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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.