How to Replace a Home Roof With Metal

Use goggles and gloves to protect you from injury. Always wear the roofing harness and secure it to a safety line as instructed by the manufacturer. Place the ladder securely against the house.

Determine if you need to remove the old roofing before applying the metal panels. In many cases you can leave two or three layers of old roofing in place. Your local building code often dictates how much you can leave.

Remove any large debris from the roof as well as any of the old roofing you wish to remove. Use the roofing shovel to slide under old shingles and pry them up.

Sweep any remaining debris off the roof, including leaves, branches and bits of old roofing. Pull out any nails or screws that stick up above the roof decking so that they don’t damage the new roof.

Roll the insulation over the surface of the roof. Use galvanized nails every 4 feet to hold the insulation in place. Insulation for metal roofs is typically thin and comes in rolls for easy handling. Some types have a metallic vapor barrier on one side, and that side should always be placed facing down.

Fasten closure strips along the eaves of the roof. Hold them in place with galvanized nails. The closure strips seal the ends of the corrugated metal panels to keep out insects, animals, wind and rain. Seal the upper edge of the closure strips with caulking.

Place the first row of corrugated panels along the edge of the house, fitting them snugly over the closure strips. Overlap the sides of the panels by several inches, and caulk between the panels where they overlap. Screw the panels to the roof with the self-tapping metal screws. Each screw must have the nylon washer in place in order to prevent leaks.

Overlap the first row of panels with the second row by about 4 to 6 inches. Caulk where they overlap. Overlap the second row on the sides, as with the first row. Proceed with each additional row of panels in the same manner until the roof is completely covered.

Cut the panels as necessary to allow them to fit over or around chimneys or roof vents. Caulk around these holes once the panel is in place. Adding a collar over the vents will also help to prevent leaks.

Caulk both sides of the ridge area along the entire length of the roof. Place the ridge panel over the ridge so that the entire length is covered. Use the metal screws to hold it in place and complete the roof.