Does My Old Roof Need to be Removed?

In the state of California and most county/city jurisdictions in the state it is allowable to have up to 2 composition shingle roofs installed on a residential dwelling (one on top of the other). Therefore, if you have 1 roof, it is technically allowable to recover the old roof with a new composition shingle roof. However, this is not always recommended due to several factors:

1) aesthetics (the look of your roof)

2) the longevity of the newly installed composition roof

3) inability to inspect your wood roof deck sheathing under your current roof system

4) possibility of shingle manufacturer not backing up their manufacturer's material warranty

Aesthetics: New composition shingle roofs installed over an old composition shingle roof will often appear uneven or bumpy and will not lay flat.

Longevity: New composition shingle roofs installed over an old composition shingle roof will not last as long as a new composition shingle roof installed over the wood sheathing (roof deck) of your home.

Inspect: If a new composition shingle roof is installed over an old composition shingle roof, the Contractor does not have the opportunity to inspect your wood sheathing leaving potential dry-rot or broken wood.

Manufacturer's Material Warranty: Depending upon the manufacturer, the material warranty covering your shingles may be compromised or shortened if the new roof is installed over an old roof. Homeowners should ask their Contractor to verify warranty details and provide the homeowner with the warranty in writing prior to making installation decisions concerning your home.

What Should My Contractor Include in a Standard Roof tear off / New Roof Installation?

A reputable, experienced, and knowledgeable Roofing Contractor, such as Daniel's Roofing will provide a Scope of Work that includes at least the following:

• Purchasing the necessary building permit and scheduling all roof inspections with the State/County/City Building Authority
• Tearing off the old roof, removing and disposing of the old roof debris
• Inspecting the wood sheathing for dry-rot, damage/broken wood, or soft spots ***
• Installing synthetic or felt underlayment over the wood sheathing
• Installing 2 x 2 (or similar depending upon the project) metal roof edging
• Installing dimensional composition shingles
• Installing Ridge to the peaks of the roof
• Installing/replacing vents as applicable for proper airflow
• Cleaning out all gutters
• Clean up and haul off all debris from roof project
• Proper ground clean up such as running a ground magnet to pick up any dropped fasteners, etc
• *** Scope of work and price will normally not include the cost to replace any dryrot, damage/broken wood because it is impossible to ascertain the extent until the roof is torn off. However, your Contractor should provide the homeowner proof of any dry-rot in the form of pictures and provide a written change order/addendum to the contract outlining costs.

Protect your investment by ensuring your Roofing Contractor is:

• Licensed by the State of California - ask for your Contractor's license number which can be verified by clicking on "license check" at the Contractor's State License Board. Verify the license is active, which means your Contractor has met the minimum requirements such as background check, satisfactorily passing the State Contractor Law and Roofing Trade examinations. In addition, from this same page you can view the Contractor's Bond insurance information and verify that the Contractor carries Worker's Compensation. These are the minimum requirements. However, to ensure protection of your property, roof project, and your personal liability choose a contractor that carries General Liability insurance. In addition, you can request your Contractor provide verification of additional insurances that protect your home and investment - such as Commercial Auto on vehicles that will be on your property, and General Liability Insurance. You can view Daniel's Roofing licensure and insurance information including worker's compensation, commercial auto, and $2 million in General Liability by visiting our About Page.

Risks of Hiring an unlicensed roofer:

• Hiring an unlicensed roofer/laborer to install your new roof is very risky and can have disastrous results - in addition to being illegal in the State of California. Any roof project valued at $500 or over in labor and materials must be completed by a licensed roofing contractor. Homeowners that hire unlicensed roofers do not know if the roofer is up to date on shingle manufacturer's specifications of installation. Improper installation can lead to roof leaking, premature roof failure, and can void your manufacturer's shingle warranty. In addition, unlicensed roofers are not vetted for building code compliance, nor background checked to ensure they do not have a criminal history or unlawful practices. Unlicensed roofers/laborers are most likely not insured for General Liability insurance protecting your home from damage and even more risky, unlicensed workers are not covered by worker's compensation - putting homeowner's at considerable risk should workers be injured on your property. Don't risk it - hire a licensed roofing contractor, like Daniel's Roofing, and protect your most valuable investment - your home.

Daniel's Roofing - Licensed, Bonded, Insured - Contact us for your Free Estimate - 530-736-0952

This informative article is provided as a courtesy by Daniels Roofing Contractor located in Red Bluff and serving Redding, Chico, Orland, Willows, Cottonwood, Anderson, Mt Shasta, Corning, Los Molinos and surrounding areas with 45 years experience providing expert roofing system installation including asphalt-composition shingles, metal roofing, tile, fire-treated wood shingles, mobile home roof coatings, spray polyurethane foam roofing, and other residential and commercial roofing systems.