Any roofers in the house

[gaugeguy]

Here's the situation, house is 19 years old and is going to be needing new shingles next year. The roof isn't leaking at all, first 6' is beotchathaned(sp). Only a single layer of shingles on the house now.<br /><br />If this was your house, would you strip the original layer off, or just put a new layer over top.<br /><br />I plan on keeping the house for 12 more years, until both boys are in college.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Any roofers in the house

I'm no roofer, but I used to do it quite a bit.<br /><br />I'm of the opinion that a roof shouldn't be replaced until it actually is bad and leaking. There's no telling how long one will last, since it's really dependant on the quality of the original work.<br />I hate not stripping a roof before applying new shingles:<br />1) You have no idea what you're nailing into. Rot could have already set in in places.<br />2) You're basically stuck in places with your original flashing. Course, that's where the leaks start. If you're in a freeze-thaw location, you'll probably want to strip the first three feet anyway to apply ice&water sheild.<br />3) You're doubling the weight on the roof. It's probably not a big deal, but double or triple roofed houses seem to sag more to me.<br />4) They don't last as long. Again, seems to me.<br />5) They look awful. If you put 20 year shingles over it, in about a year the original lines will start showing through.<br />6) There's hardly any point in doing it. It saves you little on disposal, and it doesn't make the job any easier. If roofing over, you're going to get your roofers 'B' game for sure.

 

[gsbodine]

Re: Any roofers in the house

Great answer, Paul.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Any roofers in the house

GG, disagree here, just re-shingle her. code in NY<br />is 3 layers max.

 

[rwise]

Re: Any roofers in the house

peal it off for sure, just had mine done (from hail damage) the cost diferance between 20 year and 30 year shingles was only $300.00 for 28 square and they look better! Well there it is my $0.02.<br />Richard

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Any roofers in the house

Thanks guys, it's a large cape with a covered breeze way connecting to a 2 car garage. I have inspected the attic and above the garage and there is no sign of rot.<br /><br />The reason I want to re-shingle is because on the N. side of the house some of the shingles are starting to lift a bit...And last year we painted the house a greyish green (it was tan) and the brown shingles don't go to well with the new color scheme.

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Any roofers in the house

Richard, did you strip it yourself?

 

[BF]

Re: Any roofers in the house

If you're doing it yourself, be careful... cape cods can have steep pitches. My house is a 10 in 12 pitch, and I didn't wanna be roofing it myself. Disintegrating shingles are slippery.<br /><br />I'd strip also... but I'd replace it before it leaks (why wait for water damage). I agree, the price difference to go to better materials is pretty small in the overall cost. If you hire a roofer, I'd make sure they use nails not staples... (I've heard staples are not as good).<br /><br />If you hire, go with a reputable roofing company that carries insurance, not the handyman type... that way if someone falls off the roof and breaks their back, they won't come after you. My neighbor complained that the roofers damaged all his eavestroughs, they were all replaced within a week. The roofers made it right, but I'm not sure if that was through insurance or not. More likely, the crew was just made to go back and fix up their mess.<br /><br />Even when you hire a reputable company, plan to be around when they're doing the work. The crew actually doing the work may have little experience... The ones that did my house had no idea where roof vents were suppossed to go. They worked for one of the bigger outfits around, but were a young crew, and mostly hung over. <br /><br />Hope this helps.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Any roofers in the house

I have helped reroof my brother's house, my mom's house and garage and another friends' house within the last three years. All were tear offs. I can't say if you should do that as I am by no means a pro, but I would strip the old shingles if it were my house. Code in my city is also three layers max. If you do decide to strip the old shingles, go rent 3 or 4 roof rakes (that's what they called them where we rented them). They really speed up the process. They look like this.<br /><br /><br />

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Any roofers in the house

I would do it myself, with the help of a couple of my buds, we used to be framers. The biggest hassle I can see about stripping it is collecting and disposing of the scrap. The wife has shrubs and flowers all around the house and I have a feeling they would take a beating. <br /><br />I also have a full dormer on one side, which makes the pitch a little less severe on that side of the house.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Any roofers in the house

Just set up a cheap tarp like a slide from your facia to the ground. It works very well. I'm sure other's will have an idea about it too.<br />As for the disposal - do yourself a favor and contract out. You'll be looking for a beer just when it's time to clean up.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Any roofers in the house

Just have a company bring in a dumpster and take it away when you are done. No hassles that way. Besides, you can get rid of any extra trash while it's there!

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Any roofers in the house

GG there is no reason to strip it, especially if<br />u plan on selling in less than 20yrs!!!!<br /><br />eg. MY house was built in 1860's with cedar and<br />breather-boards. has 2 layers of ashphalt on top<br />and still doesn't leak <br /><br />yes, MY due for complete tear-off and new ply all<br />around, but origional roof lasted almost 150yrs.<br /><br />save $ for fishing <br />M.Y.

 

[cajun555]

Re: Any roofers in the house

I would tear off then reroof. I wouldn't do it untill the first of spring that way shingles will have time to seal down. Check with ins. on more than one layer. Last roof I put on my house was a hail job. Only had one layer on house. Ins. paid for removal and reroof. Also I would not want more than one layer since the houses in my area were built in the sixties and only have 3/8 plywood decking.

 

[BillP]

Re: Any roofers in the house

For what it's worth...I have a fiberglass shingle roof that was done shingle over shingle in 1985...basic 3 tab contractor grade with a 20yr warranty. It doesn't show any original lines or look different from a single layer job...you can't tell the difference. The shingles are still flat and have no curls, weirdness or leaks. Code here only lets you do two layers.<br /><br />It just went through hurricanes Charlie and Francis ok but hurricane Jeanne broke off approx 40 tabs and "unstuck" the tab glue on most of the others. The tab glue was holding after Charlie so I know Jeanne pulled them loose...but the shingles were getting dry and brittle at 20 yrs anyway. If another 100mph storm hits it will peel a lot of shingles off so I'm putting a new roof on asap. <br /><br />Get this...last year my neighbor had a complete tearoff and new architectural shingles that cost $5k...the job also included woodwork from termites. Today the going rate is $8k and the earliest installation date I am quoted is March 05! There are 1000s of homes needing roofs within 5 miles of me. My insurance agent says the prices went up big after hurricane Charlie.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Any roofers in the house

Wow, I can't believe that some codes allows 3 layers! Personally I feel less weight on the house is better for the overall structure of the house. Especially in the north where snow fall can put lots of stress from the roof to the foundation. In the county that I live in, 2 layers is the max.<br /><br />My house has only one layer and that was one of the requirements when I was looking for a house. You won't see any problems with excess weight on the roof withing the first 10 years, but after that the long term weight load will slowly have an affect on the rest of the structure.<br /><br />Yeah, its extra work, but I feel more comfortable knowing that I don't have that weight over my head at night. Especially in the winter when drifts of snow can get 2 or 3 feet deep with at least a foot or two of complete coverage. <br /><br />Plus when I go to resell this house, that will be one of the benefits to the new owner. He would be able to add another layer if he chooses to.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Any roofers in the house

Wow, the only time I have every seen shingles was in a Davey Crocket and a Chevy Chase Movie. <br />I just can't imagine them on a roof for some reason. Not being critical, just can't imagine it. Never seen one in real life.<br />Cheers<br /><br />Phillip

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Any roofers in the house

Slightly off topic (but related), I was watching a video of a house being built in Cairns (a cyclone prone area). It was interesting how they attached the sheet iron roofing, sheets were screwed down to the roof joists and the roof joists were conected via long SS rods to the concrete foundations of the house - that roof wasn't going anywhere.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[rwise]

Re: Any roofers in the house

GaugeGuy<br />No I let the insurance co. pay to have it done. I did shop around for the best price. $2300 for a turnkey job with 30 year shingles. Also the insurance co. wanted the old torn off before reroof, suprized me. Here in tornado ally nailed shingles come off the roof faster than stapled, if the staples were in the right place on the shingle. I can also agree with wanting it to get hot right after there put on. Code here says no more than 3 layers, but I also donot want that much added weight up there!

 

[BillP]

Re: Any roofers in the house

Wow, $2300 for 28 squares! Send those guys to Florida asap. I can get them 20 roof jobs the first day they arrive. The cost of just the bundled shingles alone is $2856 for 28 squares here in Fl. Then you add nails, felt, labor, etc.<br /><br />You can't do staples here anymore because they tear shingles easier than 3/8" diameter nail heads. It isn't a fastener pull out problem. The location of staples is same as nails per shingle mfg specs. <br /><br />When winds are lifting roofs off, another 220-330lbs per square from extra shingles is a help, not a detriment...there's a point where it's too much weight and that's why they dropped a third layer of shingles from the code. <br /><br />Not all insurance companys require a tearoff. Where I used to work we did "recovers" on almost 1M sq ft of roof as speced by the insurance to upgrade for hurricanes. In our case we had to prove the structure was ok or do a tearoff. We had a PE consultant do the evaluation for $5k and it prevented $350K in tearoff work.