What’s the Difference Between Re-Roofing and Re-Covering?

When restoring your home, you have two options: re-roof and re-cover. The former involves the replacement of your entire roofing system, including the removal of old shingles and installation of the new sheathing. On the other hand, re-covering your roof is simply adding a fresh layer of shingles over existing ones.

Any experienced roofing contractor, like Krech Exteriors, would attest that each option has its merits. Here’s how you know which route to take:

Re-Roofing Makes Sense When…

• The Wood Decking Is Damaged – Stripping away the old materials allows roofers to examine and replace the underlying foundation of your roof if needed. Even if you’ve never experienced major leaks, failing to remove the structurally unsound decking is a disaster waiting to happen. If professionals can find evidence that your roof sheathing is in a state of collapse, replacing it is a non-negotiable requirement.

• The Addition or Replacement of a Leak Barrier Is Necessary – The leak barrier offers an extra line of defense against rain, snow and ice. It helps keep the wood decking dry and intact. Its installation is only possible with the removal of old materials since it has to adhere to the sheathing’s surface.

• The Installation of Side Wall Flashings Is Required – A roof with sidewalls doesn’t provide the best-case scenario for an overlay project. Without removing the original layer of roofing shingles, the flashing around the sidewalls might be compromised, which would increase the chances of leakage.

Re-Covering Makes Sense When…

• Your Home Can Bear More Weight – An overlay is only a sound option if your roof was engineered to support the heft of a second layer of shingles. Only an experienced roofer can determine whether your roof’s load-bearing capacity can handle additional weight with a thorough inspection.

• You Want to Save on Labor – If you can afford not to tear your existing shingles off, re-covering them with a new one can save you a lot of money.

• You Like to Speed the Process Up – In addition to potentially reduced cost of labor, any reliable roofer would attest that an overlay can be completed faster than a re-roofing project. Replacing the decking and removing several square feet of old materials is a time-consuming process. If you have the luxury to do an overlay, you can shorten your project by days.

Let Krech Exteriors help you figure out the better option for your roof restoration project. Call us at (651) 968-8888 to schedule your FREE inspection and estimate in St. Paul or Minneapolis.