Metal roofing systems are some of the longest lasting roofing options on the market today. With proper maintenance and care, a metal roofing system can last for at up to 60 years or more. However, even the longest lasting roof will eventually need to be replaced or recovered. Recovering an existing metal roof with another metal roof is often an excellent option, providing a number of advantages for building owners.
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Metal to the Metal: Re-covering Existing Metal Roof Systems Requires Diligence by W. Lee Shoemaker, Ph.D., P.E., Vincent E. Sagan, P.E., and Dale Nelson, first published in Professional Roofing Magazine, takes a deep dive into metal roof recover and replacement considerations, focusing on the benefits and advantages of recover.
They do acknowledge, however, that, “The advantage of replacing a roof system is it allows any existing vinyl-faced insulation, which may have deteriorated over time, to be removed and replaced.” When replacing a roof, however, the amount of time that the building and its contents are exposed to the outside environment can be significant. There is also typically a disruption in the use of the building during the replacement process, which can mean downtime and lost revenue for any businesses operating out of the building.
Advantages of Roof Recover Systems
On the other hand, during a recover process the building interior is not exposed, and operations are typically not disrupted. Also, recovering a metal roof, “takes full advantage of existing insulation with the option of easily adding more insulation over an existing roof, increasing the energy efficiency of the building.”
Shoemaker, Sagan, and Nelson also point out that, “Keeping the original roof system in place also provides a safer work surface than open framing for workers installing a new roof system. Additionally, re-covering reduces landfill waste and the need for a large lay-down area for temporary storage of old roofing materials.”
These advantages often mean that recover is the least expensive and more advantageous option for building owners.
For building owners who chose to recover their metal roof, there are typically two options available, metal-over-metal or a single-ply roof system. However, it's important to note that some buildings aren’t designed to support a single-ply roof system. For instance, “A metal building typically is not designed to accommodate a future re-cover roof system, especially a single-ply system that uses a different load path caused by specialized fastening requirements and support considerations.”
There are a number of factors that should be taken into account when choosing a roof recover system such as, “building code requirements, existing support structure, allowable deflection considerations, ponding water, and roof fastening.”
Click here to read the full article and learn more about how each of these considerations affects the metal roof recover system.
Learn More
Contact us to learn more about metal-over-metal roof recover systems. You can also watch our on-demand webinar about recover roofing by clicking below.
About McElroy Metal
Since 1963, McElroy Metal has served the construction industry with quality products and excellent customer service. The employee-owned components manufacturer is headquartered in Bossier City, La., and has 14 manufacturing facilities across the United States. Quality, service and performance have been the cornerstone of McElroy Metal’s business philosophy and have contributed to the success of the company through the years. As a preferred service provider, these values will continue to be at the forefront of McElroy Metal’s model along with a strong focus on the customer.
Topics: Education, Metal Roofing, Recover and Retrofit, Commercial
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