You can say a lot of things about roofs, and most of them might be true. But one thing that nobody can argue with is that roofs are tops. This statement can be taken in several ways. A roof does for the top of your home. It can also act like a "top" or lid for your home, keeping the rain out. Then, there's the third meaning, which is the one we happen to like the most: roofs are the best. (People say things are "tops" when they really like them.) Since we like roofs so much, we've decided to write about them, and you've discovered the blog where we do that.
Brian Riley
Since metal roofs last for decades, it may be hard to decide when it's time to get a new roof. Metal roofs wear out eventually, and sometimes, a metal roof might need to be replaced when it's still fairly new if it sustains damage. Here's when it may be time to consider a new metal roofing installation.
When The Coating Has Worn Away
The coating on a metal roof is important because it protects the roof from the rust. When the coating gets old, thin, and worn off in places, your roof might start to rust. You'll need to decide if you want to apply a new coating to your roof or replace the roof. The decision might rest on how much rust your roof has already. Rust can be removed in many cases, so you may want to do that and apply a coating.
However, if the roof is showing signs of rust in several areas, you might not want to risk keeping the roof. In that case, your roofer might recommend a new roofing installation that involves tearing off the old panels and putting on new ones with a fresh coating that should last a few decades.
When The Roof Has Hail Damage
Hail doesn't necessarily make metal roofs leak, but large hail can pepper your roof with dents, and that's not an attractive look. A roofing contractor can pull dents out of a metal roof, but that might not be a practical solution if your roof is covered in dents. There's also a risk the dents harmed the coating and increased the risk of rust on your roof.
Your insurance company might pay for a new roofing installation because of hail damage, but even if they don't, your roofer might recommend replacing the roof rather than trying to repair it if the risk of a leak is high.
When Screws Back Out Of The Panels
Because metal roofing expands and contracts, the screws might start backing out as the years go by. When this happens, the screw holes might get larger and make it impossible to seal the holes again. A roofer might have to replace the backed-out screws with larger ones or make new screw holes and seal the old ones.
If a lot of screws are backing out and it looks like this will be an ongoing issue, the roofer might recommend having a new roof installed to eliminate the problem. If you get a new roofing installation, you may want to switch from an exposed fastener roof to a standing seam roof that protects the screws to reduce the risk of screw problems in the future.