You may be trying to find an affordable way to protect your home. If you’re looking up, you may wonder about the longevity of your roofing materials. Can you lay metal roofing over shingles?
That’s a question that Longhorn Roofing can answer. Our roofers know the challenges of installing new roofing over existing shingles. Discover other solutions below so that you can prioritize the most cost-effective approach but not compromise the home your roof is protecting.
The Pros and Cons of Investing in Metal Roofing
If you're already looking into a metal roof overlay, you already know the advantages. Metal can last up to 70 years on a roof with proper care and maintenance. That’s superior resistance against severe weather like hail and high winds for much longer than some other material choices.
This roofing system also reflects solar heat, which can keep your home cooler for longer. With metal, you can expect to save time and money since it also requires less maintenance.
On the downside, you'll pay a premium price for metal options. During rain or hail, these roofs also make a loud plinking sound that could make it hard to sleep or concentrate. Finally, while you can customize them slightly, metal roofs have limited stylistic choices compared to many other roofing systems.
Should You Remove Shingles Before Installing a Metal Roof?
Can you lay metal roofing over shingles? In most cases, experts don’t recommend it.
If you’ve decided that metal is a great investment, your roof will thank you. However, what happens when you install metal roofing over shingles can be complicated. In rare cases, you might save a little on labor costs, but this metal roofing installation method requires the old shingles to be in nearly perfect condition.
Here are some other problems with putting metal over shingles on a roof:
You Might Prevent Essential Inspections If You Cover Decking
One of the most important maintenance tips is to regularly inspect the roof's decking, which is the part that frames and supports the entire system. When you lay metal panels over shingles, that’s not possible.
Normally, the installers will tear off all the shingles and inspect the base. They’ll repair issues and confirm the roof is strong enough to support the weight of the new metal surface. Without this step, you're leaving everything to chance, including:
- Rotting wood that leaves the system vulnerable to collapse
- Leaks that go unnoticed until they cause water damage
- The presence of termites and other pests
When you use this makeshift metal roofing installation method, it's like putting a pretty Band-Aid on a wound that needs stitches.
You May Leave the Home Vulnerable to Leaks
The new metal roof will look excellent. It will also provide some added protection against the elements. But what if the roof beneath has undetected leaks?
Skip the inspection part of the installation, and even when correctly installed, the roof might have water slipping under the metal panels. Inspecting and upgrading the underlayment addresses these issues and protects the home. Leaving old shingles intact makes leaks more frequent and severe.
You May Find Tracking and Repairing Damage More Difficult
Can you lay metal roofing over shingles? Yes, but contractors will have trouble keeping track of the repairs and damage if you do. When a roof has only a single layer of material, a roofer can easily follow the flow of the water to find the origin of a leak.
Placing a new roof on old shingles makes this process much harder. Finding the leak’s source under multiple materials will require extra time and money in the future. Repairing the issue also involves a greater challenge and will require a meticulous approach from a skilled contractor, which will cost you.
At this point, you've erased any savings that came with placing the metal over the shingles.
Your Roof’s Crucial Components Continue Aging and Won't Match Up
Would you replace only one tire on your vehicle when all four are old? That's essentially what you're doing by placing metal over asphalt.
You're leaving potentially damaged components in place and skipping the underlayment that manufacturers specifically design to support metal roofs. This choice often costs you more in the long term than just adhering to roofing codes for metal over shingles from the beginning.
Call Longhorn Roofing for Premium Roofing Products and Reliable Installation
Can you lay metal roofing over shingles? With Longhorn Roofing, you don’t have to worry about cutting corners to enjoy competitive pricing. Let’s start choosing a metal roof for your property’s best investment yet.
For a free quote from Longhorn Roofing, call (512) 478-2500.
