Todd Miller, President of Classic Products, Inc. in Piqua, was recently elected as Secretary of the Metal Construction Association (MCA). Miller has been a member of MCA’s Board of Directors since 1999.

Based in Glenview, Illinois, Metal Construction Association is the nation’s leading trade association committed to promoting the use of metal in the building envelope. With a two-pronged emphasis on marketing and technical research, the organization strives to educate property owners and professionals in the environmental and other benefits of metal construction materials.

As Secretary, Miller will be on the trade association’s Executive Committee. Additionally, he chairs the organization’s Government Relations Task Force and is actively involved in the group’s Roofing Council and Communications Committee. Part of his responsibilities include ensuring that the industry’s interests are properly represented on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Classic Products, Inc. is a manufacturer of metal roofing systems. Based in Piqua and also with manufacturing facilities in Houston, Texas and Dubuque, Iowa, Classic produces products primarily used for residential re-roofing. They are known in particular for their aluminum, steel, and copper products that are press-formed to have the look of traditional roofing materials.

Miller’s election as Secretary occurred during the organization’s Annual Meeting held the week of January 19 in Palm Springs, California. The Annual Meeting culminated with a formal dinner celebrating MCA’s 25^th anniversary. Miller provided the invocation for that meeting.

Information on MCA can be found at www.metalconstruction.org. Classic Products’ website is www.classicroof.com

In the January 5, 2008 edition of the Chicago Daily Herald, someone posed a question to their Home and Gardens editor considering roofing options. This person wanted the look of wood shakes on their home but they were concerned about the ultimate durability of those products.

In answering their question, the editor went through a very comprehensive description of wood shakes, the various types of wood and respective attributes of each. But, after going through all of that, they ended their answer with the following:

For the longest lasting roof, consider installing an aluminum roof formed to simulate cedar shakes. From the ground, it looks authentic. The large panels make installation quicker than real shakes or shingles. The aluminum roof can keep your house cooler during the summer and it is fireproof so your insurance premiums may be lower.

Considering that Classic Metal Roofing Systems is the only manufacturer of aluminum shake products, we certainly appreciate their recognition of the durability and beauty of our products!

Todd Miller, President

It happens each year this time. They may be colorful and beautiful but the leaves come falling down, causing headaches for homeowners.

 One headache is the obvious — having to rake them up and get rid of them … or let them blow into the neighbor’s yard.

The other headache is keeping them from clogging gutters, and even downspouts and drainage tiles.

In recent years, we have seen literally an explosion in the availability of various gutter protection products designed to keep leaves out of gutters. As a metal roofing manufacturer, we regularly have inquiries about what sort of gutter protection works with our products.

At Classic Metal Roofing Systems, we do not believe that the “perfect” gutter protection system has yet been invented. However, there are many good and helpful choices available.

Generally, we advise against most systems that are in some fashion integrated into the roof system. This is for several reasons. Some such systems may actually damage the roof system if they ever have to be removed. Other systems are very sensitive about the exact angle they must make between the roof and the front edge of the gutter. In some cases, the drip edge of the metal roof can alter this angle, affecting performance of the gutter protection. And, in other cases, the gutter protection must be trimmed in order to integrate into the metal roof and, in so doing, it becomes easier for the product to disengage or “pop out” in high winds or under the weight or ice and snow or wet leaves resting on top of it.

While it is not impossible to make one of these “roof-integrated” gutter protection systems work with metal roofing, doing so can be very problem-prone.

Therefore, we generally encourage the use of systems that stay in the interior of the gutter and do not connect to the roof. We encourage that gutters be located high enough to be behind the roof drip edge if at all possible, to encourage that transition of water from the roof to the gutter.

There are many such “internal” gutter protection products available. Again, the perfect one has not yet been invented and that is largely because they all must include some sort of holes for water to travel to get into the gutter. Any such hole can potentially catch a leaf stem or pine needle. And, if the holes are too small, they can even clog with dirt.

So, even though the perfect product may not be out there, helpful products are available and consumers who are tired of risking life and limb to clean out gutters (not to mention the mess!) are anxious for them.

If you’re interested in gutter protection for your metal roofed home, consult with your roofing manufacturer to see what they suggest.

Todd Miller of Classic Metal Roofing Systems, along with Dennis Duce of independent dealer Neilco Roofing and Sheet Metal, will speak to the Park City Area Home Builders Association on September 28 regarding the environmentally friendly aspects of metal roofing.

According to Miller, “We are very pleased to be able to bring this information to homebuilders in the Park City, Utah area. That is one of the most environmentally conscious and progressive areas of our country and their interest in knowing more about the benefits of metal roofing is greatly appreciated.”

The information presented by Duce and Miller will include a scorecard rating system for analyzing the environmental benefits of various roofing materials.

“Metal roofing is a little known secret when it comes to building a green home,” according to Miller. “Homeowners don’t realize that a good roofing choice can probably do more than any other building material to protect the environment today and into the future.”

Don Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Classic Metal Roofing Systems, was recently recognized for his industry contribution by his inclusion in the Metal Roofing Hall of Fame sponsored by Metal Roofing Magazine.

According to Jim Austin, Senior Editor of Metal Roofing, the four inaugural inductees to the Hall of Fame were chosen based upon their dedication, innovation, and hard work which have made metal roofing the successful high growth industry that it is today. Other inductees were Jack Berridge, Tem McElroy, and Herb Englert.

Don Miller founded Classic in 1980 with the acquisition of several building product lines from Kaiser Aluminum. Over the years, through acquisition and development, the company’s product offerings have broadened to be perhaps the widest array of metal roofing profiles designed specifically for residential application.

With a background in engineering, metal fabrication, and coatings technology, Don Miller has worked hard over the years to keep Classic out the forefront of the industry in terms of producing products that are innovative but of the highest quality. Additionally, Classic has supported their industry with strong involvement in such industry associations as The Metal Roofing Alliance, Metal Construction Association, The Metal Initiative, and Cool Metal Roofing Coalition.