Replacing an old roof can be an incredibly costly investment in your home. With the cost of labor and materials, the amount you pay can quickly skyrocket. When it finally comes time to make the leap, you may find yourself trying to decide if a roof overlay or tear-off will be your best investment overall.
At Kanga Roof, we understand how difficult it can be to choose a roof overlay or tear-off. With so many roofing options available, what makes one better than the other? If you are trying to decide whether a roof overlay or tear-off is a better option for your home, keep reading to see what our experts recommend.
What is the Difference Between a Roof Overlay and a Tear-Off?
When you begin looking for a roof replacement for your home, homeowners often find themselves struggling to pick between a roof overlay or tear-off. But what is the difference between an overlay and a tear-off? A roof overlay is a technique in which your old roofing material stays in place, and new roofing materials are installed directly on top of the old materials.
A roof tear-off involves removing all of the old roofing materials to make room for new materials to be installed in their place. There are many factors that should be considered when deciding if a roof overlay or tear-off is a better fit for your home. To help you make this decision, we’ve compiled a list of benefits and drawbacks for each.
Benefits of a Roof Overlay
Quick Project Completion
If you are looking for a quick project turn-around, a roof overlay is a great way to go. Roof overlays are often completed much more quickly than roof tear-offs because there is no need to remove any old roofing materials. This can minimize the overall project timeline, allowing you to enjoy a new roof sooner. Whether you are trying to beat upcoming winter weather or you simply don’t want to deal with an unnecessarily long project, an overlay may be the best for you.
Cost-Effective Roofing
When trying to choose between a roof overlay or tear-off, you may find yourself trying to decide which is your best choice financially. With the labor and products required for a roof tear-off, roof overlays are often considered the much more cost-effective option. You only need to focus on purchasing new materials when starting a roof overlay.
Drawbacks of a Roof Overlay
Chance of Trapped Moisture
While overlaying offers a variety of benefits, there are some drawbacks. Overlaying doesn’t allow for a thorough inspection of the underlying roof structure. This may result in potential problems, including trapped moisture which can impact the structural integrity of your roof and lead to costly repairs.
Shorter Lifespan
Without doing a proper inspection of the underlying materials, you may unintentionally be shortening the lifespan of your roof. Adding layers may trap heat, which can wear on the roofing materials more quickly than you anticipate, leading to a decrease in the expected lifespan of your new roof.
Benefits of a Roof Tear-Off
Find Underlying Issues
When choosing between a roof overlay or tear-off, it is important that you remember that your roof acts as the protector of your home. By getting a tear-off, you remove all of the old materials and have the opportunity to catch problems with the roof deck and supports. By doing this inspection, you can catch damage before it harms your home.
Opportunity to Upgrade Insulation
If you’ve noticed your home is a bit colder than you’d like, a roof tear-off provides you with the perfect opportunity to upgrade or add insulation to your home. Not only does this ensure your home is warm during the chilly winter months, but it also helps you boost your energy efficiency, reducing the cost of heating and cooling your home.
Drawbacks of a Roof Tear-Off
Costly Installation
While a roof tear-off offers plenty of benefits, it is important to understand that this project can become much more costly than you anticipated. While catching problems with your roof guarantees the safety of your home, it can lead to quickly rising costs as you work to address and repair problems.
Longer Installation Time
Tear-offs can take quite a while to complete, which can be especially frustrating if you are expecting quick project completion. The process of removing old materials, inspecting the roof, and installing new materials might be longer than you had budgeted for, which can feel incredibly frustrating.
Should You Choose a Roof Overlay or Tear-Off?
After going through the benefits and drawbacks, you may still struggle with whether you should get a roof overlay or tear-off. Each offers its own unique pros and cons, but making this decision for your space can be difficult to do without the help of a professional. While we understand the appeal of a roof overlay, ultimately, a roof tear-off might be the best option for your space.
With the risk of hidden damage that is often associated with a roof overlay, a tear-off protects you, your loved ones, and your home. You don’t want to make the investment in a new roof only to have to tear out these new materials due to unexpected damage a year from now. While it is a more expensive project upfront, a tear-off will save you down the line.
Reliable Roofing from Kanga Roof
Whether you are looking for a roof overlay or tear-off, our team at Kanga Roof is the perfect roofing team for you. With over 45 years of experience helping homeowners across the Northern Utah area find the perfect roofing solution for their property, we’re confident that we can do the same for you. If you’re ready to start a roof overlay or tear-off project, or you’d like to learn more about the benefits and drawbacks, don’t hesitate to contact our team today.
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