in that home.
    • 40-Year Transferable protection for those owners and all future owners including coverage on the finish and hail protection.
    • 30-Year Fade protection that says, after 30 years, the finish and color on Rustic Shingle will be within a very small, verifiable change from the color it was the day it was installed.
    Please contact American Metal Roofs for a copy of this unmatched warranty.
  • Will a shake roof fit the architectural style of my home?
    Wood shake roofs give a quality appearance to any home and Rustic Shingle has the distinctive look of the wood it replaces. Many of the most prestigious homes use shake roofs for an eye-catching appearance.
  • Does it look shiny and metallic?
    The deep, natural texture and earth-tone colors of Rustic Shingle give it the authentic look of hand-split cedar shakes. It is easily mistaken for the real thing! Although there may be some gloss right after the roof is installed, that gloss will soon dull to a flat, natural look as airborne dust settles on it, just like the finish on your car. That initial gloss is unavoidable with a high quality finish like Rustic Shingle's Halomet Kynar.
  • What finish is on Rustic Shingle?
    Rustic Shingle will withstand the harshest weather for years to come because it features the baked-on Lilly Kynar finish. This special multi-step finish is widely recognized as the industry's finest. It is often used on industrial buildings and skyscrapers because of its superior protection and color retention. The layers of the Kynar finish are applied to our quality aluminum alloy in a multi-step process.
  • What colors are available?
    • Pearl Black
    • Buckskin
    • Caramel
    • Deep Charcoal
    • Forest Green
    • Mustang Brown
    • Oceanside Blue
    • Regal White
    • Shake Gray
    • Terra Red
    • Brite Blue
    • Brite Red
  • How will this roof affect my energy bill?
    Home owners who have re-roofed with Rustic Shingle have found their energy costs to decrease by up to twenty percent after the roof was installed. This is due to Rustic Shingle's low emissivity value. Rather than pass the heat of the sun into your attic, Rustic Shingle reflects up to 94.5 percent of the sun's rays. This reflectiveness is an inherent property of the aluminum Rustic Shingle is composed of, regardless of the color you choose. According to testing conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center, Rustic Shingle allows up to 34 percent less attic heat gain than traditional roofing materials. This means a lighter load for your air conditioner and reduced energy bills for you.
  • Are there tax benefits associated with metal roofing?
    Yes! The federal government has written an initiative within the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that rewards consumers of new metal roofs with a tax credit of up to $500. The credit qualifications require that homeowners outfit their homes with metal roofing with appropriate pigmented coatings which meet the Energy Star program requirements of at least 65% solar reflectance for low-slope roofing and 25% solar reflectance for steep-slope roofing. As designated by Energy Star, American Metal Roof's Rustic Shingle product meets this criteria. The program ends December 31st, 2007, so act fast!
  • Exactly how much can I save by installing a Rustic Shingle Roof?
    The smart homeowner buys roofing on an annual cost basis. First, the total installed price is determined. Then other factors are determined, such as how long the new roof will last, how much it will save in energy costs, how well it provides wind, water and fire protection, how much maintenance it will require, and how well it is likely to survive a severe storm. Since it is a premium product, the initial cost for Rustic Shingle is in the high range of roofing materials, but it will last much longer, as well. Rustic Shingle offers a worry-free long life which means long-term economy and beauty. In addition, it adds to the value of the home and increases in value year after year instead of decreasing in value like other materials.
  • How long will my Rustic Shingle roof last?
    Classic Products warrants the Kynar finish for 40 years. The aluminum shingles will probably outlast the house. The oldest aluminum roof in the world was installed in 1880 on the Chief Secretary's Office Building in Sydney, Australia and is still in sound condition. The cap on our Washington monument, also aluminum was installed in 1884 and has likewise experienced no problems.
  • Can Rustic Shingle be installed on my roof?
    Rustic Shingle installation requires a minimum pitch of 3 in 12. The product is often installed over existing roofs without a tear-off. Your Rustic Shingle dealer can determine if your roof, like most, is suitable for a Rustic Shingle roof-over. Of course, Rustic Shingle is perfect for new construction too, requiring solid decking and 30# felt underlayment.
  • Can it be installed over my old roof?
    Rustic Shingle is designed to be installed directly over worn out asphalt, fiber glass or wood shingle roofs to provide long lasting, weather tight protection. This eliminates the time, cost and mess a complete tear-off would require. The light weight of aluminum does not add any significant weight load to the house, unlike most other products. However, in same rare cases the old material may need to be removed to allow a secure installation of Rustic Shingle. This decision can be explained by your roofing contractor in cooperation with Classic Products.
  • How can I have Rustic Shingle installed on my home?
    In the lower peninsula of Michigan, American Roofs provides complete installation of Rustic Shingle. Call 800-287-0677, or fill out the contact us form, and we will set an appointment to help you with your new roof. If you are outside of Michigan, we will forward your request to your local dealer.
  • How does Rustic Shingle stay watertight?
    The four-way interlock, along with careful flashing during the installation process, makes leakage impossible. The locked-down edges of the shingles cannot be lifted, unlike the unsealed edges of other roofing products. An independent lab in Dade County, Florida tested Rustic Shingle with 110 mile per hour wind-driven rain without a single leak. Also, Rustic Shingle roofs successfully weathered hurricanes Gilbert, Hugo, and Andrew. Rustic Shingle indeed provides total home protection against the elements.
  • Aluminum is also fireproof, right?
    Rustic Shingle cannot be ignited by sparks from chimneys and nearby fires the way wood and other shingles will. Rustic Shingle's available class 'A' U.L. fire rating is proof of this advantage. Since most major residential fires spread from sparks landing on the roof, Rustic Shingle provides exactly the kind of protection that will stop a neighborhood fire in its tracks.
  • How will this roof stand up in high winds?
    Rustic Shingle is designed to withstand the strongest winds. To ensure this, it undergoes periodic testing in hurricane force winds of 110 miles per hour and more. Houston's Hurricane Alicia contained winds of up to 120 miles per hour in many areas and Rustic Shingle roofs still experienced no damage. In addition to locking on all four sides between panels, the shingles are anchored to the roof deck with screw-shank nails that are virtually impossible to pull out.
  • What about hail?
    Rustic Shingle has passed UL 2218 Impact Testing with a Class IV rating, the highest available. This means Rustic Shingle qualifies home owners for hail-resistant roofing discounts on their homeowner insurance in some states (ask your insurance agent for full details). In addition, the Kynar finish is warranted not to chip due to hail impact. Finally, because Rustic Shingle is constructed of high-quality aluminum, it doesn't lose its impact-resistance with age like other roofing materials do. So while other roofing products provide less and less protection for your home each year, homes protected by Rustic Shingle maintain their lasting dependability for years and years to come.
  • Is Rustic Shingle noisy in the rain?
    No, most home owners notice no difference. The wood-grain texture of the panel keeps it from reverberating like flat metal roofing does. Normal attic insulation also absorbs most of the sound. We've never had a complaint about rain noise with a Rustic Shingle roof.
  • Can a Rustic Shingle roof be walked on?
    Yes, you can walk on a Rustic Shingle roof. The deep grooves and woodgrain pattern provide the shingles with the strength needed to sustain normal roof traffic. You must step on the upper half of the panels where they taper to rest on the roof deck. If, for some reason, the roof is expected to have a lot of traffic, Classic Products offers an optional urethane backer molded directly to the shingles. This urethane, a top grade insulating material, is self-extinguishing and U.L. listed for roofing applications. In addition to providing greater rigidity, this backer gives the panel even greater insulating ability, making the ultimate roofing material a reality offered by American Roofs.
  • What's the price per square foot?
    Please complete the feedback form on our Contact page and we'll be glad to visit your home and give you an exact quote.
  • What is Hi-R?
    Hi-R coatings were developed for military vehicles so they could avoid infrared detection by the enemy during Desert Storm. This is accomplished by reflecting away the near infrared (IR) spectrum. Nearly 45% of the heat is generated in the near IR spectrum. By reflecting this portion of the spectrum with special pigments in the Kynar paint, Hi-R paint is able to reduce the amount of heat gain by your home while still providing the same Kynar performance. The end result is a roof that is approximately 50 degrees cooler resulting in significant savings on your air conditioning bills.
  • What is Roofguard?
    Roofguard underlayment replaces 30# felt paper as an underlayment. Roofguard is made of several layers of woven polyethelene making it almost impossible to tear.Because it does not rot like felt paper, you are assured of a roof that is worry free. Developed in Finland 20 years ago, Roofguard has proven to be the best choice as an underlayment for metal roofs. When sealed with our special sealants around your roof protrusions, Roofguard will provide you a watertight underlayment. This assures you even under the most extreme weather conditions your home is protected.
  • Why do asphalt roofs fail?
    There is not a quick and easy answer to this problem. For this reason we have dedicated a whole page to this, please visit this page to find the answer