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Can You Put a Metal Roof Over Shingles? Benefits, Factors & FAQs
Codee Chessher
Last updated:
Metal roofs are growing in popularity, but many homeowners are wary about upgrading because they think they’ll have to have their shingle roof torn off. Surprisingly, that’s not the case! You can easily have a metal roof installed over your pre-existing shingle roof. Let’s check out how that works and what you need to know.
Putting a Metal Roof Over Shingles
Putting a metal roof over shingles is becoming very popular among homeowners because you get both the protection of the shingles and the metal roof. Many people think of metal and automatically assume that a roof has to be heavy, but they’re not.
Metal roofs these days are extremely light, flexible, and strong. The roof itself is composed of multiple large metal sheets, and they’re relatively easy to install. By cutting out the time-consuming process of removing the shingles, you actually come out with a better roof.
Image By: sandid, Pixabay
Common Concerns
Older metal roofs are notorious for being loud when rain, hail, or other debris strikes them, although new metal roofs aren’t as bad. With the additional shingle roof beneath, these sounds are somewhat
muffled. Plus, they are incredibly energy-efficient because they reflect sunlight. Combined with the shingle roof, you further enhance your home’s energy efficiency. This can actively save you money off your home’s heating and cooling costs.
What to Consider Before Putting a Metal Roof Over Shingles
Before you schedule your roof installation, you need to think about a few things. Some factors may necessitate repairing your existing roof first, or some local rules may prohibit a metal-over-shingle roof altogether. Let’s check out what you need to consider.
Factors to Consider Include:
Factors
Whether local building codes allow metal-over-shingle roofs. Consult your local authorities for more
If your shingle roof has buckling, rotting, sagging, or other issues, those need to be addressed before you put a metal roof on.
If you have wood shingles, they are typically too thick to put a metal roof over, but you can have a professional determine if that’s the case for your roof.
Benefits of Metal Roofs
We already mentioned a few benefits of metal roofs above, but there are several more worth knowing about. Let’s check out a more comprehensive list of metal roof benefits.
Image Credit: Imagenet, Shutterstock
Metal Roof Benefits:
Benefits
They’re easy to install. Instead of painstakingly layering shingles, workers secure large sheets of metal and can have it finished in a fraction of the time compared to shingled roofs.
They have lots of aesthetic options. As they’ve gotten more popular, there are numerous color and visual choices when choosing a metal roof.
They last a long time. The average metal roof lasts about 50 years. If you want a single roof for your lifetime, metal is the way to go.
They can get installed over existing roofs. Shingle roofs are the most notable type, but metal roofs can go over asphalt roofs as well.
They’re low maintenance. Metal roofs require little maintenance to remain in great shape thanks to their high durability.
They resist mold, mildew, and insects. This further protects the shingles underneath your metal roof.
Conclusion
Metal roofs are one of the most durable and long-lasting roof options available today. By putting a metal roof over an existing shingle roof, you can add an extra layer of protection to your home and protect it for many decades to come.
Codee Chessher is a freelance writer with extensive knowledge on a variety of subjects that include travel, sound engineering, automotive, DIY, pets, and more. He has a colorful past that includes building schools and commercial driving, but the written word was always his first love. He believes there's nothing a well-worded sentence can't accomplish.When not writing, Codee enjoys epic fantasy novels, home DIY projects, and memorizing useless pop culture trivia. He has lived in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina. Most recently, he resides in northern Mexico.
Codee Chessher
