Is A Vaccine Available To Prevent Shingles
Two vaccines are available in the United States to reduce your chance of developing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. One vaccine, Zostavax®, has been available since 2006. The second vaccine, Shingrix®, has been available since 2017. Shingrix is recommended as the preferred vaccine by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of medical and public health experts.
Shingrix is given as a two-dose shot in your upper arm. You should receive the second dose two to six months after receiving the first. Shingrix has been shown to be more than 90% effective in preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. Its effectiveness remains above 85% for at least four years after receiving the vaccine.
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What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Shingrix
Studies show that Shingrix is safe. The vaccine helps your body create a strong defense against shingles. As a result, you are likely to have temporary side effects from getting the shots. The side effects might affect your ability to do normal daily activities for 2 to 3 days.
Most people got a sore arm with mild or moderate pain after getting Shingrix, and some also had redness and swelling where they got the shot. Some people felt tired, had muscle pain, a headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain, or nausea. Some people who got Shingrix experienced side effects that prevented them from doing regular activities. Symptoms went away on their own in about 2 to 3 days. Side effects were more common in younger people.
You might have a reaction to the first or second dose of Shingrix, or both doses. If you experience side effects, you may choose to take over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Guillain-Barré syndrome , a serious nervous system disorder, has been reported very rarely after Shingrix. There is also a very small increased risk of GBS after having shingles.
If you experience side effects from Shingrix, you should report them to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System . Your doctor might file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS websiteexternal icon, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
If you have any questions about side effects from Shingrix, talk with your doctor.
The Contractor Cant Inspect Your Asphalt Roofs Decking
When you get a full roof replacement, your roof is taken down to its decking. This gives your contractor a chance to inspect the deckings integrity to see if it can handle your new roof.
When you get a nail-over, theres no opportunity to inspect the decking before installing your new roof. If one of the boards break during installation, the contractor will have to take off the old shingles, replace the piece of broken decking, put the old shingles back on, and start installing again.
This adds to the time it takes to replace your roof and can even add to the final cost of the job.
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Why Add New Roof Shingles Over Top Of Old Ones
It might seem like an obvious benefit to having multiple layers of protection on your roof, but that is not automatically true. As a matter of fact, having multiple layers of shingles does not mean that your roof is any more waterproof than it may have been before.
Also, having multiple roofing layers can create problems all its own. The biggest reason to lay down new shingles over existing ones comes down to a simple matter of convenience and cost. Keeping the old shingles allows you to skip the messy labor and disposal costs of a tear-off.
It is important to note that both of these have caveats. It isnt as simple as putting the new roof over the top of the old special prep work needs to be done to complete the new installation. Things like removing ridge caps, vents, and misshapen angles are just the tip of the iceberg.
In addition, you might still have to replace or add new flashing. This can sometimes be tricky to do over old roofing. And the fact is that while you might be saving tear-off costs, you really are just delaying the cost. When you have to start over with a new roof, youll just have to tear it off and start over.
Putting new roofing over the existing structure is a pay me now or pay me later scenario. You will save on costs in the short term, but you will eventually need to pay for the full cost of a new roof at some point.
Why You Should Not Layer Your Roof
The reason that some argue for convenience and cost in regards to layering the new roofing shingles is because you avoid the process of removing the current layer of shingles, otherwise referred to as the tearoff. When you dont do a tearoff, you save a little bit of money and the roof project goes quicker.
But as youll see below, layering your roof may not only violate local roofing codes, it can also very easily compromise the quality and effectiveness of your roof. You may save a little money today by not doing the tearoff, but Ive seen first-hand many homeowners who have regretted taking this shortcut within just a few years once their brand new roof, which was supposed to last 25 years or more, starts to fail.
Here are some reasons why a second layer of shingles can cause the lifespan of your roof to drastically decrease.
Shingles are designed for flat surfaces.
They dont do a good job of bridging over gaps, dips or humps, including the stepped texture created by overlapping shingles. Re-roofers have tricks to lay new roof shingles over old so that the same step-ups between courses are maintained, but if any old shingles are cupped, curled, or otherwise misshapen, those defects will telegraph through to the new layer. Many roofers recommend using laminated or dimensional shingles for re-roofs because theyre thicker than standard shingles and often have a staggered edge profile that helps hide any dips or high spots in the old roofing.
Shingles add weight.
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When You Should Not Put A New Roof Over An Old One
A thorough roof inspection should precede any roof installation. The roof inspector will determine whether your roof is suitable for a re-roof or a roof replacement.
Also, you will get a roof inspection report that will have recommendations on whether your roof is suitable for a re-roof or you should consider tearing it off.
Some of the reasons why your roof might not be suitable for re-roof include
Why Choose The Shingle Over Method
If you choose to cover your existing shingles with new ones, there are a couple reasons why this is a positive solution.
- Cost savings: How much you can save really depends on the pitch of your roof. On average, its about 15% of the total cost. To think about it in dollars, youd save about $1/square foot of roof.
- Less hassle: Tearing off the existing shingles takes about up about 30% of the job site time, not including clean up. Skipping the tear off and disposal step allows the roofing crew to get started on installing your new shingles right away.
The main reasons homeowners choose to double roof their house is because it makes the roofing process less expensive and takes less time. You dont have to pay for tear off and disposal, nor does the crew spend time initially taking off your current shingles. Additionally, between removing and installing new shingles, precipitation wont undermine the project since there is a layer of shingles already there.
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How Is Shingles Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will do a complete physical exam and ask about your medical history, specifically about whether you have ever had chickenpox.
Your healthcare provider will likely know right away that it is shingles based on the unique rash. The rash usually appears one area on one side of the body or face. It appears as red spots, small fluid- or pus-filled vesicles, or scabs.
The healthcare provider may also take skin scrapings for testing.
Why Not Add New Roof Shingles Over Existing Old Shingles
As mentioned above, the pros of re-roofing a home over the decking far outweigh the cons. There are some common myths for roofing over existing shingles:
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Discuss Your Options With A Roofing Expert
At Liberty Roofing Restoration, our professionals will explore your options with you. If you are considering a replacement or just a repair, we offer expert advice and a range of services to meet your needs.
We know that a healthy roof protects you, your home, and your family from the elements, making the condition of your roof important.
Get a free inspection with Liberty today to ensure you make the right decision.
Have you figured out whether you should or should not shingle over shingles, but are considering changing up the style of your roof? Check out How to Choose the Right Roofing Materials For Your Home
What Happens When Roof Shingles Blown Off
The easiest way to repair roof shingles that have blown off is to individually replace them or replace a series of them. The damaged shingles can be removed and new ones can be put into their place. However, these patches may be noticeable, as weather conditions can cause the older shingles to fade in color.
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Installing New Shingles Over Old Shingles
- Written by Laura Bloomfield on Nov 23, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
If you are looking to save time, installing new shingles over old shingles is a possible roof replacement solution. You want to be sure that you will be installing the shingles over only one other layer, though. The third layer of shingles will be too heavy to be supported. Re-roofing over old shingles can save you time and money since you will not have to rip off the old roof and pay to have it hauled away.
Why Installing New Shingles Over Old Shingles Can Be Good
Lets start with the good. Many Arizona homeowners with shingle roofs do decide to roof over their existing shingles because:
- Less expensive. You can save money because theres no dump fee for removing your old roofing, and theres no need for additional felt paper over the old roof.
- Less hassle. Installing a new roof over shingles takes less time than tearing off the old roof.
- Looks just as good and lasts as long. As long as its done right and under the right conditions, installing new shingles over old ones can last as long and look just as good as a complete re-roof.
- Has the same manufacturers warranty. Manufacturers will still warranty the roof for the same amount of time as a re-roof, as long as its done by a qualified installer.
- Can serve as added protection from storms. Assuming your old roof is in good shape, the additional layer can serve as added protection in case a top shingle gets blown off in a storm.
As you can see, there are many benefits to installing a new roof over your existing one, and we do many of these for Arizona homeowners. But there are also times when its not the right thing to do.
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Why Add New Roof Shingles Over Existing Old Shingles
Homeowners will typically at least ask about a roof-over for their home. The benefit for a roof-over is found in the cost and time.
Roofing over existing shingles can save you money on your new roof however, apart from the other reasons listed below, you are actually only delaying costs rather than truly saving money. When it is time to replace the roof again, you will have to pay extra to have both layers removed. You will pay for the shingles to be removed WHEN you pay is the question.
The other main pros are found as a convenience to the roofing company. The job will take less time because the company will not have to remove the layer of shingles. Because there was no tear-off, roofing companies also will save time with clean up as well. However, because of the advantages of completely re-roofing a home, almost all roofing companies prefer to roof over the decking.
You Already Experience Leaks
Though a common misunderstanding, adding more layers will not make your roof waterproof. Your underlayment is what protects it from water, and if that needs replacing, the whole roof does.
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Youre Trying To Minimize The Cost Of A New Roof
Putting new roof shingles on top of old shingles can be more cost-effective, at least in the short run. Roofers will spend fewer hours on labor and clean-up since they wont need to tear off your current shingles. The smaller the mess there is and the shorter time spent on labor, the less you will be charged.
Otherwise, if you have your roof replaced, a large part of the cost goes toward labor fees.
You Want A Different Design Or Color
Maybe you are renovating your entire home, and you would like your roof to match. Or, perhaps you just want to give your home better curb appeal.
Often, homeowners will update and upgrade their homes when they are trying to sell them quickly. If it is your forever home, a different design may be part of your plan as you work to complete your vision.
In either case, it may be possible to layer a new color over your current shingles for less time and money.
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How Long It Would Take To Install A Layover
The same factors that influence how long it would take to install a layover are the ones that influence how long it would take to do a full replace.
Pitch: Pitch is a measure of how steep your roof is. The steeper your roof the longer it will take to install your layover because of safety concerns. This would be especially the case with an older roof because the crew would be walking on damaged shingles. A potential reason a layover wouldnt be possible!
Complexity: It takes more time to install a layover on a complex roof. Each part of the roof is known as a facet. The typical A-Frame roof has two facets: one on each side of your home. A complex roof is aesthetically very appealing, and it would be somewhat of a waste to do a layover since the second layer of shingles wont lay flat, wont look the same as the first layer, and will be more prone to curling, peeling, and blow offs, all of which will make your roof look less nice.
Flashing: Anyplace that breaks up the contagious nature of roofing material is a place where youll find flashing galvanized steel or aluminum that prevents water damage. If roof protrusions and the areas where the roof meets walls are what inspired the need for flashing, then you can only imagine how much more vulnerable to water damage your roof will be given that a layover will cause more protrusions. After all, youre literally creating more protrusions and more points of contact between your roof and wall!
How Many Times Can You Shingle Over A Roof
As much as the Building Code and City Code allow reroofing as an accepted way of roof replacement, it limits the number of overlays to only 2. You are required to tear the roof down to the decking and replace it with new roofing materials.
That aside, some homes have dared the roofing requirement by laying new shingles on top of another four times, which is wrong and very dangerous.
If you must, use the highest quality of asphalt roofing material to carry out a reroof. High-quality asphalt is slightly lighter in weight than other roofing materials such as wood, rubber, and metal shingles.
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Can I Add A Second Layer Of Shingles To My Roof
The short answer is yes, you can lay new roof shingles over the old ones. Lets take a look at why some homeowners go this route and then well consider a few reasons why we dont recommend it. But before we get started, one thing must be clear: adding new roofing over old is possible only with asphalt shingles . You cant do it with wood or metal, for example, and you should never mix materials, such as laying asphalt shingles over cedar shakes. Also, the old roofing has to be in pretty good shape.
Why do some homeowners choose to add additional layers?
Adding additional layers does not make a new roof any more waterproof, on the contrary, it often creates its own problems. The reason some homeowners choose to do it is to save time and money. By keeping the old shingles on, they skip the messy and labor-intensive tear-off step and they will save some money on the roof project. Even though you will save money in labor by not tearing off the old roof, you will need to do some special prep work and you still have to replace or add new flashing, which sometimes can be complicated over old roofing. Getting rid of the tear-off and disposal can easily save $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the size of your roof, but youre really just delaying the cost: when its time to replace the roof again and you have no choice but to remove the existing shingles , youll have to pay extra for the two-layer tear-off and disposal.
Why adding additional layers is not recommended?