Many residential roofs in the country are made from asphalt shingles. They’re affordable and offer great protection against natural elements. But like every other roofing system, they need regular maintenance to ensure their performance and longevity. But if your roof is already at the end of its lifespan and considering a replacement, are you choosing a full residential roof installation or just a simple “roof-over”? If you’re choosing the latter, we strongly recommend against it.
Why It’s Not Practiced
A roof-over isn’t recommended by professional roofers as they know that it won’t last as long as a full roof replacement. A go-over is where new shingles are nailed over old ones, which already voids most manufacturers’ warranties that require stripping the old roofing materials before installation. It can only be considered as a temporary fix in some situations, but if your current shingles are badly damaged, a go-over won’t address all the water leaks and internal damage.
Why You Should Consider a Full Replacement
As long as you hire professional contractors for the job, you can be sure that your roofing installation gets done properly. That means your old roof will be removed first before installing a new layer of shingles. A full tear-off strips all the old roofing material and replaces them with brand new material. Even the underlayment and ice/water shield are replaced, which are crucial to preventing ice and water leaks!
If you choose a go-over instead of a full replacement, you can expect to pay for another roof replacement within a few years. Go-overs tend to absorb more heat than normal roof installations, which means they deteriorate faster. They also add more weight to your roof since the old layer is still intact, which can lead to sagging or collapsing over time. On the other hand, a full roof replacement is more expensive, but it’s also more cost-effective as they last much longer than a roof-over.
State Roofing is your best choice for excellent roof ventilation and metal roofing services. Call us today at (360) 794-7164 or fill out our convenient contact form! We serve clients in Seattle and nearby WA areas.