There’s no denying that a new roof is a large expense. And the moment you decide to have a metal roof installed, that expense goes up! So it is only natural to see if there are ways to ease the financial burden of a metal roofing system.
Often homeowners ask me about installing a metal roof over shingles to eliminate the cost associated with removing old shingles. And while it’s doable, I wouldn’t recommend it. So much so that we simply won’t perform this service at my roofing company, Linta Roofing. The reason I’ve drawn a line in the sand on this issue is because it can cause a lot of future problems for the homeowner. And those problems tend to be quite a costly fix, even outweighing the initial cost of a proper roof replacement.
But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. There are plenty of brave individuals who wouldn’t think twice before installing metal over shingles. Because there are times when metal can be installed over shingles and times when they can’t. And that is what I’m writing about today!
When You CAN Install Metal Over Shingles
In order to properly install metal over shingles, you’ll want to make sure that your roofing contractor is reputable. This is the most important step! I say this because there are plenty of contractors out there who are just looking to make a buck. If they can get you to agree to it, they’ll do anything. Even do work that will cause you issues down the road. But too often homeowners call us because their roof is leaking – and their roof guy? Nowhere to be found.
However, if you’ve found someone you trust, the first step is a thorough inspection of your entire attic space. This is to ensure that your roof decking is in good condition. If there is damage to your roof decking, or it is not the right type of roof decking, the fasteners used to hold a metal roof onto your decking will fail. This will result in a premature failure of your roof system as a whole.
If your roof deck is looking good, you’ll want to make sure your roofer plans to apply underlayment overtop of your old shingles. I can not stress the importance of this enough. The reason it is so important is because your roof is subject to the natural expansion and contraction of temperature changes throughout the day. When metal is installed on your shingles without underlayment, the shingles will scratch the underside of the metal with each expansion and contraction. This scratching will wear away the coating on the metal, causing it to rust over time. I would recommend a high quality synthetic underlayment, like GAF Tiger Paw, for this type of project.
As you can see there are plenty of mishaps that can occur if these things are not done properly. Which is why I tend to tell homeowners there are plenty of other ways to pay less for their roof. If you can’t be sure that the things I’ve mentioned here are completed by a trustworthy roofer, it may not be the time for you to have metal installed on top of your roofing shingles.
When You Can’t Install Metal Over Shingles
There are plenty of common problems with installing metal over shingles. In general, I think I speak for most reputable roofing contractors when I say that metal should never be installed on top of shingles when the roof deck is compromised. In this scenario, whether you’re installing an extra layer of roofing material or having a standard roof replacement, the roof decking would need to be replaced before any work were to commence. And as previously mentioned, you should never have metal installed over pre-existing shingles without a barrier of protection that keeps the two from rubbing against each other.
However, my personal opinion stands. I would rarely suggest the install of metal over shingles on one of my customer’s homes. I’m not sure I could sleep well at night knowing the costly damage it could cause, even if the roof decking was in good shape and I used the proper underlayment. This is because the Grand Strand area is prone to humidity, which can degrade areas on your roof that are not visible to the eye. Because the durability of your roof is crucial in protecting the interior of your home, I always suggest a full replacement for my customers.
Why a Full Roof Replacement is a Better Investment Than Installing Metal Over Shingles
You may have heard that installing metal over roofing shingles is a less costly way to upgrade your roof. But, the truth is that the tear off costs associated with removing your shingles is minimal in comparison to the cost of having multiple roof repairs over time. Which is why I suggest homeowners look into other ways to pay less for a roof replacement.
Whatever route you take, the most important investment you make is the time it takes to find a trustworthy roofer. It is crucial to compare roofing contractors prior to hiring anyone for your project. If you think Linta Roofing might be the right fit we’re happy to provide you with a high quality roof replacement that you don’t have to worry about again for a long time. Let us know and we’ll be happy to provide you with a metal roofing system that will last!
