Getting a roof replacement is an important investment for your home. You must maximize each dollar to be spent on the project, especially if you’re on a budget. If you want a more durable material for your roof, it can still be affordable with smart financing solutions offered by your contractor. But if you think that you can save more by just getting an overlay, you’re only adding more problems to your roofing system.
While a roof overlay is cheaper than a full replacement, professional contractors usually advise against it. This is because installing a new roofing system over your old one doesn’t address any existing problems it already has! Over time, these problems can affect your new roofing system and won’t last as long as its expected lifespan. Even with regular care and maintenance, they’ll be more costly and won’t guarantee that your roof can protect your home as well as a full replacement. Since you’re only patching up the damage caused by your old roof, it will lead to more costly repairs and eventually a premature replacement.
As reputable contractors, Redemption Roofing knows why it isn’t good practice to install a new roof over an old one. But if you’re not convinced that a full tear-off and roof replacement is the better option, here are some of the many disadvantages you get with an overlay:
Excess Weight and Possible Roof Collapse
A roof overlay keeps the old one intact, which means your home will bear the weight of two roofing systems. This is never recommended since most residential roofs have a weight limit capacity. This can also compromise the roof’s overall structural integrity especially for older homes that have a higher risk of a roof collapse because it may not handle the added weight.
You’ll More Likely Get a Premature Replacement
As mentioned earlier, an overlay won’t last as long as a normal roof replacement. If you don’t get a full tear-off, you’ll only get a more expensive replacement in a few years. This is because you’ll need to tear off two layers of old roofing material, which means double the labor and debris and therefore more costs than a normal tear-off!
Lower Property Value
This is another reason why roofing and storm damage contractors don’t recommend getting an overlay. It simply isn’t a good investment if you’re planning to sell your home soon because potential buyers won’t find this appealing when inspecting your home. And once they discover that you only did an overlay to fix your roof, they’ll think that you’re cutting corners with the roofing job. This is why a full roof replacement is strongly recommended by roofing professionals.
The Problems From Your Old Roof Won’t Be Fixed
A simple patchwork job won’t fix the water leaks or any other problems if they’re coming from beneath your roof overlay. This is because any existing water leaks and issues you have on your old roof aren’t properly addressed when you get an overlay. Water can still trick through the layers and infiltrate the inner structure of your roofing system, causing rot to the wooden components of your roof. Mold and mildew will also start to grow, which can affect your home’s ventilation system. When this happens, you’ll compromise the indoor air quality of your home!
A roof overlay also prevents you from determining how much damage your roof underlayment has sustained as well as where the leaks are. If you choose to ignore this, it can lead to more problems and costly roof repair jobs. This is why you should do a complete tear-off and replacement of your roof.
Ice Barriers Can’t Be Installed Anymore
Ice barriers adhere directly to the wood decking of your roof for them to work. If you choose to get a roof overlay, you’ll be unable to install this crucial layer of protection against the natural elements. When winter comes and you have an ice dam, the ice and melted water will travel under the overlay and seep into your old roof. This creates rot and mold that can compromise its structural integrity!
How You’ll Benefit From a Complete Tear-Off
Understandably, a roof overlay can be more appealing than a full tear-off and overlay especially since the overall costs are cheaper. But even if the upfront costs are higher compared to that of an overlay, a full roof replacement is much more beneficial in the long run.
With a full tear-off, your old roof will be completely removed and installed with new material. All the old materials will be disposed of, even your rotted wood components. You’ll get a brand new roof so there’s no need to worry about mold, rot, and water leaks for years to come. and with regular care and maintenance, your roof will keep your home safe, dry, and secure!
Unlike a roof overlay, you’ll have more options to choose from with a full tear-off and replacement. That means you can still select the same material that was previously installed, but you also choose to upgrade to something better and more durable. Talk to your hired contractor about what your best options are to make a more informed decision for your replacement.
Of course, with a full tear-off and a brand new roof, your home’s resale value will increase significantly. This is a great investment if you’re planning to sell your home soon since a new roof replacement becomes an attractive selling point to future home buyers. Your new roof will also have better durability and longevity, even during the hot summer months. This is because a full roof replacement won’t trap as much heat as a roof overlay, which can otherwise lead to curling shingles and a faster deterioration rate.
Call Redemption Roofing today for any of your roofing and storm damage concerns. You can reach us at 936-321-3733 if you’re from Montgomery, 281-205-1337 if you live in League City, 830-214-7779 if you’re in Hill Country, (409) 403-5073 for Golden Triangle residents, or (337) 305-7705 if you’re in Lake Charles. You can also fill out our convenient request form online!
