Need advice on replacing an old leaky roof

NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF

You’re spot on about underlayment—skipping it’s just asking for trouble down the line. Here’s how I usually approach it: 1) Strip everything down to the decking, check for rot, and replace any bad wood. 2) Go with a high-quality synthetic underlayment; it’s pricier but you won’t be patching leaks every season. 3) For shingles, lighter colors actually help with heat if you’re in a sunny area, but honestly, after a month you’ll forget what you picked. Don’t sweat the color too much...focus on the build quality and details like flashing. That’s where the real headaches come from if you cut corners.

NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF

Don’t sweat the color too much...focus on the build quality and details like flashing. That’s where the real headaches come from if you cut corners.

Couldn’t agree more about the flashing—seen way too many “new” roofs start leaking just because someone got lazy with the details around chimneys or valleys. I’d even say, if you’re hiring it out, ask them specifically how they handle those tricky spots. Some crews just slap on a bit of caulk and call it a day, which is a recipe for callbacks.

One thing I’d add: ventilation. Folks get so focused on shingles and underlayment that they forget about airflow in the attic. If your old roof was leaking, there’s a chance moisture’s been building up inside too. I’ve had clients who replaced their whole roof but still ended up with moldy rafters because the vents were clogged or undersized. Not fun.

Curious—what kind of decking do you have under there? Plywood holds up better than old plank boards, but sometimes you don’t know until you tear into it. If you find a lot of rot, it might be worth upgrading while you’re at it. Costs a bit more upfront but saves headaches later.

Also, are you in an area that gets ice dams? If so, ice & water shield along the eaves is a must. I’ve seen folks try to save money by skipping it, and every spring they’re back up there with buckets.

What’s your timeline looking like? Sometimes waiting for a dry spell makes all the difference, especially if you’re doing any of it yourself.

Totally agree about the ventilation—when we moved in, I didn’t even realize how much that mattered until we found some mildew in the attic.

“If your old roof was leaking, there’s a chance moisture’s been building up inside too.”

Title: Need advice on replacing an old leaky roof

Yeah, ventilation’s one of those things that doesn’t get enough attention until you’re dealing with the aftermath. I’ve seen a lot of folks focus on shingles or flashing, but skip over airflow and end up with moldy insulation or warped decking. Had a job last year where the homeowner was convinced all he needed was new shingles—turns out, half his attic was sweating because the vents were basically useless. Ridge vent fixed it, but not before we had to rip out a bunch of soggy OSB.

Swapping out decking isn’t the end of the world, like you said. It’s messy and adds a bit to the bill, but honestly, it’s way better than letting soft spots go and ending up with a trampoline for a roof. I’d rather see someone just bite the bullet and do it right than patch over rot and hope for the best.

One thing I’d add—sometimes people get talked into “upgrading” with fancy underlayments or ice shields everywhere. Not saying they’re bad, but if your roof’s got proper slope and ventilation, you don’t always need to go overboard. I’ve seen more than a few projects where folks spent big on bells and whistles but ignored basic airflow...and still ended up with problems.

Anyway, yeah, don’t freak out about some bad decking. Just make sure whoever’s doing the work actually checks for hidden damage instead of just slapping new shingles on top. That’s where corners get cut and headaches start later.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’d actually push back a bit on the “don’t always need to go overboard” part. Sometimes those “bells and whistles” like premium underlayment or full ice shield coverage are what set a luxury roof apart—especially if you’re in an area with wild weather swings or want that peace of mind for decades.

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“if your roof’s got proper slope and ventilation, you don’t always need to go overboard.”