A tear-off is the demolition phase of a roofing project where crews strip away all old shingles, underlayment, and flashing. This exposes the structural roof deck, allowing roofers to inspect for rot, replace damaged wood, and install a completely new roofing system. It is the alternative to a roof layover, where new shingles are nailed directly over the old ones.
We've a two-layer tear-off on Elm Street tomorrow, so bring the extra dump trailer.
Building codes usually limit a roof to two layers of shingles, making a full tear-off mandatory for the third replacement.
Also heard as
- strip-off
Do not mix it up with
- Recover: A recover installs new roofing over the old materials, while a tear-off removes everything down to the deck.
Related terms
Recover
To install a new roof membrane or shingle layer directly over an existing roof system.
Asphalt shingle
A waterproof roofing element made of a fiberglass or felt mat coated with bitumen and topped with mineral granules.
Roof assembly
The complete system of interacting components that form a building's roof, from the structural deck up to the weatherproofing layer.