This roof has been a disaster, and MG Arsenal has been more concerned about harassing us into removing this review than they have been about taking care of this roof. We're now looking at our *4th* summer of roof repairs.
*I updated this review at the end.* *Edited again May '09*
After having spent $25000 on a roof, the end result was a botched installation that leaked and after the first snow melt was largely destroyed. A satellite dish that had been installed 8 years ago with no problems with the previous roof was also destroyed when sheets of ice and snow slid through it. Higher sections of the roof released their snow and ice load onto sections below, denting the roof.
After having problems with the roof, we hired a home inspector to evaluate the installation.
Flashings were installed under the roofing material channeling water under the roof, with inadequate support for the roof at the edges so that it bent under pressure. No caulking was installed in the valleys or vertical joints. No flashing was installed around vents for example, leaving large holes you can put your hands into that allow water in under the roof. Flashing around chimneys was also installed incorrectly, allowing water to leak through. Flashing at the skylight also helped direct water under the roof. No ice barriers were installed around vent pipes, causing them to be damaged or sheared off.
To add insult to injury, even though blueprints for the building were provided, the installer only later realized that he would need scaffolding to reach the 30-foot peaks, to which he informed us that there would be an extra $200 cost. After spending $25000 on a roof, being nickeled and dimed for their oversight is shameful.
*Newest update: After the thaw, the roof once again set out to destroy itself. Gutters and downspouts were severely damaged again, the roof is dented in many places again, and most alarmingly, in a couple spots has folded itself back allowing water in behind the roofing material. The ice breaks proved to be ineffective at stopping the snow from sliding in a damaging way, and have themselves been damaged by the snowload. You can officially disregard any positive comments or sentiment expressed below this update, but I left them in "for the record" in the interest of full disclosure.
*Update: After our third summer of roof construction, it looks like we're finally reaching some sort of resolution here. The repairs have finally been completed, and the leaks appear to have been stopped. It remains to be seen how the roof will survive the next winter thaw, I'll update this review in the spring.
For now, the roof looks okay. The marketing materials provided to us had pictures of installations where screws are only visible and exposed along the lowest edge of the roof. It's a very clean and polished look. Our roof has exposed and visible screws all over the roof. The contractor who did the repairs was fantastic, and did an admirable job given the circumstances. Ideally, he wanted to completely remove and replace the roof but neither MG Arsenal nor the first contractor would have covered those costs. Perhaps if the materials are properly installed this would be a good alternative to other roofing materials and systems. As it stands though, "buyer beware".
