Many Roofing Shingle Manufacturers Require the Removal of Old Roof Shingles
By Mark J. Donovan
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It is not an uncommon practice to install new roof shingles on top of old ones. Depending upon the pitch of the roof and local building codes, you may actually be able to install up to three layers of roof shingles. Most roofs, although, are only designed to support a maximum of two layers of shingles. All this said, there are a number of good reasons why you should remove old roof shingles prior to installing new ones.
First and foremost, many roof shingle manufacturers require the removal of old roof shingles prior to installing new ones. If you do not remove old roof shingles, many roof shingle manufacturers will state that you have voided the warranty of the new shingles. |
The reason why shingle manufacturers are adamant about this policy is that if the new shingles are installed on damaged and curling ones, the new shingles may not lay properly on the roof. As a result, they may be susceptible to wind damage and/or leaks.
| Another reason why to remove old roof shingles is the added weight to the roof. Asphalt roofing shingles are very heavy, and by stacking new shingles on to old ones you may overstress the roof. This could lead to simple stress cracks in the interior walls and ceilings of the home, to all out catastrophic failure of the roof. Low pitched roofs are more susceptible to this problem than higher pitched roofs.
When removing old roof shingles start at the ridge top and work your way down towards the eaves. A pitch fork works fairly well in removing old roofing shingles. Make sure, however, to protect the shrubs and other objects adjacent to the home for falling shingles. |
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For more help on Shingling Your Home’s Roof, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s Asphalt Shingle Roofing Bid Sheet. The Asphalt Shingle Roofing Bid Sheet will help to ensure that your roof won’t end up with a blue tarp over it and a dumpster sitting in your yard for weeks as you wait for the roofing contractor to come back and finish roofing your home.
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