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Roofing Tear-Offs: Pros and Cons

Written by JVW Contracting on . Posted in Blog.

Is it almost time for a roof? Depending on the type of shingle that was used on your roof it’s possible that you may have to replace your roof after just 15 years. Since the cost of a roof can be significant it is important to understand what you are buying so be sure to do your due diligence.

Many people don’t know that when you contact a roofing contractor they will give you the option to install the new shingles over your existing roof, many roofers will call this method an “overlay”. Or you can opt to remove your existing roofing shingles before installing the new roof, better know as a “tear-off” in the trade. There are pros and cons to each method; In this blog post we are going to focus on the “tear-off” method.

Here are some pros of having your exiting roof torn off before installing new shingles.

  • Full Replacement – When you opt to have your old roof removed you are getting a brand new roof. Every part of the old roof will be removed so that the roofers will be able to fix any wood that is rotting and possibly even spot and fix areas that may be prone to leaks.
  • Quality – Brand new is typically better than used, especially when it comes to roofing. Since the entire roof will be replaced, including the flashing the end result will better better most of the time.
  • Value – A roof tear-off can be marketed as a brand new roof which is a major selling point. If you’re thinking of selling your home in the short term then you may want to opt for the tear-off.
  • Longevity – A brand new roof will last longer than an overlay due to the fact that a brand new roof traps much less heat than a roof with multiple layers. Extra heat causes shingles to curl and break down faster.

Roofing tear offs are great but there is one downside:

  • Cost – Tearing off an old roof comes at a higher cost since it is more labor intensive. This is the one determent that causes homeowners to opt for the overlay roof.

If you have any questions about your roofing project or a free roofing consultation call JVW Contracting at (908) 601-3733 or contact us online.