To my knowledge, no manufacturer actually requires that asphalt shingles be removed off the roof before metal roofing is installed. Technically, metal shingles can be installed over asphalt, if there is only one layer on the roof.

Standing seam should not be installed over shingles, as the horizontal lines from shingles will punch through the metal – the so called “telegraphing effect”. Also, if the standing seam is steel, there is a good chance of rusting, when installed directly over shingles. This is however a common practice in NH, VT and ME to do so.

Yes you can walk on a metal roof. I recommend running shoes that will grip well into metal and provide good traction. Normally there should be no need for you to walk on metal roof, unless you are doing a DIY metal roofing installation. On average metal roofs cost two to three times what you would normally pay for an asphalt shingle roof. The higher price reflects more expensive cost of labor as metal roofing installation requires specialized installation. Metal roofing takes longer than asphalt shingles to install. It provides far better return on the initial investment, lasts a long time and is environmentally friendly.

thank you, James

Thanks

We current have a solar system for the pool and want to keep this feature going forward.

BTW,
We suspect the leaks we have in our ashalt roof was casued by the solar installer 8 years ago.

One of the advantages of the metal roof is that you can actually install it over top of the existing roof, which is nice because it eliminates the mess, saves money, and your all the asphalt shingle roof does not end up in the landfill. Now, the slope of your roof is very low, which means that only a few select metal roofing systems will actually work for your roof. Some standing seam metal roofing systems are designed for low slope roofing applications. As far as I know, most standing-seam metal roofs can withstand winds up to 110 miles per hour. I am confident that there are some standing-seam metal roofing systems that are designed for places such as the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Those are probably commercial grade structural standing-seam metal roofing systems. You may have to do your own research to find the manufacturer that offers this type of metal roofing system. I recommend contacting Fabral, Atas international, MBCI, and Follansbee. I am sure that at least one of these companies will carry the type of metal roofing system that your local building code requires.

Now, I’m not exactly sure what you mean by your second question, but it is not a bad idea to do a complete tear off. This way you can ensure that your roofing deck is solid and that there is no rotting underneath the asphalt shingle. As long as you have a properly insulated attic space, and properly ventilated attic, the metal roof does not require any airspace between the roof deck and the panels. Specific questions regarding installation of a metal roofing system that meets the building code should be directed to the manufacturer. Please let me know how you make out with this, and what particular system meets the code. I will be glad to post this information as ensure that a lot of my readers will have the same question. Good luck!

I can only imagine what’s it like to be inside the home, covered with an asphalt shingle roof in the state like Texas. Asphalt shingle roofs don’t perform well in hotter climates. When subjected to thermal shocks, affects of rapidly changing temperatures in hotter climates, and exposure to the sun, asphalt shingle begins to disintegrate and lose its water resistant properties. This is the reason why asphalt shingle roofs don’t last very long in hotter climates such as Florida and Texas. With the metal roof you can get a long lasting durable roof that can last as long as 50 years while providing energy savings through reduced air conditioning load. Longevity and durability of the metal roofs are unmatched. Metal roofs perform extremely well in hurricane prone areas such as Florida and Texas. Most residential homes have attic spaces and solid sheeting over each the metal roof is installed. A layer of specially designed breathable synthetic roofing underlayment should be installed underneath metal roof. The solid sheeting of your roof deck, roofing underlayment, attic space and installation in the attic should provide adequate noise protection. By installing a cool metal roof rated by energy star you can obtain over 30% energy savings on cooling costs and qualify for stimulus package $1500 in tax credits for the qualifying energy star rated metal roof.

Alex