Why Do Roofing Contractors Discourage Re-Roofing?

If you’ve been looking up roof replacement options, you’ve probably come across the term “re-roofing”. You may have seen people who swear by it because of its lower upfront cost. You may have also seen roofing professionals discourage re-roofing as a roof replacement option…but why? Your local roofing contractor A1 Roofing & Construction shares insight on why roofers don’t recommend re-roofing.

How Does Re-Roofing Work?

Re-roofing is different from standard roof replacement processes, in that it doesn’t replace the old roof at all. Instead, the new roof is installed over the old one, warts and all. Its primary benefit is the reduced labor and disposal cost, as the installers won’t have to tear the old roof down and haul the debris away. Installers will treat the old roof as the decking, and will install underlayment right on top.

Why Roofers Discourage Re-Roofing

So why is re-roofing offered as an option at all? It’s because re-roofing can work, but only under very specific conditions. Factors like the roof’s age, history of repairs, and overall condition are considered before a roof is qualified for re-roofing, which should only be done by roofers who are trained for it. Roofers discourage re-roofing because:

• Re-roofing doesn’t fix existing roofing problems. It’s not uncommon for roofs to have problems like rot, mold and other kinds of moisture damage hidden out of sight. A full roof replacement would give your roofers the opportunity to fix such problems; re-roofing would not.
• The resulting roof won’t be as strong. The new roofing layer won’t be adhered to a solid deck, and therefore won’t be as resistant to wind damage and water infiltration. If you are after a roof with a high wind rating, re-roofing is not the best option.
• It would be twice as heavy. The roofing frame would have to be strong enough to carry the weight of two roofs. This means if the framing is poorly-built or already has issues that compromise its structure, such as rot or corrosion, then re-roofing would increase the risk of a collapsed roof.
• Roofing manufacturers don’t recommend it, either. You’re a lot less likely to get a complete roofing system designed by a manufacturer, let alone features and benefits like extended warranties and exclusive products, if you were to choose re-roofing. Roofing manufacturers recommend a full roof replacement because it allows them to guarantee a roof’s long-term performance.

Planning on getting a new roof this year? Give A1 Roofing & Construction a call at (401) 265-1019, or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation. We serve communities in Tiverton, Newport and Providence, RI.