While metal roofs can offer a remarkable 60-year service life, they can still require replacement. In some cases, the roof has performed well for decades but is at the end of its service life.
In other situations, repair or replacement may be necessary for reasons ranging from poor design or installation of the original roofing system to extensive storm damage or even major building modifications.
Historically, when the need for metal roof replacement occurred, the most common approach was remove and replace. Much as the name implies, this method involves completely removing the original roof and installing new metal panels back onto the original structure.
While this approach remains feasible, tear-off and disposal costs make this option less attractive than some newer remediation approaches such as recover. By definition, a recover system means that the existing metal roof remains in place and is simply covered with new metal panels.
In addition to saving the cost of removing the original panels, recover methods continue to gain popularity because the building occupants, machinery, and inventory remain protected from the elements during the roof replacement process.
Additionally, where the old-style remove and replace approach often forced relocation of operations, recover methods involve minimal (if any) disruption to the building occupants.
Another benefit of recover systems is that they are considered a roof alteration and are exempt from IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) roof replacement requirements. While that may sound like a slight nuance, the implications are significant.
According to the IEEC regulations, roof replacement requires bringing the building to current insulation requirements. Yet the IEEC issues no expected standards for the addition of insulation for recover projects. This difference in insulation product and installation costs can significantly affect the total project cost.
For these reasons, recover continues to gain favor as the preferred approach when replacing an existing metal roof.
Once you’ve decided to approach the project as a recover (instead of remove and replace), building owners, designers, and contractors can choose between several popular methods as outlined below:
Popular Recover Methods
- With Framing
- Notched Purlin/Roof HuggerⓇ
- Hat over Zee clip
- Criss-Cross Grid
- Frameless
- Infill with Rigid Insulation-Long Fasteners Back to Structure
- Tall Clip
The options in the “with framing” category involve building a structure on top of the existing roof. This structure is attached to the existing structure and then used to attach the new metal roof panels. In contrast, the “frameless” approach involves no additional framing. As you might expect, each of the options above offers advantages, disadvantages, and even limitations.
For example, given their design, frame style recovers can use a variety of different panel styles ranging from exposed fastener to concealed or standing seam systems. Conversely, panel options are limited when using frameless-style systems. Let’s explore each system type in-depth, starting with the frame-type systems.
With Framing
Notched Purlin/Roof HuggerⓇ
A notched purlin approach involves installing rows of purlins in between the flat portion of the existing panels across the width of the roof. While purlins can be field modified to create the necessary notch, factory-produced products are also available, such as Roof HuggerⓇ. While products like Roof Hugger are more expensive than normal purlins, they offer considerable labor savings to offset the price difference. Retrofit purlins can be used to recover existing exposed fastener roofs as well as low and high floating standing seam roofs that are installed on open framing, including purlins, hot roll channels, or hat sections. This approach should not be used to recover existing roofs installed over bar joists, wood decks, or metal decks with rigid insulation.
Advantages
- Lowest profile
- Most attachment to an existing structure
- Adds strength to underlying purlin
- Most thoroughly tested
- Excellent ability to add additional corner framing
- Enhances structural strength with thoroughly tested components, providing reliable long-term durability.
- While suitable for recovering exposed fasteners and low/high floating standing seam roofs installed on various framing structures
Disadvantages
- While it offers some labor savings due to ease of installation, this method involves higher material costs, resulting in a high overall project cost
- Discontinuous insulation
- Although it improves structural strength, this method uses more materials, potentially increasing its environmental footprint
- Not ideal for bar joists, wood decks, or metal decks with rigid insulation
- Requires precise placement of notched purlins, which can be labor-intensive despite having prefabricated options
Hat over Zee Clip
As the name implies, the hat over zee clip method involves attaching a Zee clip through the flat of the panel into the substructure below. It’s important to note that the zee clip must be the same height or higher than the major rib of the panel to ensure structural integrity.
After clip installation, a hat section is placed horizontally on top of the zee clips, as shown below. Hat over zee clips can be used to recover existing exposed fasteners as well as low and high floating standing seam roofs that are installed on open framing, including purlins, hot roll channels, hat sections, or bar joists.
This approach should not be used to recover existing roofs installed over wood decks or metal decks with rigid insulation.
Advantages
- Offers continuous insulation up to 6 inches and provides better thermal performance over time
- Continuous insulation or uninterrupted airflow
- Works on bar joist
- With its capability to add up to 6 inches of insulation, a hat over zee clip can enhance energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling demands
- This approach balances material and labor costs, making it a moderately priced option with the added benefit of up to 6 inches of insulation.
Disadvantages
- Height of finished system
- Less structural attachment
- Should not be used over wood or metal decks with rigid insulation
- Involves ensuring the zee clip's height matches or exceeds the existing roof's major rib, requiring careful measurement and alignment
Criss-Cross Grid
Criss-cross grid systems involve installing two layers of red iron onto the existing roof. One runs from eave to ridge and the other from rake to rake on the building. Criss-cross grid systems are most common when the current frame spacing is too wide to accommodate the roof panel.
Buildings with frame spacing over 6’ on-center are typical applications for this approach. Grid systems are used to recover existing exposed fastener panels as well as low and high floating standing seam roofs that are installed on open framing, including purlins, hot roll channels, hat sections, or bar joists.
Advantages
- Change existing frame spacing
- Add more insulation
- Improves existing frame spacing and allows for uninterrupted airflow, which can enhance the roof's longevity by preventing moisture buildup as well as improving energy efficiency
- Ability to enhance corner framing
- Works well with existing exposed fasteners and low/high floating standing seam roofs on open framing, especially when the current frame spacing is too wide
Disadvantages
- Finished height
- Reduced attachment to the existing structure
- System weight
- Due to their complexity and extensive material use, crisscross grids incur high costs in both materials and labor
- Grids demand the installation of two layers of red iron, which complicates the process and increases labor costs due to the complexity of aligning multiple framing elements
The addressed methods represent the most common “framed” options for recover projects. Let’s now shift our attention to some “frameless” options.
Frameless
Infill with Rigid Insulation-Long Fasteners Back to Structure
Infilling the existing roof with rigid insulation and then using another layer of rigid insulation or a cover board is an excellent recovery method. The most significant advantages of this approach are that the roof can be made watertight with ice and water shield quickly, and the insulation can be made continuous.
Clips are placed on bearing plates once the roof is dried in; then, long screws attach the new roof to the original purlins. Since this approach doesn’t involve any additional framing, it’s important to note that the panel selected must meet the uplift requirements on the existing frame spacing.
This system can be used to recover existing exposed fastener roofs and low-floating standing seam roofs installed on open framing, including purlins, hot roll channels, hat sections, or bar joists. This approach is best suited to recovering existing roofs installed over wood or metal decks with rigid insulation.
Advantages
- Most watertight
- Best insulation coverage
- Unlimited ability to add insulation
- Ensures the best insulation coverage and will significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce wear over time
- Works best for exposed fasteners and low floating standing seam roofs but is also suitable for wood and metal decks with rigid insulation
Disadvantages
- This method produces high total costs but provides superior insulation coverage.
- No additional corner framing on open frame jobs
- The upper panel should match the lower panel module
- Involves detailed insulation work to ensure watertightness and continuous coverage
Tall Clip
Our frameless 238T Metal-Over-Metal Recover System is our contractor customer's favorite recover solution for existing metal roofs that need to be repaired or replaced. This roof recover system is commonly used over existing thru-fastened panels.
The frameless design offers significantly reduced material and labor costs, allowing contractors to provide this option at a price level competitive with single-ply roofing while lasting nearly twice as long.
Finally, McElroy Metal’s 238T Metal-Over-Metal Recover System includes one more feature that makes it a tremendous value: a symmetrical standing seam. Symmetrical standing seam roof panels can be removed and replaced individually if damage occurs or alterations such as curbs become necessary later. The same is simply not true for asymmetrical standing seam profiles.
This approach involves placing a clip with an offset taller than the ribs of the existing panel in between the ribs of the current panel and attaching it to the structure below.
Tall clip systems are best used to recover existing exposed fastener panels. Still, they can also be used to recover a low-floating standing seam roof with a seam height of 1 ¾” or less that is installed on open framing, including purlins, hot roll channels, hat sections, or bar joists. Tall clips can also be used to recover existing roofs installed over wood decks or metal decks with rigid insulation.
Advantages
- No sub-framing
- Attach clip to purlin
- Least expensive
- Fastest install
- Easiest to keep watertight during installation
- Improved diaphragm values
- Ideal for exposed fasteners and low floating standing seam roofs, providing a cost-effective solution with minimal insulation limitations
- This system is the most cost-effective, with low material and labor costs, and offers a fast installation process, making it ideal for budget-conscious projects.
Disadvantages
- While cost-effective and quick to install, it provides limited insulation, potentially resulting in higher energy consumption
- The existing panel has to be in module
- The new panel must be a standing seam roof
Roof Recover Comparison
| Recover Method |
Material Costs
|
Labor Costs
|
Total Project Cost
|
Installation Speed
|
Insulation Capacity
|
Suitability for Existing Roof Types
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Notched Purlin/Roof Hugger
|
High
|
Low
|
High
|
Moderate
|
Discontinuous
|
Exposed Fastener, High/Low Floating Standing Seam
|
|
Hat over Zee Clip
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Up to 6 inches
|
Exposed Fastener, High/Low Floating Standing Seam
|
|
Crisscross Grid
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Slow
|
Uninterrupted Airflow
|
Exposed Fastener, High/Low Floating Standing Seam
|
|
Installation with Rigid Insulation, Long Fasteners back to Structure
|
Moderate to High
|
High
|
High
|
Slow
|
Best Coverage
|
Exposed Fastener, Low Floating Standing Seam
|
|
Tail Clip
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Fast
|
Limited
|
Exposed Fastener, Low Floating Standing Seam
|
Learn More about Installing Metal Roofing Over an Existing Metal Roof
Ready to learn more about ways to approach and considerations for installing a metal roof over an existing metal roof?
- Check out some of our recover projects in our photo gallery.
- Download our popular eBook, “Need a New Roof? How Building Owners Can Reduce Cost with a Metal Roof”
- Check out case studies on some of our recent recover projects:
- Metal Roof Overlay System Revitalizes Reception Hall
- Beautiful School Roof Recover with Symmetrical Metal Standing Seam Panels
- Roof Recover System Helps Preserve Historic School
- Webinar: How to Grow Your Business with Recover Roofing
Whether you’re a contractor already working with our team at McElroy Metal or are interested in using our products for your next project, contact us today to learn more or become part of our national network of distributors and contractors.
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: Recover and Retrofit
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