I moved into my house not too long ago and had the first occasion towant to go up to the roof yesterday. It looks like there are threelayers of shingles. I've read that you should never have more thantwo layers of shingles because of the weight. How much should I worryabout this?Thanks for your input,-Ben

I'd go check with the local code officials and see what the codesays. In most places you are permitted to have 2 layers, but nomore. Also, in most places you need a building permit to put on newshingles. Find out if one was taken out. If the answers to both ofthose questions are no, then depending on the rest of the facts, likethe age of the roof, I'd seriously consider going after the seller adyou could have a slam dunk case.

Roof with three layers of shingles - dangerous?

Jun 23, 2008 45 Replies

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clare 9 years ago

I've done the "pre-inspection" for several people who then hired a home inspector who missed every serious issue I pointed out, and caught a few things like cracked switch plates and poorly attached trim, and a missing crank on a casement window - missing the fact that the "redone" wiring was a total disaster and the roof, although it looked good from a distance, was about 5 years past it's "best before date" with serious issues in the valleys. Not to mention one of the carport posts was not carrying any weight because it was roted off under the recent aluminum cladding, and the asphault driveway was almost the consistency of gravel. ( that's just on the latest one) A total waste of, IIRC, $450.

There is ONE home inspector in the area I would trust to do an adequate home inspection - a former building contractor and developer who's been raising a bit of a "s*it storm" in the provincial property inspection circles for several years. Real estate selling agents are not happy when he's on the job.

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DerbyDad03 9 years ago

My son had 2 home inspections done in Las Vegas. The most complete inspection reports I have ever seen. Every issue was detailed in text in the synopsis section, then the text for each issue was repeated next a photo or photos of the issue with the issue circled in red or yellow depending on the severity.

Here's a couple of examples. 3 images of a single cracked roof tile:

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Items that had no issues, like the laundry equipment, were included also.

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All for the very reasonable price of $250. The detailed description and pictures of all the problems with just the pool at one house made the $250 seem like a really great deal. He walked away from that one based solely on the inspection report.

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Ed Pawlowski 9 years ago

Can I assume he walked for more than just one cracked tile?

If the house is a money pit, the inspection is good investment. Few houses are pefect and a potential buyer can be put off of a reallly good buy over something simple if they don't understand the report.

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DerbyDad03 9 years ago

He bought the house with the cracked tile. It was the one with the pool (and a ton of other pretty major issues) that he walked away from. I agreed with his choice. He wanted a house that he could spend money upgrading, not just fixing. He got what he wanted and spent his money on tools (miter saw, table saw, etc.) and now sends me pictures of the things he's making to make an already sound house fun to live in. A day-bed for the patio, a dog-crate end-table, a patio table from an old whisky barrel, etc.

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And of course, he needs time for his boat.

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Ed Pawlowski 9 years ago

I like that. Does it still have the whisky in it?

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DerbyDad03 9 years ago

No, but he can't use it for storage or a cooler because of the charred wood on the inside. He likes the look and is trying figure out what kind of sealer will "clean it up" but leave the look.

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