Shingles, Nails, and Beyond

It often seems like time goes faster the older you get. It may seem like you just had a new asphalt roof put on not long ago, and now it's time to get a new roof again. If you're looking to stretch out the length of time between new roofs, you may want to switch to metal when you have your new roof put on. A metal roof can last for several decades, so it might be the last time you need to deal with getting a new roof. Here are four other benefits of switching to a metal roof.

1. Metal Roofs Don't Need Added Support

Metal is lightweight, so it can be supported by most homes. While slate and tile roofs last a long time too, they can't always be supported by your home without making modifications that support the heavy weight of the roofing. Adding structural support to your home drives up the cost of the roof, but you can avoid needing to do that when you choose metal.

2. Metal Can Go Over Old Shingles

Another advantage of metal roofing is that it's light enough to go on top of an old shingle roof. This saves you the expense of paying for labor to tear off the old roof, and you'll also save money on dump fees. It's not always possible to put a new roof on top of an old one, so you'll need a roofer to check out the condition of your current roof first. If your roof has a rotted deck or is in otherwise poor condition, it may not be possible to add another layer of roofing.

3. Metal Roofs Don't Have To Look Like Metal

An interesting thing about metal roofs is they don't always have to look like metal. You might like the appearance of a standing seam metal roof, but if you don't, you can buy metal roofing made to look like slate tiles, clay, or even wood shakes. If you like the distressed farmhouse look, you can even buy metal roofing that has a weathered look so your home has character.

4. Metal Provides Excellent Home Protection

Most types of residential roofing materials protect your home from environmental and weather dangers. Even asphalt shingles provide protection against fire, impacts, and strong wind as long as you buy high-quality shingles. Metal offers excellent protection because of the properties inherent in metal.

Metal doesn't burst into flames, so it provides protection from fire and lightning. Metal also offers protection from rain, hail, and high winds. Because it's so durable, metal roofing shouldn't need a lot of repairs over its life, and the durability of the metal helps the roof have a long life that just might make it the last roof you have to buy.