That’s the part that worries me—what if you cover up a problem and it just gets worse? I keep hearing that adding a second layer saves money upfront, but does it really if you end up redoing the whole thing anyway? My neighbor did the “quick fix” route and now he’s got sagging spots and some weird stains on his ceiling. Is there ever a situation where a second layer actually works out long-term, or is it always just kicking the can down the road?
My neighbor did the “quick fix” route and now he’s got sagging spots and some weird stains on his ceiling.
That’s a fair concern. I get what you mean about “kicking the can down the road”—I’ve seen that happen a lot, especially around here where we get wild weather swings. Sometimes folks think they’re saving money, but then you hear stories like your neighbor’s with sagging and stains. Not a great trade-off.
Thing is, I have heard of second layers working out okay if the original roof’s still in decent shape—like, no rot or major leaks, just worn shingles. But honestly, it seems pretty rare that everything underneath is perfect, unless the roof’s not super old. I’m always a little skeptical when contractors push for a second layer without checking for hidden issues.
Curious—did your neighbor’s roof have any visible problems before they added that new layer, or did stuff only show up after? Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s brewing under there until it’s too late…
That’s what gets me—sometimes you can’t spot the trouble until you’re already in it. I’ve seen a few roofs where everything looked fine from the ground, but once you start poking around, surprise! Rotten decking or soggy insulation hiding under those old shingles. It’s like a bad game of “roofing roulette.”
I get why folks want to skip the tear-off (less mess, less cash up front), but man, if there’s even a hint of soft spots or leaks, it feels risky to just slap another layer on. Especially with all the freeze-thaw cycles we get here—water finds every little gap.
One of my uncles tried the double-layer thing a while back. Looked okay for a couple years, then he got these weird brown stains in his living room ceiling. Turns out, there was an old leak nobody caught because they never pulled the shingles off. Ended up costing him more than if he’d just done a full replacement.
Guess it comes down to how much you trust what’s under there… and how lucky you feel!
Guess it comes down to how much you trust what’s under there… and how lucky you feel!
That’s the truth. I went the “just add a layer” route on my old place, thinking I’d save a buck, and it bit me hard. Looked fine for a while, but the first big spring melt, water started dripping right through a light fixture. Never again. If you’re already seeing soft spots or leaks, skipping the tear-off is just asking for trouble, especially with our crazy winters. Sometimes paying more up front is just less headache in the long run.
Sometimes paying more up front is just less headache in the long run.
That makes sense, but what if the decking looks solid and there’s no sign of leaks? Is there ever a situation where adding a layer actually works out, or is it always a gamble? I’ve heard some folks say it can help with insulation, but not sure if that’s true or just wishful thinking...
