if you don't tear off, you can't spot hidden rot or old leaks. Sometimes what looks solid from the outside is a mess underneath.
Couldn’t agree more on that one. I’ve seen folks try to save a buck by just slapping another layer on, only to find out later they basically just put a tarp over Swiss cheese. Especially after a big storm, you want to know what’s really going on under there. I get why people do it—cost and hassle—but man, when you start peeling back those layers and see black mold or mushy decking... yikes. Sometimes the “shortcut” ends up being the long way ‘round.
- Totally get the urge to just add a layer—cheaper upfront, less mess, and you’re not living under a construction zone for days.
- But yeah, I pulled up a couple shingles on my place (asphalt, 18 years old, Midwest winters) and found some soft spots I never would’ve noticed otherwise.
- If you don’t check the decking, you’re basically gambling that there’s no hidden water damage or rot.
- One thing I didn’t realize: adding weight with another layer can stress older rafters. Not always a problem, but worth thinking about if your house is on the older side.
- Tear-off was pricier and took longer, but at least now I know what’s under there. Peace of mind counts for something...
If you don’t check the decking, you’re basically gambling that there’s no hidden water damage or rot.
That hits home. I once worked on a 1950s ranch where the owner wanted to just add a layer. We peeled back a few shingles and found the decking was so soft you could poke a screwdriver through it. Step-by-step, we had to replace about 30% of the wood—if we’d skipped tear-off, that would’ve been a disaster waiting to happen. It’s tempting to save money upfront, but sometimes what you can’t see costs more in the long run. Midwest winters especially seem to find every weak spot...
That’s a solid point about Midwest winters—they really do test every weak spot in a roof. I’ve seen similar situations where skipping the tear-off seemed like a shortcut, but ended up costing way more once hidden rot showed up. It’s tough to convince people that what you can’t see is just as important as what you can. Sometimes I wonder if there’s a better way to check decking without full removal, but so far, nothing beats actually seeing it.
Yeah, I’ve seen folks try to just add a layer and hope for the best, but when we finally pulled up the old shingles on my uncle’s house, half the decking was mush. Midwest freeze-thaw cycles are brutal—stuff looks fine until you’re actually up there tearing it off. I get why people want to save money, but sometimes that shortcut bites back hard. Maybe infrared cameras help a little, but honestly, nothing beats just ripping it up and seeing what’s really going on underneath.