Couldn’t agree more—if the deck’s already mushy, you’re just asking for trouble down the line. I’ve seen folks try to “save” a few bucks by skipping the tear-off, only to end up with a much bigger headache (and bill) later. Sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and do it right.
That’s the truth—skipping the tear-off’s tempting when you see the price, but it’s a gamble. I tried to patch over a soft spot a couple years back (figured I’d save some cash), and sure enough, next big storm we got water stains in the ceiling. Ended up having to replace decking and insulation too, which cost way more. If the deck’s questionable, I’d say just deal with it now...it hurts less in the long run.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced that a full tear-off is always the answer. I’ve been through two re-roofs on my place (asphalt shingles both times, Midwest weather—hail, wind, you name it), and honestly, the first time I did a full tear-off, it was a nightmare. Cost was through the roof (pun intended), and the mess was unreal. The second time, I went with a layover because the decking was still solid everywhere except one small spot. I just replaced that section and put new shingles over the rest. That roof’s held up for almost 12 years now, and we’ve had some nasty storms.
I’m not saying patching is always smart—if your decking’s mushy all over, yeah, you’re asking for trouble. But if it’s just a couple of spots and you know what you’re looking at, sometimes you can get away with a partial fix. Not everyone’s got the budget for a full tear-off, especially with prices these days. Plus, I’ve seen some contractors push for full replacements when it’s not really needed. Gotta watch out for that.
One thing I will say: if you’re in an area with wild weather, don’t cheap out on underlayment. I switched to synthetic instead of felt last time, and it’s made a difference—no leaks, even when a few shingles blew off in a storm last spring. And if you’re worried about insulation, sometimes it’s easier to add more from the attic side after the fact.
Anyway, just my two cents. Sometimes “just deal with it now” makes sense, but sometimes it’s overkill. Depends on the roof, the budget, and how much risk you’re willing to take.
You nailed it about underlayment—synthetic’s a game changer, especially with Midwest storms. I’ve seen layovers last a good while if the decking’s solid, but I always tell folks to check for soft spots real close. Sometimes you pull up a shingle and find a surprise... Been there myself. Full tear-off isn’t always necessary, but if you’ve got two or more layers already, local code might not let you add another. Costs are wild these days, so I get wanting to stretch things out. Just gotta balance risk and budget like you said.
Full tear-off isn’t always necessary, but if you’ve got two or more layers already, local code might not let you add another.
Yeah, that’s where I ran into trouble. Thought I could just do another layover, but city inspector said nope—had to strip it all down. Decking looked decent except a couple spots near the chimney. Ended up costing more but at least now I know what’s under there. Synthetic underlayment really does seem to hold up better in heavy rain, though. Worth the extra bucks in my book.
