Regards, swampwiz! I think the guy's feeding you something here. Check coolroofs.org for a list of all the mfgs who will be happy to give you any color you want in a shingle designed to reflect and not give problems. GAF and Elk are most certainly among them. Most of all, the algae problem is easily cured with zinc or coppyer. Lots of mfgs (GAF and Elk among them again) mix zinc and/or copper into their shingle aggregate to help fend off the blech. In addition, there are several products which are strips of zinc, designed to be installed near the top of your roof so the product will filter down (w/rain wash) to kill the algae. Best wishes, JWilson

I think it's nuts to consider putting in a 20K pre-fab basement in house you're paying less than 60K for. Jacking a house always disarranges things, sometimes in expensive, unforeseen ways. Where I am people who agree to this must sign waivers absolving the house-lifters from any damage claims. If a cellar is that important for you, then go look for a house with one. Even in Iowa, they must be common (storm cellar, etc.) I've read your posts and you seem to be caught up in a rip tide of reno-mania. If you buy this house, then live in it, and fix it up within the parameters of what it is. Don't try to make it into something it isn't and probably never was, and may be should never become. It's perfectly fine to start with a modest house and modestly upgrade it. But when/if your needs, tastes and means begin to exceed that level, then sell it and move on up a notch. Your description of this seller, what he paid, your bid and his almost unbelievable willingness to make very expensive repairs, closing cost contributions, etc. that will further reduce his net proceeds (urgently needed for his move to assisted living) has me wondering if he should needs the protection of a financial conservator. I am happy you are getting a good deal, but the reason this house is priced the way it is, is because it has issues that will need attention and resources. I don't get why you assume (and apparently the seller agrees!) that you expect the reduced price plus the major, pricey things taken care of. Old houses always have things that are out of whack. It's the nature, sometimes the bane, ofttimes the charm, of the genre. If you expect perfect, then buy a new, replica farmhouse modular. You'll be happier, I think. I do wish you the best, if this is the house of your dreams, but I fear your eagerness for it and your lack of experience are setting you up for unhappiness. (Full disclosure: I live in a farmhouse so intact, and primitive, that it has no central heat - in northern NY state, and is only partially electrified. It is our first old house -except for the ones my DH and I grew up in. I think my parents, and certainly some of our friends, thought we were nuts because they assumed we were looking at huge rennovation/upgrade projects, entirely beyond our known skill sets. They were correct about our skills. We had to learn, and learn, and are still learning. But we are happy here because we are content with what it is and resigned, or even preferring, what it is not. If we had instead been focused (as you seem to me to be) on upgrading, even to just basic design, construction and comfort/convenience standards we would have surely been overwhelmed, bickering, nearly bankrupt and thoroughly miserable. Fortunately we took a less pressured approach that left us room to develop an understanding and a taste for old farmhouse living. So when I caution you about not over-improving a house, it's from a deep, personal, BTDT, perspective. One of the benefits of these forums is that it can connect new old house owners to a wider range of people than they might encounter locally. And it offers some of the benefits of hindsight, without having to earn those chops entirely on your own.) L.

Hi Telly. I'm sure you will receive many recommendations but it seems I am first. We had a metal roof installed about 6 months ago and we are happy as can be. We have received tons of compliments from neighbors. Can't beat that. I wholeheartedly recommend www.gerardusa.com/. I have no connection with them other than being a very satisfied customer.

Are you saying all the exterior shingles are the same size? Are you sure they are wood? Very basically, the same type of cedar shingles used on a roof are also used on the sides of the house but they are random widths and they will not have groves. I think your home is possibly sided with a specially prepared cedar shingle that was popular in the 50s & 60s and are no longer available. This type of shingle was put on over clapboard siding much the same as aluminum siding. Do a Google search for cedar siding. Maybe you will get lucky.