Shingles are the first line of defense for your house. They protect your interior from expensive water damage. High-quality shingles can last for a lot of years when installed properly.
Unfortunately, even the highest quality shingles will require replacement over time. However, can you just add another layer of shingles instead of removing the entire roof? Today, we’re going to find out.
If you do need a roof replacement, don’t hesitate to hire roofing in Ann Arbor MI company for help.
Is It Recommended?
For those who don’t know, the possible drawbacks of adding another layer of a roof over the existing one tend to outweigh the benefits. However, it all depends on your situation.
Here are a couple of reasons why most professional roofers do not recommend adding another layer of shingles on your roof.
It Can be a Red Flag for Buyers
If you’re planning to sell the house down the line, the second layer of shingles might appear like a good plan. Of course, why should you spend money to remove the existing layer if you aren’t going to live in that house anyway?
However, it is ultimately the new homeowners who will end up having to spend money on removing the double layer of shingles in the future. In addition to that, they’ll also have to accept the risk of underlayment damage, leaks, and sagging.
It Might Void Your Warranty
A couple of warranty plans won’t allow homeowners to add another layer of shingles. You’ve got to ensure you ask the manufacturer of your shingles. This will help you understand all installation requirements and any possible warranty problems before adding another layer.
You Cannot Replace Underlayment
The underlayment between the roof deck and the shingles helps stop water from leaking inside your house. If you’ve got a worn-out or damaged underlayment, it won’t protect your deck from any leaks that occur.
It Obstructs Visual Inspections
For those who don’t know, a professional roof inspector cannot inspect the roof decking thoroughly and fix any possible problems without getting rid of the existing layer of shingles.
Adds More Weight
Typically, roof structures are made to handle a dead load of simply 1 layer of shingles, together with a couple of additional snow and a bit of safety margin.
Adding new shingles will greatly increase the weight of your roof. Thus, you’ll have to ensure your structure can handle the additional weight. This is the reason why building codes usually restrict roofing to just around 2 layers.
In particular houses, the extra weight of additional layers will cause the deck to sag between the rafters and trusses.
Shingles Require Flat Surface for Installation
Shingles, whether asphalt or other materials, are made to be attached on a flat surface. When you add an extra layer of roof, the bumps, imperfections, and seams of the existing roof will transfer to the new layer.
Because of this, your roof will look bad compared to if you remove the old roof completely.
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