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layering shingles vs. full tear-off: what's your take?
I'm getting ready to redo my roof and keep going back and forth between just adding another layer of shingles or biting the bullet and doing a full tear-off. I've heard layering saves money and time, but some folks say it can cause issues down the road (like weight or moisture problems). On the other hand, tearing everything off seems like a huge hassle and expense. Curious if anyone's done either option recently and how it turned out for you?
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The moisture concern with a second layer is a bit overstated. It isn’t automatically a problem if the existing shingles are dry, lying flat, and the roof assembly has adequate ventilation. The bigger drawback is that you lose the chance to properly inspect the decking, flashing, and underlayment before covering them.
I’d only consider layering after checking local code, since many areas limit the number of layers or prohibit it on certain roof slopes. If there are curled or uneven shingles, soft spots, active leaks, damaged flashing, or questionable decking, a tear-off is the better choice. Otherwise, the savings can be reasonable, but you’re trading away that inspection opportunity and may make the next replacement more labor-intensive.