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What fails on a house, why it fails, and what it should cost

Home/Roofing/Two or three layers of shingle

Roofing · Homes built before about 1940

Two or three layers of shingle already on the roof

Layering was normal practice for decades, but it hides the deck and adds weight. Tear-off costs more than an overlay and is the only version worth paying for at this age.

Quick answerLayering was normal practice for decades. It hides the decking condition, adds weight the framing was not sized for, and most manufacturers will not warrant over it. If your roof already has two or three layers, the next roof should start with a full tear-off down to the deck. It costs more than another overlay, and it is the only version worth paying for at this age.

This is most common in homes built before about 1940. Over the decades, each new roof often went straight on top of the last one. That saved money each time, but it means nobody has seen the deck in a very long time.

1Why it matters

  • The deck is hidden. Soft, rotted or gapped decking can’t be seen or repaired under existing layers.
  • Weight adds up. Each layer adds load the original framing was not sized for.
  • Warranties. Most shingle manufacturers will not warrant a shingle laid over old layers.
  • Nailing. Nails driven through several layers hold less reliably than nails into a clean deck, and new shingles laid over an uneven surface don’t sit flat.

2How to check how many layers you have

  1. Look at the rake edgeFrom a ladder at a gable end, look at the edge of the roof. Count the shingle edges stacked on top of each other.
  2. Look for wood under the asphaltA thick sandwich with a wood layer at the bottom usually means cedar shingle under the asphalt. That changes the tear-off scope.
  3. Look at the deck from the atticGapped boards, stains and soft spots tell you what the tear-off may uncover.
  4. Write it downTell every contractor how many layers you found, so the tear-off is priced the same way in each quote.

3Fixing it

Do it yourself

  • Count the layers and check the deck from the attic
  • Find out if there’s wood shingle at the bottom
  • Ask every contractor to price the same scope

Hire a pro

  • Full tear-off down to the deck
  • Deck repair or new sheathing where needed
  • Disposal of several layers of old roofing
  • New flashing and ventilation while the deck is open
Don’t overlay again

Another layer on top hides problems for another decade and adds more weight. If a quote proposes an overlay on a roof that already has two layers, ask why, and check local code.

4What drives the cost

Tear-off price climbs with the number of layers, whether there is wood shingle underneath, the pitch and height of the roof, and disposal. The other unknown is the deck. Ask for a per-sheet price for deck repair in the quote so you aren’t negotiating once the roof is open.

Roofing cost

Several layers already on the roof?

Talk to a roofing contractor who will price a full tear-off and the deck repair up front.

877-360-4657

5Questions

Can I add one more layer to save money?

It saves money now, but it hides the deck, adds weight and most manufacturers won’t warrant it. On a roof that already has layers, tear-off is the version worth paying for.

What will they find under the old layers?

On a house this age, often plank decking, sometimes wood shingle, and sometimes soft spots. That’s why deck repair should be priced in the quote.

Is a tear-off messy?

It’s a lot of debris. A good crew protects landscaping and sweeps for nails. Ask how they handle cleanup and disposal.

Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.

877-360-4657