Why do roofers prefer to strip rather than cover?
Stripping lets the roofer see and repair the decking, removes old layers that add weight and trap heat, and gives the new shingles a flat surface. A layer over existing shingles hides problems and often shortens the life of the new roof. The cost saved is real, but so is the risk.
The risk is not abstract. A damp or rotted board under a new overlay stays damp and rotted, and nobody learns about it until a ceiling stains.
Overlay can make sense on a sound, single-layer roof where the village allows it. Ask the roofer to explain why they recommend one or the other in your case.
What happens if the boards are rotten?
Damaged boards are removed and replaced before the new roof goes on. A good scope names an allowance in advance and describes how the extra will be calculated and documented. The final bill should equal the allowance plus any photographed boards beyond it, not a surprise figure.
Ask what the rate is for replacing a sheet or board, and whether the roofer will call you from the roof when the amount is going to exceed the allowance.
Rot shows up in predictable places: along the eaves, around vent pipes, at the bottom of valleys and beneath old leaks. The roof leak repair page explains how those leaks start.
How do old nails, felt and flashing get dealt with at tear-off?
Everything above the deck comes off: shingles, felt, flashing, old nails and any abandoned vent pipes or brackets. Nails left sticking up cut the new underlayment, so the crew pulls or hammers them flat. A clean deck lets new materials lie flat, shed water properly and avoid telegraphing old bumps.
The messiest stage is also the most revealing. As shingles come off, the crew sees staining along the roof boards, the line where a past leak ran, and fastener patterns that show how the earlier roofs were attached. A roofer who pays attention to these tells you what the house has been through.
Ask whether the crew will use magnets on the lawn, driveway and flower beds every day or only at the end. Daily sweeps matter when children, pets or tires are around, and they cost the roofer very little time.
Does the number of layers affect the permit?
It can. In Schaumburg a residential reroof needs a village permit with a final inspection, and other villages differ. Layer limits and tear-off requirements vary by municipality, and this site has not confirmed the rule for each one, so ask the building department before relying on an overlay.
The permit guide compares what is known for Schaumburg and Carol Stream and explains why other towns are best checked by phone: permits for reroofing nearby villages.
What does a tear-off look like from the homeowner's side?
Expect noise, dust and debris for a day or two, a dumpster in the driveway and workers on the roof from early in the day. Move cars, remove items from attic walls and shelves, and bring pets inside. A careful crew protects shrubs and sweeps the yard for nails with a magnet.
Vibration can shake dust and debris loose in the attic, so cover stored belongings. Photographs on the walls may need to be taken down.
Ask where the dumpster will sit, what time the crew starts and how nails will be collected.
