Yeah, the price tag on a full tear-off is rough, but I totally get where you’re coming from. We went back and forth for weeks—my spouse was all about saving money with layering, but I kept picturing hidden rot or critters making themselves at home under there. In the end, we bit the bullet and did the tear-off. It hurt the wallet, but at least I’m not lying awake every time it rains, wondering if my ceiling’s about to cave in. If only there was a “halfway” option that didn’t feel like rolling the dice...
We had a similar debate at my place last year. The house is from the late 70s, and there were already two layers of shingles up there. I kept reading that you can technically go for a third in some places, but it just felt like kicking the can down the road. My main worry was moisture getting trapped between layers—especially since we’re in a pretty humid area. I’ve seen what happens when plywood decking starts to rot... not pretty, and way more expensive to fix later.
The tear-off was noisy and messy, and yeah, the bill stung. But when they pulled everything off, we actually found a couple of soft spots that would’ve gotten worse if we’d just layered over them. Kind of made me glad we didn’t take the shortcut.
I do wish there was some sort of “partial” option too—like maybe just stripping the worst sections? But I guess with roofs it’s all or nothing if you want peace of mind.
I do wish there was some sort of “partial” option too—like maybe just stripping the worst sections?
I’ve wondered about that too, but every roofer I talked to basically said patch jobs on old roofs are like putting a Band-Aid on a leaky boat. I get it though—tearing off everything feels extreme until you see what’s hiding underneath. At least now you know your decking’s solid, even if your wallet’s still recovering.
Yeah, I totally get the temptation to just fix the worst spots and call it a day. My last house had a patchwork roof—looked like a quilt made by someone who hates matching colors. It held up for a while, but then the leaks started popping up in new places every year. Ended up costing more in the long run. Still, I wish there was a middle ground that didn’t involve emptying my savings or living with buckets on the floor...
Man, I’m right there with you. I keep going back and forth between just slapping another layer on and doing the whole tear-off thing. My place is only about 15 years old, but the last storm we had ripped off a bunch of shingles and now I’m paranoid every time it rains. I get what you’re saying about the patchwork look—my neighbor’s roof is like a checkerboard from all the spot fixes, and honestly, it kinda stresses me out just looking at it.
The quotes I’ve gotten are all over the place too. One guy said layering would save me a couple grand, but then another contractor basically made it sound like my house would collapse if I didn’t do a full tear-off. Hard to know who’s actually giving good advice and who just wants a bigger job. Plus, I read somewhere that layering shingles can mess with warranties or even cause problems with heat buildup? Not sure how much of that is real or just scare tactics.
I wish there was an obvious “middle ground” too. Like, why isn’t there an option where you can just replace half the roof or something? Maybe that’s just wishful thinking... But yeah, dropping ten grand on a new roof feels brutal, especially when you’ve got other stuff breaking down at the same time (looking at you, water heater).
I’m leaning toward biting the bullet and doing it right once instead of patching forever, but man, it’s tough to pull the trigger when you see those numbers. If anyone’s ever found a way to make this less painful—or at least less confusing—I’d love to hear it. For now, I’m just hoping my buckets don’t become permanent decor...
