How to "Raise the Roof"

When you need to add more floor space to an existing home, can you build up? In some situations, raising a roof is quite doable, and can be the perfect time to upgrade the roof itself, particularly if the old roof is nearing the end of its lifespan. In cases where the budget is adequate, raising the roof and upgrading to new metal roofing materials can be a cost effective way to nearly double the size of a home

Yes, You Can Raise a Roof

The concept behind raising a roof is fairly simple; bring out a crane, lift off the existing roof, build a second story above the first, lower the roof, and voila! Of course, the structural integrity of the home requires the help of an engineer and some creative carpentry skills, but the results can be dramatic. Certain details can help the project flow more smoothly, such as including a roofing upgrade. Since you'll be lifting the roof anyway, it’s the perfect time to make needed repairs or complete an entire new roofing project.

Upgrading to a metal roof during a roof raising project will provide numerous benefits including:

• Less weight which your walls and foundation will have to bear. Since metal is the lightest roofing material, you will be able to displace some of the additional new weight (from the construction of the second floor) by lessening the overall weight of the roof. This difference can have substantial impact on a building not originally built to handle a second floor. 
• Energy savings as a result of superior insulating abilities. Adding floor space to your home will naturally increase your utility bills, but upgrading to a metal roof can help soften the blow.  Metal roofing will lower energy usage, saving money and helping to keep the home more comfortable.
• Incredible longevity. Since you're completing a serious remodel while raising a roof, it's logical that you'll want that roof to last once it is set down in place again. Metal roofs can last more than 50 years, making them more cost effective over the course of their lifetime when compared to shingles.
• Striking styles and colors. Today's metal roofing industry has created a wide variety of styles and colors to meet the needs of the most exacting homeowner.
• Reduced insurance premiums. Due to the fireproof nature of metal, many insurance companies offer a discount on homes with a metal roof, allowing homeowners the opportunity to recover part of their investment through reduced premiums.

Keep Costs Down for an Edge Over the Competition

Naturally, cost will be a large concern of any homeowner considering a major home upgrade. As a contractor, you can help keep your prices reasonable and your workmanship high with the use of combination fasteners such as SCRAIL^® RoofLoc^® System. By combining the holding power of screws with the speed of nails, specialty fasteners allow you to lower labor costs and reduce the number of customer callbacks you receive to complete any "do overs", making them an excellent way to give yourself an advantage over the competition when bidding a job. Installing faster and more efficiently than conventional fasteners, the SCRAIL^® RoofLoc^® System is two times faster than collated screws and eight times faster than bulk screws, and the leak proof EPDM washer and FasCoat^® ensures it stands up to the conditions your roof faces.