Hi All, This may seem like a loaded question, but it is strictly for informational purposes as we will be needing a new roof a few years down the road. I notice that hardly no one just simply puts a new roof layer on top of another (the org. roof) anymore. It use to be that, depending on where you live you could ad up to three layers of roofing...with of course places that had regular snow & ice being held to only two layers and in extremes, only one. I realize that roofers are going to want to make as much as possible so there fore they will always say that one should always strip off any single layer, but the price difference is extreme. I also realize that for the past several years that new construction is using smaller roofing materials and such, But I am wondering just how necessary this is, or is it just another ploy to get deeper into someones pockets? Is it safe to go with two layers these days ? Thanks for any opinions

 

It's always nice to be able to inspect what's beneath the shingles when putting on new ones.

 

Nowadays in most communities double roofing is prohibited. Fire safety being the reason.

 

Why would you want to cover over something that is failing with another layer? The only thing you are saving is some labor and you will pay that later when the next re-roof is needed. Roofing installations have changed a bit with the use of ice and water shield and pulling off the old roof will also allow the proper flashing of vents, kick out flashing, and step flashing. You are also adding double (or triple) the weight to the roof. Never a good idea IMO.

 

Any quote I have received has always included tear off, haul off, clean up, pipe boots, chimney flashing, drip edge flashing, the whole works. In essence what everyone has already said. You get to look at what your failed roof did to the substructure and repair it. (They make money doing that, too, granted) If you have any curling of the existing shingles, the new ones won't lay flat anyway.

 

All points are well taken...but there seems to be some confusion. I am not necessarily talking about a "Failing" roof. People don't always wait until their roof is leaking and/or falling apart to re-shingle. We have a dark colored roof and with it being 15-+ years old we should start thinking about doing something before it starts to fail. And at our age i'm not sure worrying about saving the labor many years down the road is of concern.

 

Again check with you local town. I suspect you won't have a choice.

 

Eventually your house will be sold, either by you, or a family member. If I was looking at a house a saw it had more then one layer of shingles I would deduct the cost of a new roof right off the asking price. Just more food for thought.

 

Good point from Tolyn - as someone looking for a new house right now, two layers of shingles is a red flag to me as well.

 

The ONLY excuse (note I said excuse and not reason) for adding a second layer is to save the cost of removal and disposal of the original roof. Admittedly that cost can be significant but you will get a far better job by doing so. A second layer will NOT last as long as a single layer, perhaps only two-thirds as long so in the end there really is no saving.

 

Got to agree with most of what's been already said.
I charge the same to tare off as to nail the new one's back on.
First things someone's going to complain about on a roof over is why do my new ones blow off, why are they not laying flat?
Got what you payed for.
At least 90% of the time I have to replace missing shingles it's on a roof over.
If there not willing to remove the old ones, and add drip cap, Storm and shield where needed, replace all flashing not just "replace where needed" I pass on the job.
It's came back to haunt me to many times.
Even the house that my girl friend own's where I live came up with a bunch of surprizes when I removed the old shingles.
Something I'd never seen before all the grade stamps on the OSB said reject.
24" spacing on the trusses, 1/2" OSB and not the first H clip and no spacing.
They had nailed the step flashing right in the 90 deg. bend.
The so called flashing on the chimney was paper thin aluminum just laid up against the chimney with about 4 tubes of Black Jack.

 

I might have missed a few.

Joe, you really should work on your spelling and usage. You're (not your) a smart guy with a lot of valuable information but your atrocious writing skills make you look like a grade school dropout.

Sorry if I hurt your feelings but I just had to get that off my chest.

 

Hey, I resemble that remark.