I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen a lot of cases where a second layer actually made sense—especially on roofs where the decking was still in good shape. The extra weight thing gets tossed around a lot, but asphalt shingles aren’t *that* heavy per square, unless you’re dealing with really old framing or already have some sagging.
“there was some pretty soft decking in spots—would’ve missed it if I’d just gone over the top.”
That’s fair, but not every roof from the 50s is hiding rotten wood. Sometimes people rip off a perfectly solid first layer and spend thousands more for the peace of mind, when a thorough inspection from the attic side could’ve told them the story. Not saying tear-offs are never needed—just that it’s not always cut and dry. Around here (Midwest), I’ve seen plenty of 2-layer jobs hold up fine for 20+ years.
Guess it comes down to how much risk you’re comfortable with, and whether you trust what’s under there. But yeah, if you’re already seeing soft spots or leaks, full tear-off’s the way to go.
I get the argument for saving money and time by just adding a second layer, but I’ve got to push back a bit on how often that actually works out long-term. You mentioned,
Thing is, in my experience, even a good attic inspection can miss stuff. I thought my decking was fine until we pulled up the old shingles and found a couple spots where water had been sneaking in around a vent—no way I’d have caught that looking from below.“Sometimes people rip off a perfectly solid first layer and spend thousands more for the peace of mind, when a thorough inspection from the attic side could’ve told them the story.”
Also, I’ve noticed two layers don’t always age as well as you’d hope. The second set of shingles seems to trap more heat, and in our humid summers (I’m in southern Indiana), that can curl them faster. Plus, if you ever need another roof down the line, tearing off two layers is a pain and costs more.
Not saying a second layer is always wrong, but if you’re planning to stay put for another 20 years or want to avoid surprises, full tear-off just feels like less of a gamble. Just my two cents from dealing with it firsthand.
That’s exactly what I’m worried about—stuff hiding under the old shingles.
sums up my fear. I’m in central KY, and with our storms and humidity, I’d rather just do the tear-off and not wonder if there’s rot or leaks brewing. Maybe overkill, but peace of mind matters when you’re new to all this.“no way I’d have caught that looking from below”
You’re not overthinking it—central KY weather is no joke when it comes to roofs. I’ve seen way too many cases where folks just added a new layer, only to find out a couple years later that the decking underneath was rotting away from old leaks or trapped moisture. Once that happens, you’re looking at a much bigger headache (and bill) than if you’d just done the tear-off in the first place.
It’s tempting to go the cheaper route, especially if you’re new to home repairs and trying to save some cash. But honestly, with all the humidity and those wild summer storms we get, I’d rather know exactly what’s going on under there. Peace of mind is worth a lot, especially when you’re lying awake during a thunderstorm wondering if water’s sneaking in somewhere.
I get that it feels like overkill, but sometimes “overkill” is just being thorough. You’ll sleep better knowing you did it right—even if your wallet grumbles a bit now.
I’ve been wrestling with this exact decision for the past couple months, so it’s reassuring to see I’m not the only one thinking a full tear-off is the safer route. My place is just outside Lexington, and after last year’s storms, I noticed a few shingles curling and some water stains in the attic. The first roofer I talked to pitched the “just add another layer” idea, said it’d save me a good chunk of change up front. But like you mentioned, that humidity here is no joke. I crawled up there myself and found a couple soft spots—definitely not what you want to discover after dropping a few grand on new shingles.
I get why people go for the cheaper fix, especially with how expensive everything’s gotten lately. But honestly, once you factor in the risk of hidden damage and the cost of having to redo everything if something goes wrong, it starts to feel like false economy. Plus, I read somewhere that adding another layer can even void some manufacturer warranties, which isn’t something I want to mess with.
One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: if you do go the tear-off route, ask your contractor about replacing any questionable decking while they’re at it. It’s not a huge extra cost compared to the whole job, but it can save you from headaches down the line. And yeah, it’s loud and messy for a few days, but at least you know what you’re dealing with under there.
I’m leaning toward biting the bullet and doing it right the first time. The peace of mind during those summer downpours is worth more than saving a few bucks now. Still, I can’t blame anyone for wanting to keep costs down—just feels like too big a gamble with our weather.
