With most anything you do in life, you want to know how it’s going to benefit you or how it will harm you, right? Think about it, if you are going to invest money in a specific stock, you are going to want to know about the past history, the company you are investing in, and what the overall trend of the industry to learn if the investment is going to excel your investment portfolio or if it will most likely lose you money in the end. Unfortunately, the stock market isn’t super predictable, but using facts and knowledge and investing in reputable companies is usually your best bet.
In the roofing industry, there are multiple opinions you will find on the decision of overlay vs. tear-off but it is ultimately up to you to decide if one or the other will benefit or harm your home more in the long run. For those of you who are unsure of what we are talking about, it’s very simple. Overlay is the process where a roofing company comes in and lays new shingles over the existing shingles. On the other hand, the tear-off process is a complete tear-off of the previous roof and installation of the new shingles.
Overlay
The pros to the overlay are: it can save the homeowner upwards of 40% for the initial install, it requires less labor and installs in half the time, the appearance of the roof looks like new, and usually there’s no dumpster required to sit in your driveway. With The Roof Company, you will still receive their 5-year workmanship warranty and the shingle warranty is the same limited LIFETIME warranty from the manufacturer! The Roof Company provides a strict 5 point qualification process to ensure those who qualify end up getting a properly functioning, long lasting roof system.
The cons to the overlay process are: It does not fully allow for a roofer to see what is underneath the current shingles, a roofer cannot replace any potentially damaged wood decking, and in some rare cases it may be a bit more challenging to solve ventilation issues.
Tear-Off
The pros to a tear-off are: a roofer can find leaks and/or rotten pieces, the overall roof is of better quality since new flashing can be installed and high risk areas are addressed appropriately, additional value added to the home, and longer lifespan with workmanship warranties (LIFETIME workmanship warranty from The Roof Company, plus the same limited LIFETIME shingle warranty from the manufacturer).
The cons to the tear-off are: it takes more time as the roofers must remove the old shingles before installing new, it requires more disposal means and extra labor (a dumpster sits in the driveway), and it is more expensive as there are many steps involved.
Essentially an overlay is a great option for those who’s home qualify and who are needing to
save money on their new roof, however, a tear-off allows a detailed installation and an overall sense of high quality. So after you do your research to find a reputable company, read up on the materials they plan to use, and when you feel like they truly took the time to consider your home’s needs, then you should have the confidence to decide, new roof vs. overlay.
It is important to note that not all roofs qualify for overlaying, so talk to a roofing professional at The Roof Company to learn more about this process.
