Metal Roofing in Luling, TX

Luling's houses have been through a lot. Many date back to the oil boom years or earlier, and they've seen decades of hail, wind and heat. When a worn-out shingle roof finally gives up on one of them, metal deserves a price, because it can outlast the next two or three shingle roofs you'd otherwise buy.

A good deck comes first

Metal is only as good as what it's fastened to. On older Luling homes we find all kinds of decking: plank boards, plywood patches from past repairs and the odd spot gone soft from an old leak. All of it gets looked at before panels go on.

• Soft or rotted boards: replaced.
• Board decking with wide gaps: covered with new sheathing if the roof will be standing seam.
• Sagging rafters: sistered or braced so the panels run straight.
• Old vents and stacks: re-flashed with boots that fit the panel.

None of this is exotic work, but it takes a crew willing to stop and fix things instead of covering them up.

Can it go over the old shingles?

If there's just one layer of shingles and the deck under it is solid, metal can usually go right over the top, which saves the tear-off and the haul to the dump. Many installers lay furring strips first. That gives the panels a flat base and leaves a small air space that helps carry heat away. If the shingles are wavy, the deck is soft or there are already two layers, everything comes off.

Going over also hides problems. If you've had leaks inside, or the roof line dips between rafters, pay for the tear-off and see what's really there.

Picking a panel on a budget

Exposed-fastener panels cost the least and are common on Caldwell County homes and shops. They do need the screws checked as the washers age. Standing seam costs more up front and asks less of you later. Stone-coated steel looks like shingles or shakes from the street and stays quiet in rain, since it usually sits on battens over an air space. Whatever you choose, get the steel gauge written into the quote; thinner steel dents more in hail.

1. Get two or three quotes on the same panel and gauge.
2. Ask each roofer how they'll handle the deck if it's worse than expected.
3. Confirm who hauls away the old material.
4. Ask how long the panels take to arrive once ordered.

After the new roof

A new roof stops leaks and trims some heat, but older Luling houses usually need attic insulation and some air sealing as well. If yours sits on a pier and beam foundation, the floor can leak as much air as the ceiling; skirting repairs and sealed floor penetrations help there. If you've done all that and the house still runs warm, the AC may be due for service.

If hail has already worked over your roof, our hail damage page covers what to check before calling your insurer, and the Luling home energy guide takes on doors, windows and attics.