Tear-Off

A tear-off is defined as the process of removing all existing roofing materials down to the roof deck before installing a new roof system. A complete tear-off involves stripping shingles, underlayment, flashing, and any deteriorated decking. Most building codes limit asphalt shingle roofs to a maximum of two layers, and many jurisdictions require a full tear-off regardless of the number of existing layers. Tear-off typically costs $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot and generates 2 to 3 tons of debris per 2,000 square feet of roof area.