Re-Roofing With Metal Roofing

December 21st, 2009

We get asked this question all the time: Can metal roofing can be installed over old fiberglass or asphalt shingles?
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The answer is: “Yes it can.” And by doing so, you save in the labor and hassle of tearing off the old roof and you won’t be contributing to filling our landfills. Another added benefit is that the layers of your old roof will further insulate your home. Metal is the best choice due to its very low weight per square foot and its unique design. Metal roofing weighs less than one pound per square foot. Asphalt shingles can weigh up to four pounds per square foot depending on the brand.

If you don’t want to take our word for it check with your local building department. In some areas building officials only allow a re-roof over one layer of shingles. Other areas will allow you to re-roof over two layers. In most cases it’s not even an issue if you are only going over one layer of shingles.

Referencing Section R907.3 of the 2006 International Residential Code Book® best answers this question, it reads as follows:
“Complete and separate roofing systems, such as standing seam metal roof systems, that are designed to transmit the roof loads directly the buildings structural systems and that do not rely on existing roofs and roof coverings for support, shall not require the removal of existing roof coverings.”

When you decide to go ahead with this project there are a couple of precautions regarding the underlying material:
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If there are any existing roof leaks, you need to address them and replace any rotten sheeting or rafters. If there are any signs of problems caused from the previous roofing weighing too much, they must also be addressed. This could include things like sagging decking or buckling trusses.

A couple of options:

A layer of underlayment installed on top of the existing shingles will help keep the granules of the old shingles from rubbing against the back of the metal and causing possible corrosion. The industry standard for underlayment is often thought of as felt paper (tar paper) but there are also many newer synthetic underlayments that are designed to work well with metal roofing. Standard tar paper has a tendency to stick to the back of metal roofing. This can cause the paper to tear when the metal roofing expands or contracts as it is designed to do. The new synthetic underlayments do not have this problem as their design far exceeds the felt paper standards.

“E-Foil” or foil faced, bubble wrap type, reflective barrier insulation can also be used as a cushion between the existing roof and the new metal roofing. The reflective barrier insulation can also reduce your cooling cost during the summer months by reflecting heat away from your homes roof. Radiant barrier insulation will perform the best when used with a corrugated panel that has a built in airspace due to the corrugation. The airspace will also allow natural venting to take place.

I hope this article has been helpful. But here’s one more thing for you to consider: Do you realize that if you select metal roofing that this will likely be the last decision you make about the roof of your home?

More information here http://www.metalroofingsource.com

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Metal Roofing Advantages

December 21st, 2009

Let’s face it, you need a new roof. You have put it off for years, patching here, replacing a few shingles there but it still leaks. “Only when it rains” you say, ha, it’s not going to stop raining so let’s discuss your options.

Thousands of homes are re-roofed each year with ordinary asphalt shingles. Conventional roofing manufacturers and installation contractors love it when customers use the industry standard again and again. Why? Because they have job security, those asphalt shingles do not last nearly as long as they say, especially in extreme heat, extreme cold or the windy coastal regions. “Okay”, you say, “I only want to do this thing once and I want it to last”. With that in mind let’s discuss the benefits of metal roofing.

Metal roofs are far superior to conventional roofing in many ways. Maybe one of the most important is metal roofs do not need replaced nearly as often. The fact is your new metal roof may be the last roof that you purchase for your home. The life expectancy of metal roofs can far exceed fifty years. How old are you going to be in fifty years? Your metal roof will not show its age.

Another unexpected aspect of metal roofing is how much it weighs. Metal roofing weighs much less then most conventional roofing products. So much less in fact you can easily install a new metal roof over your old asphalt shingles. This saves you the costly and time consuming task of tearing off your old roofing. It also saves space in your local landfill. Metal roofs weigh from 50-150 pounds per 100 square feet. Conventional roofing material can weigh in the neighborhood of 750 pounds per square foot. Unexpected but true, metal roofs weigh much less.

So let’s say you live in a rural forested area, you have a really dry year, forest fires start burning in your neck of the woods, and many of your neighbors are panicking. Not you, you installed that new metal roof in the spring and have one less thing to worry about. Metal roofs are not combustible, that is why they are ranked “Class A”. Metal roofing is the most fire resistant roofing your money can buy. Peace of mind during wildfire season can mean a lot also. “Class A fire status”, another plus for metal roofing.

Metal roofing can save you money in another way, your utility bills. Cool metal roofing is a term that popped up a few years ago. Someone got smart and figured out that lighter colored metal roofing actually reflects direct sunlight and causes less heat to enter your home. Well, since then, many studies have been done and metal roofing has been given”IR” ratings. “IR” stands for “Initial Solar Reflectivity”. Guess what? The lighter colored metal roofing has the best rating. Many of the lighter colors are “Energy Star Approved”. What it all boils down to is, metal roofing can save you money on your utility bills, save energy and help you protect our environment. Metal roofing can also qualifies for tax credits, the government will actually pay you for your new roof.

Now the best part, metal roofing is aesthetically pleasing, it just plain looks good. Metal roofing can drastically change the look of your home and increase its value, you decide. Find all the information you need at www.metalroofingsource.com

Tags: metal roofing, metal roofing installation, Metal Roofing vs. shingles, Steel Roofing
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Is it safe to walk on a metal roof of a metal building?

June 22nd, 2009

anim8er2 asked:

I’m looking to buy a metal warehouse building. The walls and roof are dirty and need cleaning. While the structure is plenty sound, I’m wondering how safe it is to walk on the roof. I was wondering if all metal roofs are built strong enough to support a person walking on it.
For other types of roofs in colder climates, building codes specify a load capacity to hold up under snow. Here in Houston, such support does not apply. As the roof itself is very light, it doesn’t need to be very strong to shed off rain.

Metal Roof

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Some Questions to Ask When Installing New Roofs

June 19th, 2009

Thinking of installing a new roof but don’t know what to opt for? Looking at the pros and cons of installing metal roofing will help you decide.

When it comes to installing a new roof, there is a wide range of options available on the market and it is quite easy and natural to become overwhelmed by the choices. This is because changing a roof is not something one would do often; it is basically a one time expenditure which an individual bears once in a very long time. Therefore, it is quite understandable that he or she may not be familiar with the options and may get confused as to which one to go for.

As mentioned there are several roofing material options on the market, like- wood shakes, clay roofing tiles, slate, concrete tiles, etc. This list of roofing materials also includes metal roofing which has become one of the most preferred alternatives and has gained significant popularity over the last two decades. Therefore, if you are a home owner looking for a suitable material to replace the roof of your house, then a metal roof may just be the right option for you. Read the rest of this entry »

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How Popular are Metal Roofs

June 19th, 2009

Metal roofs are coming back into vogue. In the late 1700s, zinc, copper, and lead were the most popular materials used for roofing – such famous historic buildings as the Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello have metal roofs.

Standing-seam steel roofing is the most popular residential metal roofing today. (The term standing-seam describes the upturned edge of one metal panel that connects it to adjacent sections, creating distinctive vertical lines and a trendy historical look.) But metal roofs can also be made to resemble wood shakes, clay tiles, shingles, and Victorian metal tiles. Aluminum or coated steel is formed into individual shingles or tiles, or into modular panels four feet long that mimic a row of shingles or tiles.

Metal roofs are durable, fire retardant and almost maintenance-free. They are also energy efficient; metal reflects heat and blocks its transfer into the attic. Research by the Florida Solar Energy Center in 1985 showed that metal absorbed 34 percent less heat than asphalt shingles, and homeowners switching to metal roofing reported saving up to 20 percent on their energy bills.

Steel roofs offer other environmental benefits as well. They are made from between 60 percent to 65 percent recyclable material. Because they weigh very little, metal roofing can be installed over existing roofs, eliminating the need to dispose of excess material in a landfill.

Installing some metal roofing can be an intricate process best done by a professional, and the initial cost of a premium metal roof is higher than most other roofing materials. You need to compute the lifecycle cost to see if paying more to begin with for a metal roof will prove to be a better investment than some other form of roofing.

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Would like to know if a repair collar is available for a vent pipe roof flashing?

June 18th, 2009

carman asked:

My vent pipe flashings are leaking due to cracking of the rubber donut which slips over the pvc vent pipe. The metal flashings are fine, only a couple years old, but the rubber is badly deteriorated. A web search mentioned that a repair collar is made to slip over the vent pipe so that you do not have to tear up the shingles to replace the entire metal unit. I have checked with plumbing supply houses but no one has heard of it. Does anyone know the manufacturers name of this repair collar or where I could buy it.