A roof replacement is a complex job, which typically involves removing the old roof, checking the deck’s condition, performing repairs and installing the new roof cover. However, if the old roof is made from lightweight materials (asphalt shingles or metal), you can opt for a reroofing instead of a total roof replacement.

Skipping the step of removing the old roof cover can have some advantages. First, it’s about reducing the cost of the roof replacement project, which is something that everyone is interested in, considering that a new roof is overall very expensive. Additionally, tearing down an old roof can be messy, so by choosing to keep the old shingle layer, the roof renovation project will be managed easier.

However, there are also reasons why reroofing over old shingles could be a bad choice of action.

First, before installing a new roof, A Littleton roofing contractor can also check the wooden structure underneath. Rot or sagging indicates that the structure must be repaired. If the old shingles are not removed, the wooden structure cannot be checked, which is a risk.

Additionally, you can reroof only if the existing shingle layer is flat and level. If the shingles are curled, you cannot keep them.