When it comes time to replace your roof, you may be tempted to save money with a shingle over shingle reroof rather than tearing off the old roof. Many homeowners believe that this will save time and money. Although this may be true initially, the fact is that there are far more disadvantages than advantages to this process.
Leaks and Flashing Problems
When you roof over existing roof materials, your contractor could unknowingly roof over a leak that has not been detected. In addition, without tearing off the old roof, you may not discover a problem with our flashing. If there is even a small leak in your roof, wood under the leak could be heavily damaged. There could also be damage to the roof decking which may have buckled or warped. If the old shingles are simply covered, this damage will not be discovered.
Added Weight
Reroofing over existing roof materials may lead to additional problems other than unknown damage. By covering your old shingles, you now have two roofs on your home, not just one. This adds a significant amount of weight on your home, adding stress to your roof decking. This also means that the second layer of shingles will attract additional heat which can cause the second layer of shingles to deteriorate more rapidly. Algae growth, bacteria, and mold will also be covered by a thick layer of asphalt shingles and this could lead to quick deterioration of the shingles as well.
Reduced Property Value
One issue with shingle over shingle reroof is that your property value could be negatively affected. If you are going to sell your home in the near future, covering old shingles should not be considered as your resale value will be much lower than if you replaced the roof completely. A complete roof replacement may recoup up to 69 percent of the cost should you decide to sell your home.
If you choose to roof over existing roof materials, it is important to note that you will eventually need to replace the entire roof. The cost for replacing the roof will more than likely be higher as the contractor will need to remove two roofs rather than one. If you are in need of a roof replacement, contact us today for a no-obligation estimate. You can reach us by phone or fill out the simple form online to learn more.
