Roof Tear-Off VS Roof Overlay

For everyone, replacing a roof with a new one can be a significant investment for their properties — so it’s essential to ensure that it’s done correctly. There are many different reasons you should or want to replace your roof, such as its age, condition, damage, aesthetics, etc.

When it comes to roofing replacement, there are two methods Malone Roofing typically uses: full roof tear-off and roof overlay.

But, what’s the difference between them? Which one it’s the best? In this article, we’ll give you an in-depth look at both methods.

What is Roof Tear-Off and Roof Overlay?

A roof tear-off is when the old roof is removed completely, and the new roof is installed with all new materials.

A roof overlay is when the old, existing roof remains in place, and a new roofing system is installed over top of it directly.

So, what are the pros and cons of each of them?

Roof Tear-Off Pros and Cons

Tearing off an old roof system completely to install a new one has different advantages and disadvantages:

Pros of Roof Tear-Off

• Catch Structural Issues: With a roof tear-off, Malone Roofing will be able to thoroughly inspect and repair any structural issues that your roof may have. By doing this, the installer can catch any leaks, signs of mold or rot, cracks, and other problems that can be unnoticed and cause more extensive (and more expensive) problems in the future.

• Upgrades Your Roof: This method allows you to upgrade your roof system materials to new ones, including underlayment, decking, tiles, and more. It also helps to catch structural and component issues on time.

• Lower Maintenance: Because the entire roof system is being replaced with brand-new materials, the need for maintenance is significantly reduced. Metal roofing, for instance, is already an extremely low-maintenance material. When you fully replace all of your roof system’s components, you can rely on having a lower maintenance need — precisely because the chances of issues and damage occurring to your roof will be lowered too.

• Increases Roof Lifespan: You’ll be confident that your new roof system will last up to (and even longer than) its expected lifespan.

• Adds Value: A new roof can significantly increase a property’s resale value. And when the roof it’s completely replaced, the resale value increases even more.

Cons of Roof Tear-Off

• Time and Materials: Tearing off a roof will take longer than a roof overlay because it requires more labor. It also requires more materials, as well as the disposal of the old roofing material.

• More Costly: Compared to the roof overlay method, roof tearing-off costs more because it requires more labor and new materials. However, property owners find the investment worth it, considering the underlying issues that can be addressed and future and expensive-to-repair damages can be avoided altogether.

Roof Overlay Pros and Cons

On the other hand, there’re also a few different benefits and drawbacks when considering the roof overlay method:

Pros of Roof Overlay

• Quick Replacement: A roof overlay is significantly faster than a roof tear-off because the new materials and components will be installed directly on top of the old roof system.

• Cost Effective: There’s no total replacement cost, and you won’t have to pay to dispose of your old roofing materials. The process requires less labor, which means less time and fewer components.

Cons of Roof Overlay

• Structural Stress: Using the roof overlay method is like adding another roof to an existing roof, which significantly increases the weight on top of the roof structure. This added weight can put the structural integrity of your property at risk, especially as time goes on.

• Uneven Application: Adding a new lay roof over an old roof can increase the possibility of an inconsistent application. Over time, the old roof might have started to deteriorate and become uneven, affecting the performance and aesthetics of the roof.

• Existing and Future Damages: No one likes a roofing emergency situation. At a difference of the roof tear-off method — which lets installers check for any damages or issues to be addressed — the roof overlay doesn’t let you know what’s going on in your roof. For instance, when you lay new materials on top of the old materials, the chances of water vapor (and other forms of moisture) getting trapped between the two layers of materials increases, leading to an increased chance of new mold, rot, and water damage occurring.

• Void Warranties: It’s extremely important for you to talk to your Malone Roofing Expert in Jackson, Mobile, Birmingham or the location nearest you, about the warranty and any issues related to this method.

Which Method is the Best?

At Malone Roofing, we often recommend you use the roof tear-off method because installing a new roof directly over an old roof system has a lot of disadvantages, and it can potentially end up in more (and sometimes dangerous) expensive labor.

With a roof tear-off, you can rely on knowing that any issues can be addressed on time, the structure of your roof won’t be at risk, the resale value of your property will increase, you won’t have to worry about damages, it has lower maintenance costs, as it last longer than a roof overlay, just because everything is brand new.

As a roof services corporation, we offer professional roofing services and experts that can guide you through your roof project (including emergency roofing services) and provide you with roofing estimates for any work your property needs. We work across Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida’s Pan Handle.

Often roof tear-offs can be avoided with preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance can extend the life of your current roof, as well as prevent excessive moisture from damaging your roof insulation and roof deck.