Roofers: They're Number One

If you're getting a new metal roof rather than putting on another asphalt shingle roof, you may be excited to see how much the new roof changes the appearance of your home. A fresh appearance is a good reason to get a metal roof, but an even better reason is that a metal roof is more durable than asphalt shingles. Here are some things to know about a new metal roofing installation.

1. Metal Roofing Installation Requires Special Skills

Asphalt shingle roofs are common, so it's easy to find roofing crews to install the shingles. Metal roofing is more complicated to install, and you want to be sure you find a roofing contractor that has experience with metal roofing. Because they are a little more labor intensive to install, it might take longer to put your new metal roof on than it would another asphalt shingle roof.

2. You Can Install A Metal Roof During The Winter

A good point about metal roofing is that you can install it any time of the year. However, your roofer may not want to work when the temperatures drop below zero, so you'll need to take your local climate into consideration.

Cold weather doesn't affect metal roof panels the same way cold temperatures affect asphalt shingles. So if you need to, you can put a new roof on in the winter. However, spring and fall are usually the best times to get a new roof due to milder temperatures.

3. Metal Roof Panels Are Held Down With Screws

Metal roof panels are usually held in place with screws and washers. As long as the screws are inserted straight and not too deep, you may never have a problem with them.

However, you may want to check the screws periodically because if a screw pops out or if the washer deteriorates, rain might leak in around a screw. A roofer has to be careful about inserting the screws during the metal roofing installation so the problem of leaking can be avoided.

4. Metal Roofs Need Flashing Too

You may not notice flashing on a metal roof, but metal roofing needs to have metal flashing around the chimney and anything else that sticks through the roof because the flashing prevents rain from leaking in the attic.

Flashing is typically made from aluminum sheets, but if you don't like the way the silver flashing looks on your metal roof, your roofer can use colored flashing and try to match the color of the metal panels. The roofer might also paint the flashing if you want a closer color match to the metal roof.

Contact a roofer in your area for more information about metal roofing installation.