Getting a new metal roof can change the appearance of your home if you have an asphalt shingle roof. If your roof was old and worn, any type of new roof will be an improvement, but a metal roof can give your home an entirely new look. It might even motivate you to paint your siding and make other improvements to your property. Here are some things to discuss with your roofer when you're thinking of getting a metal roof.
The Style And Color Of The Roof
The first major decision you need to make is what the roof will look like. You can choose metal shingles or panels. The panels even come in different styles. Standing seam metal roofing is a popular choice you may want for your home. This is panel roofing that's attached in a way that the fasteners are hidden and don't detract from the appearance of the roof.
Metal roof panels come in so many colors, you may have difficulty choosing one. Your roofer might offer a suggestion based on trending colors or colors that match the style of your home and its location. You might want a bright orange or red roof. However, white is a popular color for metal roofing since it reflects the sun and goes with about any color of exterior paint.
The Suitability Of Metal As A Second Roof Layer
Metal roofing is fairly light, so it's often possible to put a metal roof over your old asphalt shingles without tearing the shingles off first. Roofers don't always want to do that though, since the metal roof might just cover up water damage, and then your new roof won't have a long life.
If your roofer checks the roof closely for moisture and finds out the deck is dry and solid, putting metal panels over your old shingles might save some money on your new roof installation. You and your roofer need to weigh if the savings are worth taking the risk if your old roof has water damage that wasn't discovered due to leaving the old shingles on.
What You Should Do About Maintenance
A metal roof can last for decades. However, to achieve that, your roof needs regular maintenance. The maintenance might only be checking the roof for damage, but it could also include repairs needed if damage is found.
Ask your roofer about taking care of your metal roof and what the warranty requires so problems are taken care of without voiding your warranty. Having a roofer check your roof on a schedule throughout the life of the roof is worth the expense if it saves your roof deck and attic from water damage.
When you have something you like inside a jar, you probably put a lid on it — right? In a way, you can think of your house in the same manner. You like and value the items inside, along with the inside of the house itself. So, it only makes sense that you would protect the interior of your home with a lid. That lid is your roof.
Keep that perspective in mind as you read this blog. Learning more about roofing will feel more interesting if you remember what a roof does: it protects the inside of the home and the people who live in it.