Get matched with top roofers in Marshallville, OH

While you technically can add a roof over shakes or shingles, it’s not a good idea. Roofing over existing roofing creates a moisture barrier underneath the new roof and since the trapped material is wood, you can expect a moisture problem. While you could get away with installing a new roof over asphalt or steel, wooden roofs should be removed, new underlayment installed, and the new roof installed over that. Also, the extra weight would add strain to your roof structure.

Whether a metal or shingle roof is better for you depends on your preferences. Standing seam metal roofs require little to no maintenance, but if you install a screw-down metal roof where the fasteners are exposed, the gaskets on the fasteners will dry rot and need to be replaced. Generally, screw-down metal roofs need to be re-screwed every 15 to 20 years.

Metal roofs are energy-efficient and have extended warranties, while asphalt shingles are less durable than most. They tend to lose color and get damaged over time, and absorb heat from the sun.

Hail is unlikely to damage a tar and gravel roof because the hailstones will hit the protective gravel rather than your delicate roof membrane. A tar and gravel roof is the most resilient flat roof option, which means it’s the best one for areas that see hail, fallen tree debris, and blown debris from intense winds.

Roofing estimates vary for many reasons, but the most significant ones include differences in the cost of labor based on the contractor’s experience and overhead costs, as well as the quality of the materials your roofer will use for the job. You should get your estimates itemized and make sure your contractors include details about the materials they plan on using. Doing so allows you to compare not only based on the cost but also the value that you’ll get for your money.