An older roof hides its history. Boards may be spaced instead of solid, vents may be few, and old layers can mask each other. A whole-home reroof on an older house starts by reading all of that, then builds a deck that new roofing can be nailed to.
Reading the deck
Older houses can have sheathing boards laid with gaps between them. Gaps leave less wood to hold a nail. When the old covering comes off we see the real condition, and any soft or split boards are replaced.
Where boards are spaced, we close the gaps with plywood so the new roof has a solid surface. That is a scope line, not a surprise.
Airflow in the attic
Attic airflow keeps the deck dry and takes heat out. Some attics have too few vents, or vents covered by insulation. A reroof is the time to look.
We check what is there and say in the scope whether more airflow is worth adding. Cool roof values are also checked when the job replaces over 50 percent of the roof (California Energy Commission, 2022).
What a whole-home reroof on an older house includes
- Old covering stripped to the deck
- Spaced boards closed with plywood where needed
- Soft or split sheathing replaced
- Attic airflow checked and written into the scope
- Old material noted before tear-off
- New underlayment, flashing and covering over a sound deck
Signs an older roof is due
- Sagging between rafters
- Leaks that move after each fix
- Few or no vents in the attic
- A roof with more than one layer or a patchwork of coverings
Materials under the old roof
Before removal, older roofs may contain materials that need testing; ask your roofer.
Insurance and roof age
Insurers read roof age. Insurance Business America reported on 26 May 2026 that some carriers limit older roofs (Insurance Business America, 2026). United Policyholders reported re-underwriting letters on 3 May 2025 (United Policyholders, 2025). Your policy governs.
Older home roofing questions
Why close gaps in the sheathing with plywood?
Spaced boards leave less wood to hold a nail. Closing the gaps with plywood gives the new roof a solid surface to be fastened to. We list this in the scope when the deck shows it.
Should attic airflow be upgraded during a reroof?
A reroof is a good time to look, because the old vents are visible and the deck is open. We say in the scope whether more airflow is worth adding.
Does an old roof need testing first?
It can. Older roofs may contain materials that need testing before removal; ask your roofer. Results of any test belong in writing.
On an older house, what does a whole-home reroof include?
The old covering is stripped to the deck, spaced boards are closed with plywood where needed and soft or split sheathing is replaced. New underlayment, flashing and covering go over a sound deck.
How does the age of an older roof affect insurance?
Some carriers limit coverage by roof age. Farmers, per the 26 May 2026 report, can cap asphalt roofs past 15 years at actual cash value (Insurance Business America, 2026). Your own policy sets the terms.