Should We Cover Our Existing Roof Or Remove It?

By Author: Mark L’Heureux
Total Articles: 9
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When it comes time to replace your roof, there are several things that you need to consider. Aside from choosing the color, one of the other most important initial decisions will be whether you should tear off the old shingles and start from scratch or just put the new roof over the old one. How do you decide which option is the right one for you? This quick guide can help.

Budget Factor

If your budget is tight, you may want to consider simply having the new shingles placed on top of the older materials. Reroofing jobs can cost up to 50% more than those where contractors are simply laying the shingles over existing material. Part of that is the added labor and part of it is the additional dump fees incurred for the old shingles.

Age of Your Roof?

Whether or not your contractor is willing to put shingles over the existing roof may depend on the age of your current roof. If it’s within the warranty periods, and it still looks great, you may be a good candidate to simply have new shingles placed over your old ones.

What is the Condition?

Before any roofing contractor is even willing to ...
... simply lay a second set of shingles over the first, they’re going to do a thorough inspection of the roof’s condition to see whether it is a viable option. If you have had previous problems, like a roof leak or previous wood damage, a contractor will usually advise you tear it off and start from scratch.

Code Violations

One of the most important deciding factors in the process will be local laws and codes. In most areas, people are allowed to have two sets of shingles on a roof before it must be torn off and completely replaced. Some townships and neighborhood associations, though, are far more strict and have different requirements, so make certain you do your research before you step into a legal mess.

The Benefit of Reroofing

While it might be cheaper to simply have a new roof over the old one, there are some real benefits to starting fresh. It gives contractors a chance to inspect the flashing and decking. It also offers a more reliable grip for any fasteners used in the roofing process. What’s more, though, is that if you utilize more than one layer of roofing material, and you have a problem later, it could be far more difficult to track down the source of the problem, making the repairs more expensive. It can also lower the overall value of the home, as any interested buyer will quickly note that a full tear off will be required during the next reroofing cycle.

Talk carefully with your Phoenix roofing contractor before you make any decisions about which method of roofing might be right for your home.

Article Source: DMS Roofing