When it s time to replace your roof there are several factors that might lead your roofing professional to recommend adding shingles on top of your existing layers.
How many layers of roofing are allowed in nj.
There are important reasons why this code is in effect.
Homeowners are only allowed to add a second layer of shingles.
The ice barrier shall consist of not fewer than two layers of underlayment cemented together or a self adhering polymer modified bitumen sheet shall be used in place of normal underlayment and extend from the lowest edges of all roof surfaces to a point not less than 24 inches 610 mm inside the exterior wall line of the building.
That limit pertains to roofs with up to a 4 12 pitch.
According to the international existing building code homes can be re roofed one time by applying a second layer of roof shingles over the existing one but after that application begins to wear both layers need to be removed before a brand new roof is installed.
Most cities and towns allow a maximum of two layers of shingles says chad muth president of muth company roofing in westerville ohio.
Now you just have to decide whether to remove the existing roof shingles or recover the roof.
On most flat roofs such as epdm tpo or modified it is perfectly acceptable to two layers of roofing.
Most building codes allow up to two layers of organic or fiberglass asphalt shingles.
Most areas only allow for a maximum of two layers.
Why would you want to recover vs tear off.
Standard roofing practices allow for three layers of roofing shingles.
In some instances 3 layers may be allowed but this is rare.
If the third layer is new you should not have to do anything for the next.
However in almost all areas it is not acceptable to install more than two layers of roofing on any commercial building.
Most building codes allow two layers of organic or fiberglass asphalt shingles on roofs with a 4 12 pitch or less and three layers on steeper roofs.
Third roofs are illegal and it s been up to the construction code official to enforce that lacosta said.
Home inspector nj bergen county with zip codes the g warren inc nj home inspection directory serving these new jersey cities.
Usually shingles are replaced every 15 to 20 years.
For many years it was acceptable to put even the third layer.
In lower bergen county new jersey alpine nj 07620 home inspection for bergenfield nj 07621 area we have home inspectors for bogota nj 07603 area licensed home inspector for carlstadt nj 07072 area g warren has licensed home inspector for cliffside park nj.
The contractor may do a walk on the roof and also inspect from the attic for any rot before installing a second layer of shingles.