Why to Choose a Complete Tear-Off for Roof Replacement

When you’re replacing a roof, there are generally two methods to choose from: one is to overlay the new shingles over your old  roofing  skeleton (the roof deck), and the other is to completely tear off the old structure and take it from the ground up, so to speak.

Which one is better, though? Obviously the overlay one is less time-consuming and less expensive, but is it really the best way to do it? Patriot Roofing says no, and these are some of the reasons why we think a complete tear-off is better—and even less costly in the long run.

When you overlay new shingles on top of an old roofing structure, you’re not exactly looking for issues in the first place. However, when you tear the underlayment off and expose the roof deck, you’d uncover hidden issues that would have been concealed for another 20 years (or not even half that, as overlaid roof replacement often fails sooner rather than later).

If the problems are minor, they can be patched up with  roof repair. But if they’re bigger, such as dry rot that has weakened rafters and beams, the entire roof deck may need to be overhauled. And you can never trust laying a new roof over weakened timbers.

We’ve mentioned 20 years, because that’s generally how long an asphalt shingle roof lasts—but only if they were completely new and not just overlaid. If they were, you’re looking at a range of 10 years to as soon as tomorrow. Newer materials may not always be lighter than the old ones, especially if it’s asphalt, and you can never be sure if the roof deck—if weakened—can still support that weight.

Most new roofing products come as a set, and manufacturers have rightly attached warranties to it—but only if they’re installed correctly, as per their specifications, and with an accredited installer. If they find out that you’ve simply overlaid a new roof, which is often not how they would like their products to be installed, they would instantly revoke your warranty, leaving you to hold the bag if you encounter a problem with your improperly installed roof.

Patriot Roofing isn’t just about  gutter installation ; we’re experts in roof replacement and repair as well. Contact us today at (405) 289-8807 to learn more about our services. You can also  fill out our form  to get started. We serve residents of Midwest City, OK, and nearby areas.

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