As you plan your metal roof replacement, you might be asking a trusted roofing contractor at NC Rebuild, Inc. whether you should have your old shingles removed first before having a new one installed. Our answer simply depends on what kind of roofing you currently have installed, but we usually install metal roofs over existing shingles. Here’s why:
Metal Roofs Hardly Affect the Overall Weight
This is mostly because of the low weight a typical metal roofing has; steel shingles weigh about 1/4 of what asphalt shingles weigh and aluminum shingles weigh about 1/8 of what standard shingles weigh. In most cases, less weight is actually being added to the home by the new metal roof than what the current shingles have lost due to granule wear and oil evaporation. This means the total roof weight was probably greater when the previous layer of shingles was installed than the new metal roofing.
Asphalt Over Asphalt is Not Advisable
One important thing to remember when you’re deciding what type of roof to buy is that new asphalt shingles shouldn’t be placed on top of old asphalt shingles. Residential roof repair contractors don’t recommend this, as doing so will only void the warranty on the new asphalt shingle roof. This is partly because the old shingles won’t easily allow the sun’s heat to pass into the attic so the new shingles end up staying at a warmer temperature, which shortens their lifespan.
Why Metal Is the Better Choice
Unlike asphalt shingles, metal roofing and its paint finish doesn’t get damaged even under extreme temperatures. The warranty we offer on your new metal roof won’t be affected just by going over your old shingles. In our experience, it never really becomes an issue, even if we install metal roofing over old wood shingles.
With NC Rebuild, Inc., you’ll have the best roofing and residential gutter installation company in the area to work on your home improvement project. Call us at (919) 625-5453, or you can fill out our online contact form. We serve Raleigh and surrounding NC areas.
