To Tear or Not to Tear Off When Re-Roofing in Bethany Beach
Using 3-tab shingles, re-roofing used to be rather simple. It was usual practice to install a new layer of shingles directly over the old during a re-roof. The majority of individuals would only need two layers of shingles. If you go beyond that, you will have to tear off the old shingles before you can put the new ones on. Putting architectural shingles over an older layer of architectural shingles is a little more difficult nowadays, and there does not appear to be a unanimous agreement.
The beginning point for the answer is the differentiation between an architectural (laminated) shingle and an old-school 3-tab shingle. Architectural shingles contain multiple layers that create an uneven surface, whereas three-tab shingles are the same thickness all the way through.
Yes, architectural shingles can be re-roofed over existing architectural shingles (however you must check with the shingle manufacturer, as well). Obtaining a good-looking, high-quality installation, however, will be nearly impossible. The old shingles will generate imperfections in the architectural shingles, which will prevent the new shingles from appearing level and smooth.
The best solution is to start by ripping off the old shingles!!!
According to the professional roofer in Bethany Beach, you should not attempt to re-roof architectural shingles over existing architectural shingles. We would never do it to our own home, and we would never advise a customer to do so. The reality is that achieving a pleasing appearance, let alone maintaining the shingles flat on the roof and minimizing wind damage, would be nearly difficult. Many other quality roofing companies, we feel, will follow suit. For a more professional installation, we strongly advise removing the old shingles before installing the new ones. We have yet to encounter an architectural shingle that needs to be replaced, with the exception of those damaged by weather, such as hail.
Are You Looking for a Free Inspection and Estimate? Call us at (302) 514-ROOF Today!