Steel vs Shingle re-roof
When we talk to individuals looking for a re roof on their home or outbuilding, we often get asked, “Isn’t steel roofing really expensive?”.
Great question!
We recently priced out 28-gauge exposed fastener steel roofing versus an architectural shingle from CertainTeed’s Landmark® Pro line.
Here are the findings:
Steel roofing- Individual’s home only had 1 layer of existing architectural shingles on it, so with a new steel roof, we would be able to install 2×4 roof purlins at 2’ centres over the existing shingles before installing the new steel roofing and steel trims. New York code allows for up to 2 layers of roofing material.
Architectural shingles- Even though there’s currently only 1 layer of existing shingles on the roof, we prefer not to install a second layer of shingles over an existing layer. Reason being- We don’t believe that it gives the new shingles a solid enough base, which could cause nail pops, resulting in a leaking roof. And who wants a leaking roof after having a new roof installed? Not me, and I’d rather our customers not either.
Therefore, we quoted removing and disposing of the existing shingles, then installing new underlayment along with ice and water, before laying down a fresh, new layer of shingles.
Results? The exposed fastener steel roofing came in 5% less than the architectural shingles. Pretty neck and neck if you ask me.
Now, while the pricing works out this way most of the time, there are occasions when the steel will be more costly than the shingles. Factors such as multiple roof lines, numerous valleys, etc.
Also, I do want to mention that if you are seeking a steel roof that uses a hidden fastener system, this type of steel roofing does cost A LOT more than shingles. We’re talking around 175% more. The hidden fastener steel roofing has an amazing aesthetic appeal, but you’ll need to bite the bullet for this one.