Some of the bigger controversies with HDC in recent years have been about metal roofs. Current guidelines allow the more expensive standing seam metal roofs on residences with some applicants disappointed at having to pay thousands more than for lap panel metal roofs that are also long lasting, attractive, fire proof and termite proof.
Kylee Hevrdejs, director of the Eureka Springs Department of Planning & Community Development, said standing seam is the most common historical metal roofing type, and this is why it is preferred if someone wanted to change from asphalt shingles to metal.
The new guidelines could make it more difficult to get any type of metal roof on an historic building that doesn’t already have one. Hevrdejs said the proposed guidelines don’t specifically address metal roofs. Rather they recommend the preservation of original roof material (for example, wood, slate, clay tiles, metal, or composite) as important to the roof’s appearance and historic identity.
“Each building is different and, for some architectural styles, a metal roof wouldn’t be appropriate at all,” she said. “Sanborn maps can indicate what the historic roofing material was, which can help us guide the most appropriate replacement roofing material when it is needed.”
Harry Meyer, a councilman who has worked in construction for many years, said that if people were going to go with the original roofs used in Eureka Springs, it would probably be either corrugated metal (commonly used on barns) or split wood shingles.
“There was nothing like asphalt roofs back in the 1800s,” Meyer said. “Most changed to asphalt over the years, but I guarantee the original was a metal roof. I have heard a lot of complaints from people in town about not being allowed to put modern metal roofs on homes. They are definitely better for the environment. Every metal roof that wears out can be recycled. Asphalt roofs have to go to the landfill. Another advantage of the modern metal roofs is they last longer.”
A local contractor who asked not to be identified said he has concerns that someday Arkansas could experience the type of wildfires being seen in New Mexico, California and Oregon where thousands of homes have burned.
“We are a Tree City USA, and I have a lot of trees close to my home,” he said. “If I lived in California, I’d be knocking those trees down. Who is to say that someday in the middle of a drought that we don’t have similar wildfires here? Wood roofs are probably the most hazardous and hardly last anytime at all. Metal roofs could save historic buildings during wildfires. There are plenty of people around who have had disagreements with HDC over roofs.”
According to State Farm Insurance, metal roofs offer many benefits, including:
- Longevity. Metal roofs can last 40-70 years, depending on the material. Traditional asphalt roofing materials have an estimated life expectancy of roughly 12-20 years.
- Durability. If installed correctly, some metal roofs can sustain wind gusts up to 140 miles per hour, will not corrode or crack and may be impact-resistant (depending on which product you choose). In addition, metal roofs don’t need the periodic costly maintenance that other roofing materials often require. However, they should be inspected periodically to make sure no repairs are required.
- Safety. Metal roofs will not spark and ignite into flames during a wildfire or lightning strike.
- Energy efficiency. Metal roofs reflect the sun’s UV and infrared light rays that contribute to roof surface radiant heat, which can result in a 10-25 percent reduction in cooling costs.
- Environmentally friendly. Metal roofs not only have 25-95 percent recycled content, depending on the material used, but are also 100 percent recyclable at the end of their life as a roof. In contrast, most shingle tear-off waste ends up as part of the building-related waste stream – up to 20 billion pounds per year.