Yeah, the freeze/thaw cycle is brutal on roofs. I’m in Oregon now but grew up in upstate NY, so I totally get what you mean about hidden rot—nothing like finding out your “money-saving” move just bought you a bigger repair bill down the road. Out here, though, my contractor was pretty relaxed about layering since we don’t get much snow load. Still, I had them check for soft spots first. Peace of mind’s worth a lot, especially when you’re not itching to climb up there yourself every spring.
I’m in Oregon now but grew up in upstate NY, so I totally get what you mean about hidden rot—nothing like finding out your “money-saving” move just bought you a bigger repair bill down the ...
Totally get where you’re coming from—peace of mind really is worth a lot. I did the same thing, had them check for soft spots before deciding. Sometimes spending a bit more upfront saves you from those “surprise” repairs later. Not always easy to know what’s under there, though.
That’s the tricky part, right? You can poke around for soft spots, but sometimes the real problems are hidden until you actually pull the old shingles off. I’ve seen folks try to save money by just adding a new layer, only to end up with sagging or leaks a year later. Have you ever had a contractor actually guarantee there’s no rot underneath without a full tear-off? I’m always a bit skeptical when they say it’s “fine” without looking. Sometimes it feels like a gamble either way.
Never had a contractor give me a straight-up guarantee without a tear-off, and honestly, I’d be wary if they did. I’ve seen way too many roofs with hidden rot, especially after bad storms. Once, we thought it was just a few soft spots—turned out the decking was basically mulch under there. It’s tempting to save cash by skipping the tear-off, but you’re just rolling the dice with what’s underneath.
I get where you’re coming from—hidden rot is no joke, especially if you’re in a spot with heavy rain or wild temperature swings. But I’m curious, has anyone here actually had a contractor do a thorough inspection (like, infrared or moisture meter) before deciding on a layover? I’ve seen some folks get decent results with a second layer, but only when the decking was confirmed solid and the first layer was in good shape—no curling, no moss, nothing sketchy.
That said, I’m always thinking about the long-term impact. Adding another layer means more weight, and it can trap heat, which isn’t great for energy bills or the lifespan of the shingles. Plus, if you’re into green roofing or solar down the line, you’ll probably have to rip everything off anyway. Anyone ever regret skipping the tear-off when they went to install solar panels or better insulation later?
It’s tempting to save money upfront, but I wonder if it just kicks the can down the road. Still, I get that budgets are tight. Has anyone found a middle ground—like partial tear-offs or targeted repairs—that actually worked?
