In case you need a new roof, covering your current asphalt shingles with metal roofing may worth the expense. Here are some pros and cons.
Can you avoid tearing off your old asphalt shingle roof by putting a steel roof over it? Perhaps. Most codes now allow a maximum of two layers of roofing before requiring a complete tear-off. So, if your roof has two layers, it may require a complete tear-off, even though steel is lighter than asphalt. Codes differ, so call your local building department to find out how to install metal roofing over shingles properly, per code.
How to install metal roofing and what does it take
A steel roof is a lifetime investment, and it can last 50 years or more. Asphalt roofs typically last 20 to 30 years, depending on the installation and shingle quality. So, the investment might be worth it, but the range of choices makes shopping for a steel roofing system more complicated than you might think.
If you want to install steel over asphalt, your best choice for installing metal roofing is to use a steel shingle system instead of the more common (and more expensive) standing seam steel. In a standing seam roof, long, single panels run vertically all the way from the eave to the ridge. In contrast, steel shingles are small panels installed in horizontal rows much like other shingles.
Better steel shingle systems, install over a framework of 2x2s. This framework has three big advantages. First, because the frame is screwed directly to the rafters and the interlocked shingles are screwed to the frame, the roof can withstand winds of up to 120 mph without damage. Second, the frame creates a flat and straight surface even when the shingles are badly curled or the roof ridge is bowed.
Finally, the frame creates a ventilation gap that helps prevent ice dams in the winter and cools the roof and the house in the summer. To vent the roof, holes are cut in the old roof (Detail 1) above the soffit, which pulls air through the soffit vents underneath. Cool outside air then travels under the shingles to the vented ridge (Detail 2), pulling out moisture and heat.
Pros and cons of metal roofing installation
Steel roofs can be noisy and unattractive in residential settings. However, if the steel roof is installed over an existing asphalt roof, noise shouldn’t be a problem. And, if you pick a good-looking style from the many choices available, your house definitely won’t look like a cattle barn.
A steel roof is expensive, but if it lasts the life of your home, it might be worth it. Some steel shingle manufacturers offer do-it-yourself systems that cost about the same as an installed asphalt roof for those who want to learn how to install a metal roof on their own. These systems aren’t attached to a frame, but instead install directly on the old roof. Consequently, they don’t have the same ventilation advantages.
