Metal roofing from Custom-Bilt Metals covers and complements the best of American architecture, from brand-new, single-family houses, to modern shopping malls and hotels, to decades-old landmarks. In Port Hueneme, Calif., a cozy coastal enclave along California's Gold Coast, Custom-Bilt Metals’ low-maintenance and energy-saving benefits are helping to make The Bungalows at Beach House a carefree getaway experience.

Located along Oceana Drive one block from the ocean, the John Laing Homes community of second homes offers Titan standing seam metal roofs with Titan® Cool Roof reflective coatings. These cool roofs, which use Custom-Bilt Metals’ Old Towne Gray and Storm Gray colors, can reflect up to 40 percent of the sun’s energy that would normally penetrate the roof. The result is an approximate 20 percent drop in energy bills, which translates to upwards of $450 in annual energy saving.

Because The Bungalows at Beach House is a second-home community, its buyers want low maintenance coupled with beauty, comfort and energy efficiency, says Deryn Mize, sales counselor for John Laing Homes, which is headquartered in Van Nuys, California. “That’s what we’re selling. The bungalows include low-maintenance materials such as fiber-cement siding and granite countertops, and they have a distinctive, Cape Cod look. The metal roofs from Custom-Bilt Metals differentiate our bungalow homes from those with red tile roofs in this area, and are easier to clean and maintain than shingles. They’re quiet during storms, too; you can barely hear the rain.”

“The City of Port Hueneme now mandates metal roofs by ordinance, to give its entire community a distinctive look while providing a durable, energy-efficient and low-maintenance alternative to conventional roofing materials,” said Tony Chiovare, president of Custom-Bilt Metals. “The Cool Roof technology helps homeowners use up to 40 percent less energy for cooling than buildings with darker roofs and different materials—an important consideration as energy costs rise and one that contributes to the project’s success in a struggling national housing market.”

Upon completion, The Bungalows at Beach House will offer 64 single-family bungalow homes ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 square feet, all featuring Custom-Bilt Metals standing seam metal roofs. Approximately half of the homes had been built and sold as of June 2008.