Like many common home improvement questions, the answer is you can, but you need to decide if layering shingles is the best course of action for your home. It isn’t uncommon to layer a second roof right over the first and then tear everything off before you put a third layer down. Building codes and most municipalities will usually allow you to overlay a second (though never a third) layer of asphalt shingles over an existing shingled roof. You will need to check with your building inspections department to be sure.
Common Problems with Layering Shingles 
Layering shingles has a few drawbacks that you should take into consideration before you decide to lay new shingles over the old.
Re-Shingle Roof as Part of a Larger Plan 
Despite these drawbacks, layering shingles can still be the best plan for your roof. One of the situations, where this option can make the most sense is for a temporary fix as part of a long term plan. Many of the common problems listed above can be avoided if you end up replacing your new roof in the next five or ten years. This sounds like an unwarranted expense, but simply layering shingles can make for a reasonably priced project. You can then invest your money and invest in a high-performance, energy-efficient roof in ten years that will last for the rest of your life.
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Roofing contractors understand pitch, valleys, ponding and all the terminology, techniques and craftsmanship associated with quality roofing. In fact, the roofing industry, through associations, publications and online resources, has done a better job of continuing education over the last few years.
But is all that enough to make a contractor's business successful?
Not quite, because there is also the marketing and sales that brings business in the door, along with the financials that keep income and expenses in order. Many roofing contractors are also finding that an important area of continuing education and expertise is the insurance claims process.
More often than not, property management companies and homeowner associations do not understand the roofing or construction process. As such, they cannot accurately portray their needs or substantiate their claims to their insurance company. That's why it is important to seek your own insurance professional.
How is this important to the roofing contractor? Some feel that insurance companies are dictating to both the building owner and contractor how, what, when and where repairs are made.
There are many examples of claims that have been misinterpreted and underpaid by insurance companies. Recently, a large Home Owner's Association (HOA) complex contracted with a termite company. The termite company's technician walked over the entire tile roof causing significant foot traffic damage to the roof tiles.
Cal Shake, a discontinued roofing product, had been used on the roof, thus making the damage sustained not repairable. When the insurance company completed their inspection they notified the HOA of their decision not to pay for the roof because of the defective roofing material.
As we worked with the HOA, the legal team was able to establish that the cause of the broken tile was not due to defective material but rather "footfalls" from the termite technicians. The term "footfall" is a covered loss by insurance companies. Coverage was established and the HOA was paid in full to have all of the roofs replaced.
Another example was a recent El Nino storm when high winds caught the corner of a commercial building's flat roof, blowing it off. The sub-surface insulation was exposed and soaked up a tremendous amount of rainwater.
The property owner immediately notified and submitted a claim. The insurance company sent out their adjuster and followed up with a denial letter stating that the date the owner submitted as the date of loss, the winds were only 17 mph and could not have caused the damage. Frustrated, the property owner called our company. Our team pulled wind data charts for that entire week, prepared wind uplift calc's and resubmitted the claim to reflect the correct date, one day later. The entire field of the roof had received substantial damage, yet the insurance adjuster proceeded to pay for a patch repair to the severely damaged portion.
Working with a local roofing contractor, the restoration included a mold hygienist and specialized mold abatement crews, securing a clean air certificate and complete restoration to the interior of the building. A new roof system was installed to code with all new warrantees. What started out, as a $1,500 roof patch, became $380,000 in replacement services paid by the insurance company.
Insurance companies follow strict policy rules for submittal and areas of coverage. Often, one word can be the cause for a claim rejection. It is in the roofing contractor's best interest to enable the homeowner association or property management group to submit claims accurately so that all parties involved can receive fair compensation.
An insurance company will only pay for what it owes. It is up to the building owner to justify and understand what he is entitled to.
Steve Slepcevic is president of Paramount Disaster Recovery Inc.,www.paramountinc.com a nationwide company which specializes in preparing the neccessary documentation for property owners, management companies and roofing contractors.