Installation & What to Expect
Overlay or tear-off, what goes under the metal, and what happens during installation week.
11 guides
- Aluminum Roofing Fasteners: Why Concealed Beats ExposedAluminum roofing uses two fastening methods: exposed fasteners — screws driven through the panel face and sealed with rubber washers — and concealed fasteners — clips and interlocks hidden beneath…
- Best Time of Year to Replace a RoofFall is generally the best time to replace a roof — mild, dry, stable weather is ideal for installation, and you are sealed up before winter.
- Can You Install a Metal Roof Over Existing Shingles?In many cases, yes. Metal roofing is light enough to install over one existing layer of asphalt shingles where local codes allow, which saves the cost and mess of a tear-off.
- Can You Put a Metal Roof Over Cedar Shake?You generally should not install a metal roof directly over cedar shake — the shakes are uneven, and old wood traps moisture and rots beneath a new roof.
- Can You Put Solar Panels on a Metal Roof?Yes — metal is one of the best roofs for solar. Standing seam metal roofs are ideal because panels attach with clamps to the seams, requiring no holes through the roof, which preserves the…
- Can You Replace a Slate Roof With Metal?Yes — replacing an old or failing slate roof with metal is common and often wise.
- How Is a Standing Seam Metal Roof Installed?A standing seam roof is installed over a prepared deck and underlayment: vertical panels run from ridge to eave, attach to the deck with concealed clips (or a nailing flange), and lock together at…
- How to Choose a Metal Roofing ContractorChoose a contractor with specific metal-roofing experience — not just general roofing.
- Roof Deck, Underlayment & Ventilation for Metal RoofsUnder the metal, three things matter: a sound roof deck (minimum 1/2-inch solid sheathing), a quality synthetic underlayment covering the whole roof (plus ice-and-water eave protection in cold…
- Tear-Off vs. Overlay: Do You Need to Remove Your Old Roof?A tear-off removes the old roof down to the deck; an overlay installs the new roof over the existing one.
- What to Expect During a Metal Roof InstallationA metal roof installation typically takes a few days to about a week and follows a clear sequence: inspection and measurement, material delivery, preparing the deck (tear-off or overlay), installing…