In older neighborhoods, houses were built using methods that are very different from what we use today, and it is these differences that can cause the price of your roofing project to jump overnight. While it’s stressful to face these surprises, knowing what might be hiding under those shingles will help you stay grounded when you start your roof replacement project.
The Mystery of Spaced Board Decking
If your house was built before the 1950s, there’s a very good chance it doesn’t have the solid sheets of plywood that modern roofs use. Many historic homes have spaced decking or skip sheathing. This looks like a series of long wooden slats with gaps between them. These gaps were great for letting old wood shingles breathe. However, they are a total disaster for modern asphalt shingles because there’s nothing for the nails to grab onto. If your roofer finds these gaps, they will have to install a whole new layer of plywood over the entire house before they can even think about laying down a single shingle. This is a common requirement for safety. But it can add thousands of dollars to your bill because of the extra wood and labor required.
Peeling Back the Layers of History
In the old days, it was a common practice to just nail a new layer of shingles right on top of the old ones to save time and money. While this was legal back then, many cities now have strict building codes that forbid having more than two layers of roofing on a single house. This extra weight puts a massive strain on the wooden frame of your house. It also makes the removal process much slower and more expensive for the crew. You might even find old cedar shakes hidden beneath layers of modern asphalt.
Sagging Rafters and Structural Shifts
When roofs are nearly a century old, the beams that hold them up begin to sag. A sagging roof is a serious problem because water can pool and eventually leak into your home. If you put a perfectly flat new roof over a sagging frame, the shingles will look wavy and uneven. Contractors often have to “sister” new boards alongside the old rafters to straighten out the roof line before they finish the job. This structural work is vital for maintaining the integrity of your home. However, it’s another example of why an older home needs a little extra patience and a bigger emergency budget during a remodel.
While encountering these surprises can feel like a major blow to your wallet, fixing these underlying issues correctly is the only way to ensure your new roof actually does its job of protecting your home. If you want help creating a budget plan that will allow for emergencies, consult with a licensed roofer. They can look at your home and give you suggestions for planning.
Call JP Carroll for a roof replacement service for your Danvers, MA home today.
