We did a full tear-off last fall—old asphalt shingles, Midwest climate, lots of freeze/thaw. It was a pain, but seeing the decking was worth it. Found some soft spots that would’ve been a nightmare if we’d just layered. Used synthetic underlayment (GAF Deck-Armor) instead of felt. Installers liked it, and it seemed sturdier, but honestly, I’m not sure I’d notice a difference unless there was a leak. No regrets on the tear-off, though... peace of mind is huge when winter rolls in.
Tear-off’s always my go-to, especially in places with wild weather swings. I’ve seen way too many hidden rot spots under double layers—people think they’re saving money, but then a big storm hits and suddenly there’s water in the attic. Synthetic underlayment’s solid, though. I’ve noticed it holds up better when shingles get ripped off in a windstorm. Felt just tears apart. Peace of mind’s worth the hassle, honestly.
- Totally get where you’re coming from on the tear-off.
- Seen way too many “quick fixes” end up as expensive messes, especially when folks try to double up shingles.
- Rot, mold, and even critters love hiding under those layers... not worth the risk in my book.
- Synthetic underlayment’s definitely a step up from old-school felt. It’s not perfect (nothing really is), but I’ve watched it hold up during some gnarly storms when neighbors’ roofs got shredded.
- Only thing I’d add—if you’re thinking green, tear-off creates a lot of waste. Some places recycle the old shingles now, which helps a bit.
- Peace of mind is huge, but I wish there were more eco-friendly options that didn’t cost an arm and a leg or end up in the landfill.
- Anyway, sounds like you made the right call for your area. Weather swings are brutal—no sense gambling with leaks or hidden damage.
Tear-off felt like a gut punch to my wallet, but I couldn’t shake the idea of what might be lurking under those old shingles. My neighbor just slapped a new layer on top last year—looked fine at first, but now he’s got squirrels nesting in the attic and a weird smell in his laundry room. I get why folks double up to save money, though. Honestly, I almost did it myself until I heard about possible insurance headaches down the line. Still not thrilled about all that waste, but at least our city started shingle recycling drop-offs. Would love to see more affordable green options... right now it feels like you gotta pick your poison.
- Been there—tore mine off a few years back after finding some rotten decking underneath.
- Cost hurt, but I figured if I was already up there, might as well fix what’s hidden, right?
- Insurance company actually gave me a better rate after the full tear-off, which I didn’t expect.
- Not wild about the landfill part, but our local Habitat ReStore took some of the old shingles for reuse... small win.
- Those “quick fix” layers always seem to come back to bite people around here, especially when critters get involved.
- Wouldn’t mind seeing more eco-friendly shingles that don’t cost double, honestly.
