When it’s time for a new roof, homeowners often ask whether all of the old shingles really need to come off first. Wouldn’t it be faster and cheaper to simply install new shingles over the existing roof?
While roofing over old shingles is possible in some situations, a complete tear-off is the better way to replace an asphalt roof. Removing the existing roofing materials gives your contractor the opportunity to see what’s underneath, correct hidden problems, and build the new roofing system from the roof deck up.
At Barringer Brothers Roofing, we tear off the existing roofing system before installing a new roof. Here’s why that extra step matters.
What Is a Roof Tear-Off?
A roof tear-off is exactly what it sounds like. Before the new roofing system is installed, the existing shingles and old roofing materials are removed.
This exposes the roof decking underneath and gives the roofing crew a clear surface to inspect and prepare.
Once the roof deck is ready, new underlayment and the other components of the roofing system can be installed before the new asphalt shingles go on.
Why Not Just Put New Shingles Over the Old Ones?
Installing another layer of shingles may eliminate some of the labor involved in removing the old roof, but it also means covering up whatever is underneath.
From the outside, an aging roof may simply look worn. Once the shingles are removed, however, there may be deteriorated or damaged decking that wasn’t visible before.
Putting another roof over the top doesn’t fix those problems. It simply hides them beneath the new shingles.
A Tear-Off Lets Us Inspect the Roof Deck
One of the biggest advantages of removing the old roof is being able to inspect the decking.
The decking provides the solid surface that supports your roofing system. If portions have been damaged by moisture or deterioration, those areas need to be addressed before the new roof is installed.
Without tearing off the old shingles, the condition of the decking can’t be fully inspected.
Damaged Wood Can Be Replaced
Finding damaged decking during a roof replacement doesn’t mean something has gone wrong with the project. In fact, discovering it during tear-off gives the roofing crew the opportunity to correct the problem.
Any decking that needs replacement can be removed and replaced with solid material before the new roofing system goes on.
That means your new roof isn’t being installed over a compromised surface.
Your New Roof Gets a Fresh Roofing System
A roof is much more than the shingles you see from the street.
Once the old roofing materials are removed and the deck is prepared, the new roofing system can be installed properly from the bottom up. This includes components such as underlayment, flashing, starter shingles, asphalt shingles, and ridge caps.
Starting with a clean roof deck gives each part of the new system the proper foundation.
A Tear-Off Can Reveal Problems You Didn’t Know Were There
Not every roofing problem creates an obvious leak inside your home.
Moisture damage, deteriorated decking, old repairs, and other issues can remain hidden beneath the shingles for years. A homeowner may have no idea they’re there until the old roof comes off.
A full tear-off gives the roofing contractor the opportunity to see the actual condition of the roof rather than making assumptions based only on what is visible from the exterior.
What Happens After the Old Roof Comes Off?
Once the existing roofing materials have been removed, the crew can inspect the exposed roof deck.
Any necessary decking repairs are completed first. Then the roof is prepared for the new roofing system, including new underlayment and the other materials required before shingles are installed.
By the end of the process, you’re getting a new roofing system rather than simply a new layer of shingles covering the old one.
Is a Roof Tear-Off More Expensive?
A complete tear-off requires additional labor and disposal compared with simply installing shingles over an existing roof.
But a roof replacement is a long-term investment in your home. Saving money by leaving an old roofing system underneath the new one can prevent your contractor from identifying problems that should be corrected before the new roof is installed.
When you’re investing in a new roof, it makes sense to know what’s underneath it.
Frequently Asked Questions
New shingles can sometimes be installed over an existing layer, but Barringer Brothers Roofing performs a complete tear-off so the roof deck can be inspected and the new roofing system can be installed on a properly prepared surface.
Damaged or deteriorated roof decking is replaced as needed before the new roofing system is installed.
Removing the old roofing materials allows the crew to inspect the decking directly and identify areas that are damaged or no longer provide a solid surface for the new roof.
No. Roof decking that is still in good condition can remain. Areas that are damaged are replaced before installation continues.
Removing an old roofing system creates debris, but an experienced roofing crew takes steps to protect the property and clean up roofing materials throughout the project.
Start Your New Roof the Right Way
What goes underneath your shingles matters just as much as the finished roof you see from the ground. A complete tear-off allows existing problems to be found and addressed before your new roofing system is installed.
Barringer Brothers Roofing provides complete asphalt roof replacements throughout Belleville and the Metro East.
Call us at (618) 703-3036 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free estimate.
