LESLIE: Rudy in Ohio is on the line with a question about a metal roof. How can we help you today?
RUDY: We had a hailstorm that damaged my roof. And I wanted to replace it with a metal roof and I wanted your opinion on whether this is good to leave the roof on. And there’s a material called a – it’s some kind of bubble-like insulation that can be put on there and then just put the metal right over that versus tearing it off or even using furring strips over it. Just wondered what your opinion would be on that.
TOM: Sure. Well, listen, while you certainly could do that, I would not recommend it and I’d never do that to my own house. I just think it’s penny wise and pound foolish, as my mother always used to say, because you’re going to get the best job if you take that asphalt-shingle roof off. I mean you’re talking about an investment-grade roof here. When you put a metal roof down, this roof’s going to last you 80, 100 years. This is going to outlast you and me. So, you might as well do this right. And I would not trap asphalt shingles between that new metal roof and the house for the next century. I think it’s a really bad way to apply the roof, even though some people will do it that way if they really want to save a little bit of money. I think you’re better off taking that roof right down to the original sheathing and putting the metal roof on as if it was the first roof that house ever got. That’s going to give you the best job. It’s going to look better, it’ll lay flatter and you’re also going to be more energy-efficient. Because that asphalt-shingle roof will hold a lot of heat and make it more expensive for you to cool your house in the summertime. You mentioned that there’s some sort of a bubble something or other. All those underlayments that maybe have a tiny bit of air and may be sold by contractors as an insulator, they offer such an infinitesimally small amount of insulation that I tell you it’s just not worth it. So I would do – I would take it right down to the roof sheathing.
RUDY: I wasn’t thinking about it as so much an insulation as just something to keep the metal from actually being in contact with the shingles.
TOM: Yeah. One of the issues that – when you put it against asphalt shingles is if those shingles are deformed in any way, it’s going to sort of transmit right through to the metal. So it’s a way of kind of smoothing things out. But it’s just not a good idea. You’re going to get a better installation out of that metal roof if you can just go right to the wood. And just do it once, do it right and you’ll never have to worry about it again, OK? It’s going to add some value to your house, as well. Take care. Good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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