Ripping roof

We have some leaking from my brownstone roof where there’s pooling and yr old re-flashing is failing. I’ve asked for several quotes from a reputable roofer often mentioned on this forum and need to evaluate which is a better investment — putting a new layer over roof or ripping the roof entirely? (Patching is out of the question since were looking at solar panels eventually also.) There are at least several layers of roof now there and the roofer said I don’t “need”to rip necessarily but I’m just concerned about how simply layering over existing roof will really work if there are underlying issues from previous leaks (definitely signs of sagging plaster in top bedroom – some say that’s just the house settling?- signs of rust in tin ceiling), potential of new weight issues, etc. I’m also looking at replacing skylights and better insulating roof to contain heating /cooling costs and improve the temperature on top floor which varies wildly from season to season. Does the roofer provide this insulation? Can anyone recommend additional roofers for competing quotes? Would th ere be any reason for a roofer to recommend a new layer vs ripping entirely? I was warned by someone that some might not prefer to rip from their ROI perspective. Am I missing something? Any advice is appreciated.

brokelyn

in General Discussion 6 years and 5 months ago

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NeoGrec | 6 years and 5 months ago

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If you plan to do your solar project with Brooklyn Solar Works, I know they recommend Premier Roofing for the roof job. Important that both solar and roofing contractors work together and trust one another, otherwise you’ll end up in an endless finger pointing/blame match if anything goes wrong.

rocketship | 6 years and 5 months ago

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A new roof will probably involve asbestos abatement – not a big deal, just something to factor in. You may also be replacing the wooden deck underneath if it is rotten (and especially if you are adding insulation). I would definitely hire an architect to consult – every roofer has their preferences on roof types and detailing, but these may or may not match your requirements.
The sagging plaster is a separate (but related) issue – with water damage, the original plaster and wooden lath may have detached itself from the wooden joists. This can be easily remedied – there are large round washers that can be used to reattach the plaster to the joists. Keep your old plaster! The original stuff is much more resilient to water damage than sheetrock, and is impossible to replace.

jrkeat | 6 years and 5 months ago

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This doesn’t answer your question, but I believe that you can roll your roof work into the solar installation and get a huge tax break on it (50 to 70%).

patrickburnsjr | 6 years and 5 months ago

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Ripping off old layers reduces the weight load on your joists and alleviates trapped moisture~~common sense. There are plenty of good roofing companies out there and there are plenty of G.C.s out there who can take care of the procedures you need. Yes, as Maggie O states, “an architect should be consulted”.
.

Guest User | 6 years and 5 months ago

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a roofer would recommend a new layer rather than ripping off old roofing for a lot of reasons but 2 primary ones come to my mind – it’s a lot easier and faster to just recover and you don’t have to worry about the materials used underneath. unfortunately, if there are already 2 layers of roofing you are supposed to rip off the roof and put a new roof on, according to the building code. if you’re talking about replacing skylights, adding insulation and adding solar panels, you would be wise to consult an architect who can properly detail the flashings, give specifications for the proper materials, advise on placement of the solar panels, ensure proper structural support for the panels, and make sure that the job is done to code. it won’t be a cheap job, but i think you’ll find yourself with a better final result if you start off with the proper advice.

Guest User | 6 years and 5 months ago

string(1) "3"
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a roofer would recommend a new layer rather than ripping off old roofing for a lot of reasons but 2 primary ones come to my mind – it’s a lot easier and faster to just recover and you don’t have to worry about the materials used underneath. unfortunately, if there are already 2 layers of roofing you are supposed to rip off the roof and put a new roof on, according to the building code. if you’re talking about replacing skylights, adding insulation and adding solar panels, you would be wise to consult an architect who can properly detail the flashings, give specifications for the proper materials, advise on placement of the solar panels, ensure proper structural support for the panels, and make sure that the job is done to code. it won’t be a cheap job, but i think you’ll find yourself with a better final result if you start off with the proper advice.