Had this exact debate when I bought my place—old 1920s bungalow, roof had two layers already. Ended up biting the bullet and doing a full tear-off. Cost more, but found some nasty rot hiding underneath. Glad I didn’t just slap another layer on and call it good.
Glad I didn’t just slap another layer on and call it good.
Same boat here—1928 house, three layers deep when I bought it. Pulled everything off and, sure enough, there was a patch the size of a pizza box that was just mush. Adding another layer would've been like duct taping over a leaky pipe... might slow things down but doesn’t fix what’s underneath. Cost stung, but at least I’m not worrying about hidden rot every time it rains.
- Good call tearing it all off. Too many times I’ve seen folks just add another layer and cross their fingers.
- Once you’re past two layers, you’re really just hiding problems. Mushy decking like you found is a classic—by the time it shows inside, it’s a much bigger headache.
- Full tear-off’s not cheap, but you’re buying peace of mind. No guessing what’s under there every time the wind picks up or it pours.
- Seen a lot of roofs where “just one more layer” turned into sagging rafters or even mold in the attic. Not worth the risk, especially on older homes with questionable ventilation.
- Some will argue another layer saves money short-term, and sure, sometimes it does. But if you’re already at three, you’re pushing your luck. Plus, local code usually limits it to two anyway.
- I get why people hesitate—cost, mess, hassle. But once you see what’s under those old shingles, it’s usually clear you made the right call.
- One thing I’d add: now’s the time to check flashing, chimney caps, and attic insulation too. You’ve got everything exposed—might as well do it right.
- Not everyone wants to hear it, but shortcuts up there almost always come back to bite you... sometimes literally (hello, raccoons).
- In the end, you’ll sleep better knowing what’s over your head is solid. That’s worth a lot more than saving a few bucks upfront.
- Tore off my old shingles last fall (asphalt, two layers, 1960s house). Glad I did. Decking looked fine from the attic but had some nasty soft spots once we got the shingles up.
- Cost was rough, not gonna lie, but peace of mind’s worth it. No more guessing about leaks or weird smells after a storm.
- Did find some surprise rot around a vent pipe. Would’ve missed that if I’d just slapped another layer on.
- Messy job, but now I know exactly what’s up there. No regrets—especially with our crazy freeze/thaw cycles up here.
That rot around the vent pipe is a classic—happens way more than folks realize. Tearing off is a pain, but you’re spot on about freeze/thaw cycles making hidden damage worse. I’ve seen too many “just add a layer” jobs end up with mystery leaks later. Sometimes it’s better to bite the bullet and see what’s really going on under there.