Roof Replacement Vs Recover

When the time comes for you to place a roof, you need to decide whether you’ll be removing old shingles or applying new shingles to your roof. Reroofing, roof recovering and roof replacements are all options that are available to homeowners. A reroofing job involves the process of repairing a roofing material by adding new material to it or replacing a portion of the roof covering. A roof recovering is the process of installing a new roof covering over the old materials. Roof replacement involves the process of completely removing previous roofing materials, repairing the damaged underlayment and structure, and then installing new roof coverings. This article might help you decide if you should get a roof replacement or a roof recovery.

There are many cases in which a complete roof recovery will not be an option for homeowners. Many local building codes will limit this available option and there is no universal answer for which type of roofing solution will fit the average homeowner but local building codes will work to prevent improper labor from taking place. Most reputable roofing companies will make sure the new roofing systems are installed. Each roof needs to be evaluated in an individual format and there are guidelines that can be put into place to determine whether it’s an ideal solution to recover or fully replace your roofing systems. 

Some of the easiest decisions that a roofing company can make come down to the quality of material that is still on your roof. If a roof has just one layer of shingles that lay flat and the decking remains in good condition, tear-off of the previous roofing materials may not be required. The current layer works as a secondary backup for new shingles but the overall inconvenience of removing and disposing of old shingles could not be necessary if they’re still in good condition. 

Proper inspection for adequate ventilation and the condition of the underlayment will all be taken into account with roofing materials. You may have to remove shingles if you notice that an inspection of the roof deck reveals rotted wood or large gaps between the deck boards. Any damaged boards or rotten materials need to be replaced before shingles can be applied. If there are more than two layers of shingles on the roof, you’ll also need to remove the previous layers before you install new roofing materials. If you notice that the roof is beginning to sag along the trust lines this can also call for the complete removal of roofing materials as the structure must not be compromised before new roofing materials are installed. The overall condition of shingles must not be distorted or uneven and it would not be a practical decision to flatten every raised area for a new roof to lay down flat. 

There are many factors that can help you decide whether a roof can be replaced or removed, it’s important to have a roofing inspector come out to your location and take a look at your roof to determine which will be possible for you. With the help of a professional roofing inspector, you can get a better idea of what you can expect from your roofing job and how you can appropriately work at getting the right roofing materials installed. With the assistance of our team, we can help you with proper inspection and with everything you may need for a quality roofing job. Contact our team today to learn more about a roofing inspection if your roof has fallen into disrepair.