Maybe it depends on attic ventilation?
That’s a big piece of it, honestly. I’ve seen houses where poor attic airflow made the upstairs feel like an oven after a second layer went on. But sometimes, even with good vents, that extra shingle layer just traps more heat. It’s not always dramatic, but it can add up over time—especially in the Midwest summers. Personally, I lean toward tear-off if you can swing it, just to avoid those “hidden” issues down the road. But yeah, budget’s a real thing...
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen plenty of homes with a second layer that don’t have major heat issues—especially if the attic’s got solid insulation and the vents are actually working right. Sometimes the extra layer is just fine, especially if the first one’s still in decent shape. Not saying it’s always ideal, but for folks on a tight budget, it’s not the end of the world.
Sometimes the extra layer is just fine, especially if the first one’s still in decent shape. Not saying it’s always ideal, but for folks on a tight budget, it’s not the end of the world.
That’s a fair point, especially with costs these days. I’ve seen second layers hold up okay when the attic’s got proper airflow, but I still get nervous about what’s hiding underneath. If the first layer’s solid, though, you’re probably not risking disaster. Just wish more folks thought about long-term waste—tearing off two layers later is a pain. Still, I get why people do it when money’s tight.
Had a duplex where the owner before me just slapped a second layer on, probably to save a few bucks. Looked fine for a while, but when we finally had to do a full tear-off... yikes. Found some old leaks and even a squirrel stash under there—never a dull moment. I get the budget thing, but man, that extra demo cost later was rough. Anyone else ever find weird stuff sandwiched between layers? Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the short-term savings or just kicking the can down the road.
- Had a similar situation with my place—previous owner just put new shingles right over the old ones.
- Looked fine at first, but after a couple years, I noticed some weird soft spots.
- Ended up pulling both layers and found a bunch of rotted wood underneath. Not fun.
- The extra labor and dumpster fees weren’t cheap either... definitely more than if they’d just done it right the first time.
- I get why people do it—money’s tight, and it seems easier in the moment. But honestly, I’d rather pay up front than deal with hidden damage later.
- Also, found a random old glove and what looked like a bird’s nest between layers. Not as wild as a squirrel stash, but still weird.
- If I ever have to do it again, I’m leaning toward full tear-off, even if it stings the wallet at first. Just feels safer knowing what’s actually under there.