Metal-Over-Shingle Methods in Tallahassee
Whether a recover works is decided on the roof, not on the phone. Two methods are common, and the code lists the conditions that rule both out.
Direct-to-Shingle Installs with New Underlayment
The panels or metal shingles go straight over the old shingles, with fresh underlayment between them. Leon County's re-roof affidavit lists "Metal (Direct Attachment)" as a system with its own Florida Product Approval number. Screws have to bite through the old shingles into the deck, so the fastener length and the approval's attachment pattern matter more than usual.
Furring Strips (Purlins) Over Shingles
Wood strips are screwed across the roof through the shingles into the rafters, and the metal is fastened to the strips. Leon County lists this as "Metal (with Purlins)." One panel maker's residential bulletin gives the details:
- Strip size: 2x4 preferred for 1-1/2 inches of screw bite; 1x4 gives only 7/8 inch
- Fastening: screws at most 8 inches apart, long enough for 1 inch into the rafter
- Lumber: untreated, or separated from the metal by plastic, felt or bituminous paint, since treated wood can attack the metal
When Code Rules Out a Recover
The Florida Building Code (Building 1511.3 and Residential R908.3) requires tearing off every layer down to the deck when:
- the existing roof is water-soaked or too deteriorated to be a base;
- the existing covering is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile;
- there are already two or more layers of any covering;
- blisters haven't been cut open and secured;
- the old roof would be used to anchor the new one and can't meet the code's attachment requirements.
One exception matters for metal: a complete standing seam system (or similar) built to bear on the framing itself, without leaning on the old roof for support, doesn't trigger the tear-off. Some manufacturers' sheets allow their product over two layers of shingles, but in Florida the code limit wins. These rules come from the 2023 edition. The 9th edition takes effect December 31, 2026, so check again for any permit filed after that.
Ventilation and Condensation Over Old Shingles
Leon County sits in the warm-humid 2A climate zone. Metal stays close to outdoor temperature, and warm, moist air from the house condenses when it reaches a cold metal surface. The same panel maker's bulletin treats felt as a vapor barrier for this reason and calls eave and ridge ventilation essential. Angi goes further and warns that a recover can trap moisture against the old shingles and grow mold. Ask how the quote vents the roof and what goes between the shingles and the metal.
Why Tallahassee homeowners call Tallahassee Metal Roof Co.
- Free referral, no charge to homeowners
- Your request reaches a single metal roofing contractor, not a list
- Ask for panel, gauge and Product Approval number in writing
- Free, no-obligation estimate from the roofer
What a Recover Skips in Tallahassee
The trade-off for skipping the tear-off is that nobody sees the deck.
Deck re-nailing
The code's re-nailing and secondary water barrier steps for existing homes (Residential R908.7) are written for a roof that's removed and replaced. That's why the City and County inspection lists include deck re-nailing as a separate step.Rotten sheathing
Soft plywood under a recover stays there. On an older house, ask whether anyone will check the underside of the deck from the attic before the quote is final.Insurance paperwork
Florida's wind mitigation form records how the deck is attached, and a recover can't change that answer. See metal roof replacement for the form and the permit offices.Repair history
If part of the roof was already redone in the last 12 months, the code's 25% rule may come into play. See metal roof repair.
Most of Tallahassee's housing was built before 2000, so count the layers before anyone prices a recover. A second layer means a tear-off. If yours has one dry layer and a solid deck, a recover can be a sound choice. If not, see metal roof replacement.