If you’re a homeowner with a roof that’s seen better days, then you may be wondering whether to opt for a tear-off or roof overlay. Both options have their pros and cons, so how do you decide which is right for your home? Here’s a quick breakdown of the factors you need to consider, so you can make an informed decision.
Weight
The main argument against laying additional layers of asphalt shingles is that the roofing materials can get too heavy for the underlying roof framing. This can be a structural problem, especially for older houses. It is often said that a triple layer of asphalt shingles is equal to a single layer of slate shingles—an exceedingly heavy type of material.
Telegraphing
Another problem with shingling over existing shingles is that you are essentially repeating some of the surface irregularities that may already be present. If you’re contemplating putting on a new roof, there’s probably a good chance that you may have bubbles, bumps, and waves that should be remedied. Putting new shingles over existing problems can leave you with a rather unattractive new roof. One way to minimize this problem is to go over the old roof and correct as many problems as you can before re-roofing. It doesn’t take much more than a hammer, some roofing nails, and a handful of shingles to correct bumps, gaps, and protruding nails. Source: TheSpruce
Cost
On average, a tearoff roofing job costs around 25 percent more than an overlay. It takes a lot more labor to completely remove all the existing roofing material and then replace all the layers removed. The old roofing also has to be disposed of properly, which adds to the cost. Source: HomeReference
Repairs
If you have more than one layer of roofing, it’s very difficult to track and identify a leak’s origin. Any trapped water can move too, appearing in other places, making patches a problematic and ongoing issue.
Resale Value
Using roof overlay can negatively affect the resale value of your home. Prospective homeowners aren’t looking to replace the roof of the place they just bought, and eventually, with roof overlay, that’s exactly what they’ll have to do. Source: Angi
If you aren’t sure which one to choose, call us. We’ll be more than happy to help!
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains Ltd.
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
