Tear-Off Cost, and the Overlay Temptation
Thirty-two percent of recent Sacramento County re-roof permits were overlays — new roofing laid straight over the old. It is cheaper today. This page is about what it costs later.
What you are paying for in a tear-off
- Removal labour and disposal of the old roof
- A full inspection of the deck, which is the only time anyone sees it
- New flashing rather than reused flashing
- Full manufacturer warranty eligibility
The bill an overlay defers
An overlay leaves any rot in place and traps heat against the new shingles, shortening their life. Next time, both layers come off, so you pay that disposal anyway — at future prices.
Code does not allow a third layer, so an overlay also removes the option of doing it again.
Common questions
How much does tearing off the old roof add?
It is part of our published per-square rate rather than an extra, because we quote tear-off as standard. Where contractors price it separately, the addition reflects labour and landfill fees, and doubles if there are two existing layers.
Can I put a new roof over my old one in California?
Usually you can add one more layer, as long as what's up there now is sound and lies flat enough. Three layers aren't allowed, so a house that already has two needs a full strip-off.