Metal Shingles: Mixing old and new

If your roof consists of old metal shingles....and you want to add an addition to your structure....what choices do you have about your old metal shingles?

On this church in Maryland, the first question to resolve was the condition of the existing tin shingles over the sanctuary. In brief, were they worth saving?

The two photos below illustrated the worse sections of the church's metal shingle roof, or 1% of the surface area. Except for these minor irregularities, the past routine maintenance on the roof offered the church an opportunity to restore the metal shingles, if they desired.

But there was a small hurdle.

The plans for the renovation called for an addition to the front of the church. Back areas of the building had additions with asphalt shingles, which worked quite well. But a front addition...the entrance to the main sanctuary...required some rethinking about asphalt shingles.

In technical terms, asphalt shingles would appear tacky.

The architect contacted Berridge manufacturing in Texas (see "old" metal shingle sources) which fortunately produced a similar style of metal shingle.

Still there was a small hurdle.

The older shingles had been covered with an aluminum coating, leaving a finish that failed to match the new addition's shingles. Plus the church wanted a "shiny" finish. Most owners of vintage metal roofs prefer the "matted" appearance, but on occasion, a finished look with a sheen is requested.

For projects with colored metal roofs with a shiny tint,the technique is altered. This church committee preferred "shiny", like the new shingles. The final plan was that all roof surfaces would be top coated with this formulation tinted in silver.