How to Repair a Roof Without a Tear-Off

A tear-off roof job is one in which all of the old shingles, roofing felt or tar paper and fasteners are removed, leaving a bare deck. Tear-off roof jobs are more expensive and labor-intensive than jobs in which you just place a new layer of shingles over an existing layer. Although tear-off jobs are the most thorough and longest-lasting roof repair, a non-tear-off job is adequate if your roof is in relatively good shape, without leaks or water damage. Most building codes limit the maximum number of layers to two. Check with your municipality's building codes before installing a new layer of shingles over your old layer.

Pry bar
Shingles
Roofing nailer
1-inch roofing nails
Hook knife
Flashing
Vents

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the underside of your roof for water damage or leaks. Look for rotting or warped boards and stains. If you find evidence of any of these problems, a tear-off job will be more appropriate for your roof.
- 2
  Use a pry bar to remove ridge caps and air vents. Do this carefully, trying not to damage any shingles.
- 3
  Create a flat surface for your new shingles. Sweep the roof with a flat sweeper to remove any broken shingle pieces, twigs, leaves or other debris. Nail down any curling or cracked shingles. For shingles that are missing, cut a replacement shingle from the shingles you plan to use on the new layer, and nail the replacement shingle into place with a roofing nailer. Use a hook knife to cut the shingles.
- 4
  Nail down drip-edge flashing along the edges of the roof. Use drip-edge flashing specific for reroofing jobs. Nail down W-shaped flashing in any valleys on the roof. Nails should be driven into the flashing at least 6 inches away from the center of the W-shaped flashing.
- 5
  Nail down the starter strip over the first course of shingles so the bottom of the strip is flush with the edge of the roof. Insert nails every 10 inches.
- 6
  Nail down the first course of shingles directly over the starter strip so the edge of the shingles is flush with the bottom edge of the starter strip.
- 7
  Nail down subsequent courses of shingles. Stagger the layers of shingles so that they seem to stair-step on the roof.
- 8
  Install new air vents as you encounter them while shingling. The flashing for the air vents should be installed beneath the layers of shingles behind and to the side of the vent, but on top of the shingles in front of the vent. Caulk around the base of the vent, then nail down the flashing.
- 9
  Nail down flashing at the end of a row when you encounter vertical planes formed by a chimney or upper levels of the house.
- 10
  Nail down ridge caps at the tops of the ridges. Nails should be installed on both sides of the ridge caps.

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