Can I Put a New Roof Over an Old Roof?

Whether you can put a new roof over an old roof is not a simple yes or no question. Often in residential construction, and especially with the roof over your head, the answer is: it depends. There are, however, a few basic factors for adding a new roof over an old roof, so it should be easy to find out if “No” is your answer.

Re-Roofing

The process of placing a new roof over an old roof is typically called re-roofing or an overlay. This re-roofing process essentially boils down to placing a second layer of shingles over the existing layer. That is the only time it can work. You cannot simply re-roof a wooden, metal, or slate roof the way it can be done with asphalt shingles. Additionally, re-roofing is a process that can only be done once, because after that a third layer of shingles may cause the roof to become too heavy and fail. Maintaining the structural integrity of a roof is paramount. Therefore it is advisable to replace the entire roof rather than re-roofing a second time. In other words, you get one shot at re-roofing. Also, the maximum number of layers a roof in New Jersey may have is currently two.

When You Can Re-Roof

There are a couple of factors that will allow you to place a new roof over an old roof. As mentioned, having a shingle roof is one of them. Another important factor after that is the condition of the roof. That means if a roof is in relatively good condition, but is starting to fail, then it might be possible to be re-roofed. How could a roof be in good condition but also fail? Well, essentially, if the sub-structure and sheathing of the roof are fine then that means the roof is in good condition. However, failure of the roof can still occur if the shingles have lost too many granules, are worn out, curling, or missing. The last important factor is that no leaks must be present. However, if you want to be sure, it would be best to contact us to conduct a roofing inspection.

Let Us Re-Roof for You!

Re-roofing is almost always a way to save money, so if you want to discuss the possibility of putting a new roof over your old roof please call us at (855) 292-2757.