Will insurance cover a metal roof installed over shingles?

Two separate questions

Will a claim pay for it? If hail destroys your shingle roof, the insurer owes the cost of a shingle roof: tear off, underlayment, shingles and accessories. You may choose metal and pay the difference, but the claim does not fund the upgrade. Skipping tear off does not usually save the insurer anything either, since the estimate is based on doing the job properly.

Will an insurer cover a metal roof that sits over shingles? Many will, but underwriting questions often ask about roof layers. A second layer adds weight, can hide decking problems, and makes a future replacement more expensive because two roofs have to come off.

Code rules

The International Residential Code, which Georgia adopts with amendments, generally does not allow a new roof covering over existing coverings when the old roof is water soaked or deteriorated, or when there are already two or more layers. Metal over a single sound layer of shingles is commonly permitted, but your local building department decides. A permit is typically required.

Claims on metal roofs later

Many policies attach a cosmetic damage exclusion to metal roofs, so hail dents that do not let water in may not be paid even if they hurt the home's appearance and value. Read that endorsement before choosing metal. See cosmetic damage exclusions and code upgrade coverage.

Bottom line

Tear off is usually the better long term choice. Georgia Roof Guide explains why in roofing over existing shingles.