Grayslake, IL — Everyone is intrigued by a do-it-yourself project because you never know how it will turn out. The motivation behind DIY projects is usually, if not always, to save enough money to make the work worthwhile. In this case, the satisfaction of a puzzle solved and a job done well were equally at play.

When Dirk and Ann VanZalen of Allegan, MI, set out to build their own home, they wanted to do it themselves, with as little help as possible. They paid contractors to take care of the tasks they thought better left to professionals, including the HVAC, electrical, plumbing and drywalling. But when it came to installing zinc metal panels on the exterior of the home, the couple decided to give it a try. They loved the aesthetics and the environmentally friendly aspects of zinc and decided it would fit in their budget if they didn't have to pay a contractor to handle the installation.

For the project, Sheet Metal Supply (SMS) fabricated and supplied the VanZalens with 3,000 square feet of 20-gauge RHEINZINK prePATINA trim and interlocking flat lock tiles, each measuring 16 inches by 54 inches. There were 500 tiles in all. What made the project more daunting--as if it wasn't already--was the home's design, which featured many angles. Dirk VanZalen was up to the challenge, thanks in part to his extensive background in the woodworking industry, engineering and building custom cabinetry and office furniture. It was while searching for videos online featuring zinc fabrication and installation that VanZalen discovered Sheet Metal Supply, a leading national fabricator and supplier of a variety of metals used in construction. He watched several Sheet Metal Supply videos on YouTube about working with various metals, and then he and Ann made the trip around Lake Michigan to visit SMS.

“I know how to work with my hands and I enjoy figuring things out,” VanZalen says. “I really don’t think I could have done this at any other point in my life. It all came together at the right time, with my life experience and my access to equipment and know-how at my place of employment. Our kids are out of the house, so I was free to dedicate the time required to get this done.”

Those who install metal roofing or walls have their own set of specialty tools, large and small. After forming a couple of trim pieces by hand, VanZalen decided a brake would be a good investment.

“I went on Facebook Marketplace and found a used brake not too far from where we live,” he says. “I got there and the guy had it stored in a barn. It was big and heavy and old. He wanted $800 for it.”

VanZalen says after a little negotiating, he drove away with the bulky old brake. It served him well and when it had served its purpose, he sold it for $150 more than he paid for it and even had several other interested buyers.

VanZalen picked up some other necessary tools from Sheet Metal Supply and was ready to go. Getting started by installing trim around windows and doors turned out to be the most challenging part of the project. Once VanZalen started working with the actual tiles, he was comfortable using the brake and interlocking the tiles.

Time is a precious resource in any project. VanZalen says full panels installed quickly, but panels that required any cutting took extra attention. “You’d think with tiles that are 16 inches by 54 inches, it would install quickly,” VanZalen says, “but you’d be surprised how few tiles are actually installed without being cut to fit around a window or door or the soffits.”

The VanZalens also used some zinc indoors, up the 16-foot fireplace wall, and are very pleased with this interior connection to their unique exterior. They credit Sheet Metal Supply with a smart design and precise fabrication of zinc tiles for interior and exterior use that led to a simplified and cleaner installation.

“It’s a Covid project that got a little out of control,” VanZalen chuckles. “The floor plan was completely our own creation, but we absolutely could not have achieved the house’s overall design appeal without sharing an inspiration photo from One Kindesign with our architect friend, David Bareman RA, who provided roof pitch, window arrangement and massing expertise.

“There are some things left for us to do, but we’re getting there and the house is more than livable. Before we started, we cut down 15 oak trees on the build site, dried them and we’ve used the lumber from them for paneled ceiling, stairs and custom veneered interior doors.”

These bring just the right warmth to the interior with its cement floors and exposed steel structure. Dirk’s carpentry and Ann’s finishing skills show up in all trim, cabinetry and certain pieces of furniture.

“This has been a great team effort,” VanZalen says, “It can be challenging getting on the same page when a couple builds a home, but we’re still happily married! Even after tiling four bathrooms together! People are particularly surprised that we put in 150 feet of tongue and groove vinyl sea wall with just the two of us. Ann is a strong woman, a good worker and she has also kept us right on budget, even slightly under.”

Ann VanZalen agrees. “Sheet Metal Supply, specifically (president) Ben Kweton and Lisa England, certainly helped us feel comfortable throughout the process,” she says. “It was a little intimidating at first, but they were very encouraging. When we needed about 40 panels, all just 11 inches long for the window wall facing the lake, they fabricated them at that custom length, which saved Dirk many hours of cutting and refolding. They, like many other contractors we worked with, became great partners in our crazy adventure. We’re so very happy with the way everything turned out. We love our home and take great joy in all the things we were able to do ourselves. Definitely, a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”

The project is one that Sheet Metal Supply is proud of as well.

“It was nice working with the VanZalens, who appreciate the beauty and sustainability of RHEINZINK,” says England, Inside Sales at Sheet Metal Supply. “They were able to put together an outstanding example of a flatlock façade for a residential project. We appreciate the trust they put in Sheet Metal Supply. They were great partners.”