A complete roof replacement means more money, time, and labor than an overlay. However, it’s often the most effective solution both in terms of curb appeal and durability if your roofing issues are more than cosmetic. If your roof leaks, a complete replacement is a no-brainer. If water is coming into your home, your roofer needs to check out the entire roof structure, starting from the roof decking layer. You may need to replace the decking (the structural layer between your joists and shingles) and the weatherproofing or felt layer in between the decking and shingles. Then add new shingles, and you’ll have a roof that looks terrific and does its job of protecting your home.
Bergen County Existing Shingles Remove or Keep?
If you have damaged or curling shingles, adding a new layer on top just isn’t a good idea. Damaged shingles will prevent your new shingles from lying flat, which essentially defeats the purpose of a new roof. Covering up damaged shingles can cause problems both in terms of looks and protection against the elements. Finally, if you have an older home and already have two layers of shingles in place, you’ll likely need to remove shingles before adding a new layer to prevent the roof from getting too heavy. In these cases, removing shingles and starting fresh is a good investment. You’ll know your roof is weatherproof, and your new shingles will look impeccable.
Heat
One of the main reasons why experts advise removing old shingles before installing new shingles is because of asphalts’ high thermal resistance. Because the old asphalt tends to stop heat transfer, the heat is trapped between the old and the new shingles, causing wear and tear on your new roof. However, this is only true if you’re installing new asphalt shingles and not metal. While asphalt shingles are vulnerable to the trapped heat, metal roofing panels don’t suffer from the same problem. This is because metal sheds heat faster than any other roofing material available.
In fact, this is also the main reason why any roofing contractor will say that metal roofs are great for homes in areas with a generally warm climate. Aside from saving time and effort during replacement, leaving the old shingles intact also offers a few benefits. First, the old shingles can still function as a secondary layer of protection under the metal roof. Next, it also means that the roof replacement will contribute less debris to be cleaned up and sent to landfills. Last but not least, the money you save not removing the tiles can be spent on getting higher quality metal panels.
Purlins
The most commonly used and recommended technique is laying purlins on top of the existing roof. Purlins are traditionally used in timber framing for roof support. When this technique is used on an existing roof, the roofers lay down wooden purlin strips to allow for your metal roof to be laid straighter.
Metal is light and adds to the aesthetic value of the home. Metal roofs straighten the structure of the roof preventing water leaks and infiltration. Metal fortifies and strengthens the roof. It creates minimal debris and mess around the house. Overall, it saves you time, stress, and money.
Bergen County Existing Shingles Remove or Keep?
Shingle removal
Some roofers prefer forks because they don’t get caught on nails, making it easier and faster to remove the shingles. Start the tear-off at the section farthest from the trash container. Standing at the peak, use a garden fork or a specially notched roofing tear off shovel to tear away the ridge caps and the top courses of shingles.
Others like the tear off shovels because they pull out more nails with the shingles. Work the fork under the ridge caps, prying them loose. Once the ridge caps are gone, slide the fork under the shingles and felt paper and pry the shingles up. Some nails will come up with the shingles. Others won’t. Ignore them for now. As they come loose, allow them to slide down to the roof jacks. Or, if they don’t slide down the roof, carry them to the edge of the roof and throw them into the trash container.
Remove shingles in a 2- to-3-ft.-wide section as you work down the roof. The shingles will roll up like a ball in front of the fork. Push the shingles down to the roof jacks. Continue tearing off the shingles and underlayment until you reach the roof jacks, then start over at the top of the roof.
Contact Us
We can advise you if you need to remove your shingles or not. We are family-owned and operated, Deegan Roofing Company has been installing and servicing residential and commercial roofing customers in the New Jersey area for over 30 years. If you are concerned about your roof surviving the upcoming winter weather or are currently experiencing roofing problems, it’s never too late to contact Deegan Roofing to get your roof inspected before winter. Website https://www.deeganroofing.com/ Address: 345 Terrill Rd, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 Hours: Open 8:30 AM ⋅ Closes 5:30 PM
Phone: (908) 322-6405