Trying to figure out if I should just slap another layer of shingles on my roof or bite the bullet and do a full tear-off. Everyone I talk to seems to have a different opinion. My house is in the Midwest, so winters are rough, and I’m worried about weight, but I also don’t love the idea of all that mess and cost from a full replacement. Anyone else feel like the advice is all over the place? Did you regret going with one over the other?
I’m right there with you on the confusing advice. I went back and forth for weeks before finally deciding to do a full tear-off last summer. My roof had two layers already, and I kept getting told it was “fine” to add a third, but then another person would say that’s asking for trouble, especially with all the snow we get here. The cost difference was tough to swallow, but I figured if I’m already spending a chunk of money, I’d rather not risk hidden rot or extra weight making things worse down the line.
The mess was real, though—my yard looked like a disaster zone for a few days, and the noise was brutal. But at least now I know what’s under there is solid. Did you ever check if your current shingles are in decent shape underneath? I heard some folks just keep layering until there’s a real problem, but that always seemed risky to me. Curious if anyone’s actually regretted just adding another layer versus doing the full rip-off...
I went the cheaper route a few years back and just slapped a second layer on, hoping to save some cash. It did hold up for a while, but after a couple of rough winters, I started seeing leaks around the chimney. Ended up costing more to fix the rot underneath later. If I had to do it again, I'd probably just bite the bullet and do the tear-off. Sometimes saving money up front just means more headaches down the road...
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced that a second layer is always a bad move. My place is only about 15 years old, and when I bought it, the inspector said the roof had one layer and was still in decent shape except for a few spots. When I talked to a roofer, he actually recommended adding a second layer because the decking was solid and there weren’t any signs of leaks or rot. It saved me a chunk of change, and two years later, no issues yet (knock on wood).
I do get nervous reading stuff like
but maybe it depends on how much life is left in the first layer and whether there’s already damage underneath? I guess if you’ve got an older house or any hint of leaks, tear-off is probably safer. But for newer roofs with no problems, layering might not be as risky as people say... at least in milder climates. Just my two cents—still learning as I go.“Ended up costing more to fix the rot underneath later.”
Yeah, I hear you on the mixed advice. I’ve seen a few jobs where the second layer looked fine at first, but then ice dams hit and suddenly there’s water sneaking in places you can’t see. Midwest winters are no joke. The weight thing bugs me too—my uncle’s old place started sagging after a double layer, but maybe his decking was just weak to begin with. I guess if your roof’s still solid and you’re not seeing leaks or soft spots, it might work, but I’m always a little wary about what’s hiding underneath.
