When it’s time for a new shingle roof, some homeowners ask about an overlay. That means putting new shingles over the old ones. It’s cheaper and faster up front. We still recommend a full roof tear-off, and here’s why.
Problems with a roof overlay
You can’t see what’s underneath
With an overlay, the old roof stays on. Nobody looks at the wood deck underneath. If it has dry rot from old leaks, it stays there under your new roof.
Leaks are harder to fix
An overlay doesn’t fix existing leaks. With two layers, water can run between them and show up somewhere else. That makes leaks harder to track down.
Extra weight
You end up with the weight of two roofs on your house. Older homes in particular weren’t built for that.
It doesn’t look as good
Old shingles that are curled or lifted show through the new layer. The roof won’t lie as flat as a new one.
It won’t last as long
Two layers trap more heat, which wears the new shingles faster. When it’s time to replace again, there are two layers to remove instead of one.
Why a full roof tear-off is worth it
We see and fix the deck
With the old roof off, we can check the wood underneath. If we find dry rot, we fix it at a fixed price per piece of wood from the same price list. It is not billed by the hour, and we send you photos of what we found. Learn more about dry rot repair.
Everything is new
A tear-off means new underlayment, flashing and shingles. New roofs come with a lifetime warranty backed by Owens Corning.
You can choose your shingle
You get to pick the shingle and color. Most homeowners choose from Owens Corning Oakridge Cool, an upgraded Oakridge Cool, or Duration Cool. Under California’s Title 24 rules, many re-roofs need a cool roof. Many compliant colors are available at no extra cost.
How long a tear-off takes
Most shingle replacements, tear-off included, take up to about five days. See our 2027 roof replacement cost guide for typical prices, or learn more about roof replacement.
Related: Roof cost calculator · Financing · Roof restoration vs. replacement
Ready to talk about a new roof? We’ll inspect your roof for free, take photos, and give you a written quote the same day. Call (916) 678-9786 or request a free estimate.
