best way to recover a roof

ktmrfs wrote:

dougrainer wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Gdetrailer,

Is your roof flat? Mine is curved. I like the aluminum idea.

dougrainer,

Redecking sounds expensive. But I do value your advice.

Well, You CANNOT install EPDM or TPO over the existing EPDM/TPO. You CANNOT install new EPDM/TPO over the existing wood subdeck after you remove the OLD EPDM/TPO. You HAVE to redeck. You overlay the new decking with Wood Glue/screws. Doug

Never heard of needing new decking for a new roof, nor have I ever seen any shops put on new decking unless the old was rotted. Nor have I ever seen this requirement in the instructions from EPDM roof suppliers either.

Where is a reference to needing new decking??

When you remove the old EPDM/TPO, you have gobs of old glue and debris stuck to the Old Decking. NEW glue will not adhere correctly to the old glue. Unless you sand the complete roof, (messy dirty and time consuming), and IF you use the original gummed up surface and apply new glue, once you roll out the EPDM/TPO you will have ALL those bits and pieces under the new rubber. IT WILL show thru. Will look like s**t. Now, I only have 43 years of replacing roofs on RV's, so maybe you have more knowledge. Installing new deck over the old only takes about 2 to 3 hours and you now have a NEW/CLEAN/DRY surface to glue and roll out the new rubber. This is not done because the old deck was rotten or bad. You do it because you want a GOOD clean adhered job. Now, what may be stated in the instructions assumes you KNOW what you are doing. I DO. Maybe the shops you have used are just plain lousy and don't care about quality. BUT TO DO A CORRECT ROOF EPDM/TPO REPLACEMENT REQUIRES NEW OVERLAYED DECKING. PERIOD. Doug