diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/chmod/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/chmod/main.go
index 11b2b8ef..3a7f28d6 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/chmod/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/chmod/main.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package chmod
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"path"
 	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -12,8 +11,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-	var overlaySourceDir string
-
 	overlayName := args[0]
 	fileName := args[1]
 
@@ -21,19 +18,19 @@ func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("could not convert requested mode: %s", err)
 	}
-	err = overlay.CloneSiteOverlay(overlayName)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	overlay_ := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
+	if !overlay_.IsSiteOverlay() {
+		overlay_, err = overlay_.CloneSiteOverlay()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
-	overlaySourceDir, _ = overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
-
-	if !util.IsDir(overlaySourceDir) {
+	if !overlay_.Exists() {
 		return fmt.Errorf("overlay does not exist: %s", overlayName)
 	}
 
-	overlayFile := path.Join(overlaySourceDir, fileName)
-
-	if !util.IsFile(overlayFile) && !util.IsDir(overlayFile) {
+	overlayFile := overlay_.File(fileName)
+	if !(util.IsFile(overlayFile) || util.IsDir(overlayFile)) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("file does not exist within overlay: %s:%s", overlayName, fileName)
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/chown/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/chown/main.go
index b32b8122..2afa2068 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/chown/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/chown/main.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package chown
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"path"
 	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/overlay"
@@ -13,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-	var overlaySourceDir string
 	var uid int
 	var gid int
 	var err error
@@ -34,19 +32,21 @@ func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	} else {
 		gid = -1
 	}
-	err = overlay.CloneSiteOverlay(overlayName)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	overlaySourceDir, _ = overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
 
-	if !util.IsDir(overlaySourceDir) {
+	overlay_ := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
+	if !overlay_.Exists() {
 		return fmt.Errorf("overlay does not exist: %s", overlayName)
 	}
 
-	overlayFile := path.Join(overlaySourceDir, fileName)
+	if !overlay_.IsSiteOverlay() {
+		overlay_, err = overlay_.CloneSiteOverlay()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 
-	if !util.IsFile(overlayFile) && !util.IsDir(overlayFile) {
+	overlayFile := overlay_.File(fileName)
+	if !(util.IsFile(overlayFile) || util.IsDir(overlayFile)) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("file does not exist within overlay: %s:%s", overlayName, fileName)
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/create/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/create/main.go
index 3ab4ba4f..201c02f2 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/create/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/create/main.go
@@ -6,6 +6,5 @@ import (
 )
 
 func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
-	_, err = overlay.CreateSiteOverlay(args[0])
-	return err
+	return overlay.GetSiteOverlay(args[0]).Create()
 }
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/delete/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/delete/main.go
index 0b8576d7..ee439c08 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/delete/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/delete/main.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path"
 
-	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/overlay"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/util"
@@ -13,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-	var overlayPath string
 	var fileName string
 
 	overlayName := args[0]
@@ -22,30 +20,22 @@ func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		fileName = args[1]
 	}
 
-	overlayPath, isSite := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
-	if !isSite {
+	overlay_ := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
+	if overlay_.IsDistributionOverlay() {
 		return fmt.Errorf("distribution overlay can't deleted")
-
 	}
-	if overlayPath == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("overlay name did not resolve: '%s'", overlayName)
-	}
-
-	if !util.IsDir(overlayPath) {
+	if !overlay_.Exists() {
 		return fmt.Errorf("overlay does not exist: %s", overlayName)
 	}
 
 	if fileName == "" {
-		if overlayName == "wwinit" || overlayName == "host" {
-			return errors.New("refusing to delete the Warewulf overlay")
-		}
 		if Force {
-			err := os.RemoveAll(overlayPath)
+			err := os.RemoveAll(overlay_.Path())
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed deleting overlay: %w", err)
 			}
 		} else {
-			err := os.Remove(overlayPath)
+			err := os.Remove(overlay_.Path())
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed deleting overlay: %w", err)
 			}
@@ -53,28 +43,28 @@ func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		wwlog.Info("Deleted overlay: %s\n", args[0])
 
 	} else {
-		removePath := path.Join(overlayPath, fileName)
+		removePath := overlay_.File(fileName)
 
-		if !util.IsDir(removePath) && !util.IsFile(removePath) {
+		if !(util.IsDir(removePath) || util.IsFile(removePath)) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("path to remove doesn't exist in overlay: %s", removePath)
 		}
 
 		if Force {
 			err := os.RemoveAll(removePath)
 			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed deleting file from overlay: %s:%s", overlayName, overlayPath)
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed deleting file from overlay: %s:%s", overlayName, removePath)
 			}
 		} else {
 			err := os.Remove(removePath)
 			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed deleting overlay: %s:%s", overlayName, overlayPath)
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed deleting overlay: %s:%s", overlayName, removePath)
 			}
 		}
 
 		if Parents {
 			// Cleanup any empty directories left behind...
 			i := path.Dir(removePath)
-			for i != overlayPath {
+			for i != overlay_.Rootfs() {
 				wwlog.Debug("Evaluating directory to remove: %s", i)
 				err := os.Remove(i)
 				if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/edit/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/edit/main.go
index 62e8cb44..34f89290 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/edit/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/edit/main.go
@@ -36,19 +36,19 @@ func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
 	overlayName := args[0]
 	fileName := args[1]
 	createdSite := false
-	overlaySourceDir, isSite := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
-	if !isSite {
-		err = overlay.CloneSiteOverlay(overlayName)
+	overlay_ := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
+	if !overlay_.IsSiteOverlay() {
+		overlay_, err = overlay_.CloneSiteOverlay()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		createdSite = true
 	}
-	if !util.IsDir(overlaySourceDir) {
+	if !overlay_.Exists() {
 		return fmt.Errorf("overlay does not exist: %s", overlayName)
 	}
 
-	overlayFile := path.Join(overlaySourceDir, fileName)
+	overlayFile := overlay_.File(fileName)
 	wwlog.Debug("Will edit overlay file: %s", overlayFile)
 
 	overlayFileDir := path.Dir(overlayFile)
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
 		if startTime == fileInfo.ModTime() {
 			wwlog.Debug("No change detected. Not updating overlay.")
 			if createdSite {
-				os.Remove(overlaySourceDir)
+				os.Remove(overlay_.Path())
 			}
 			return nil
 		}
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/imprt/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/imprt/main.go
index d22aa115..fd76d33f 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/imprt/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/imprt/main.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 
 func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	var dest string
-	var overlaySource string
 
 	overlayName := args[0]
 	source := args[1]
@@ -27,22 +26,22 @@ func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}
 
 	wwlog.Verbose("Copying '%s' into overlay '%s:%s'", source, overlayName, dest)
-	overlaySource, _ = overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
+	overlay_ := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
 
-	if !util.IsDir(overlaySource) {
+	if !overlay_.Exists() {
 		return fmt.Errorf("overlay does not exist: %s", overlayName)
 	}
 
-	if util.IsDir(path.Join(overlaySource, dest)) {
+	if util.IsDir(overlay_.File(dest)) {
 		dest = path.Join(dest, path.Base(source))
 	}
 
-	if util.IsFile(path.Join(overlaySource, dest)) {
+	if util.IsFile(overlay_.File(dest)) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("a file with that name already exists in the overlay: %s", overlayName)
 	}
 
 	if CreateDirs {
-		parent := filepath.Dir(path.Join(overlaySource, dest))
+		parent := filepath.Dir(overlay_.File(dest))
 		if _, err := os.Stat(parent); os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			wwlog.Debug("Create dir: %s", parent)
 			srcInfo, err := os.Stat(source)
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	err := util.CopyFile(source, path.Join(overlaySource, dest))
+	err := util.CopyFile(source, overlay_.File(dest))
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("could not copy file into overlay: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/list/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/list/main.go
index 1089b940..d27cfcb3 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/list/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/list/main.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/app/wwctl/table"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/overlay"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/wwlog"
@@ -24,51 +25,52 @@ func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	t := table.New(cmd.OutOrStdout())
 	if ListLong {
-		wwlog.Info("%-10s %5s %-5s %-18s %s\n", "PERM MODE", "UID", "GID", "SYSTEM-OVERLAY", "FILE PATH", "SITE")
+		t.AddHeader("PERM MODE", "UID", "GID", "SYSTEM-OVERLAY", "FILE PATH", "SITE")
 	} else {
-		wwlog.Info("%-30s %-12s-%12s\n", "OVERLAY NAME", "FILES/DIRS", "SITE")
+		t.AddHeader("OVERLAY NAME", "FILES/DIRS", "SITE")
 	}
 
-	for o := range overlays {
-		name := overlays[o]
-		path, isSite := overlay.GetOverlay(name)
+	for _, name := range overlays {
+		overlay_ := overlay.GetOverlay(name)
 
-		if util.IsDir(path) {
-			files := util.FindFiles(path)
+		if !overlay_.Exists() {
+			wwlog.Error("system/%s (path not found:%s)", name, overlay_.Rootfs())
+			continue
+		}
 
-			wwlog.Debug("Iterating overlay path: %s", path)
-			if ListLong {
-				for file := range files {
-					s, err := os.Stat(files[file])
-					if err != nil {
-						continue
-					}
+		files := util.FindFiles(overlay_.Rootfs())
 
-					fileMode := s.Mode()
-					perms := fileMode & os.ModePerm
-
-					sys := s.Sys()
-
-					wwlog.Info("%v %5d %-5d %-18s /%s\n", perms, sys.(*syscall.Stat_t).Uid, sys.(*syscall.Stat_t).Gid, overlays[o], files[file], isSite)
+		wwlog.Debug("Iterating overlay rootfs: %s", overlay_.Rootfs())
+		if ListLong {
+			for file := range files {
+				s, err := os.Stat(files[file])
+				if err != nil {
+					continue
 				}
-			} else if ListContents {
-				var fileCount int
-				for file := range files {
-					wwlog.Info("%-30s /%-12s\n", name, files[file])
-					fileCount++
-				}
-				if fileCount == 0 {
-					wwlog.Info("%-30s %-12d\n", name, 0)
-				}
-			} else {
-				wwlog.Info("%-30s %-12d\n", name, len(files), isSite)
+
+				fileMode := s.Mode()
+				perms := fileMode & os.ModePerm
+
+				sys := s.Sys()
+
+				t.AddLine(perms, sys.(*syscall.Stat_t).Uid, sys.(*syscall.Stat_t).Gid, name, files[file], overlay_.IsSiteOverlay())
+			}
+		} else if ListContents {
+			var fileCount int
+			for file := range files {
+				t.AddLine(name, files[file], overlay_.IsSiteOverlay())
+				fileCount++
+			}
+			if fileCount == 0 {
+				t.AddLine(name, 0, overlay_.IsSiteOverlay())
 			}
-
 		} else {
-			wwlog.Error("system/%s (path not found:%s)", overlays[o], path)
+			t.AddLine(name, len(files), overlay_.IsSiteOverlay())
 		}
 	}
+	t.Print()
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/mkdir/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/mkdir/main.go
index 32d16006..9314fabb 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/mkdir/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/mkdir/main.go
@@ -3,36 +3,33 @@ package mkdir
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"path"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/overlay"
-	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/wwlog"
 )
 
 func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
-	var overlaySourceDir string
-
 	overlayName := args[0]
 	dirName := args[1]
-	err = overlay.CloneSiteOverlay(overlayName)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	overlaySourceDir, _ = overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
 
-	if !util.IsDir(overlaySourceDir) {
+	overlay_ := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
+	if !overlay_.IsSiteOverlay() {
+		overlay_, err = overlay_.CloneSiteOverlay()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if !overlay_.Exists() {
 		return fmt.Errorf("overlay does not exist: %s", overlayName)
 	}
 
-	overlayDir := path.Join(overlaySourceDir, dirName)
-
+	overlayDir := overlay_.File(dirName)
 	wwlog.Debug("Will create directory in overlay: %s:%s", overlayName, dirName)
-
 	err = os.MkdirAll(overlayDir, os.FileMode(PermMode))
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("could not create directory: %s", path.Dir(overlayDir))
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not create directory: %s", overlayDir)
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/show/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/show/main.go
index ea3041f4..01fdba77 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/show/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/overlay/show/main.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
@@ -18,18 +17,15 @@ import (
 )
 
 func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-	var overlaySourceDir string
-
 	overlayName := args[0]
 	fileName := args[1]
-	overlaySourceDir, _ = overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
 
-	if !util.IsDir(overlaySourceDir) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("overlay dir: %s does not exist", overlaySourceDir)
+	overlay_ := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayName)
+	if !overlay_.Exists() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("overlay does not exist: %s", overlayName)
 	}
 
-	overlayFile := path.Join(overlaySourceDir, fileName)
-
+	overlayFile := overlay_.File(fileName)
 	if !util.IsFile(overlayFile) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("file: %s does not exist within overlay", overlayFile)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/pkg/configure/hostfile.go b/internal/pkg/configure/hostfile.go
index 1f5057e6..1faafabe 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/configure/hostfile.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/configure/hostfile.go
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ import (
 Creates '/etc/hosts' from the host template.
 */
 func Hostfile() (err error) {
-	overlaySourceDir, _ := overlay.GetOverlay("host")
-	hostTemplate := path.Join(overlaySourceDir, "/etc/hosts.ww")
+	overlay_ := overlay.GetOverlay("host")
+	hostTemplate := path.Join(overlay_.Rootfs(), "/etc/hosts.ww")
 	if !(util.IsFile(hostTemplate)) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("'the overlay template '/etc/hosts.ww' does not exists in 'host' overlay")
 	}
diff --git a/internal/pkg/overlay/config.go b/internal/pkg/overlay/config.go
index f08168ed..5d15b43e 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/overlay/config.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/overlay/config.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/containers/storage/drivers/copy"
 
-	warewulfconf "github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/config"
+	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/wwlog"
 )
@@ -16,79 +16,59 @@ import (
 // GetOverlay returns the filesystem path of an overlay identified by its name,
 // along with a boolean indicating whether the returned overlayPath corresponds
 // to a site-specific overlay.
-func GetOverlay(name string) (overlayPath string, isSite bool) {
-	overlayPath = GetSiteOverlay(name)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(overlayPath); err == nil {
-		return overlayPath, true
+func GetOverlay(name string) (overlay Overlay) {
+	overlay = GetSiteOverlay(name)
+	if overlay.Exists() {
+		return overlay
 	}
-	overlayPath = GetDistributionOverlay(name)
-	return overlayPath, false
+	overlay = GetDistributionOverlay(name)
+	if overlay.Exists() {
+		return overlay
+	}
+	return GetSiteOverlay(name)
 }
 
 // GetDistributionOverlay returns the filesystem path of a distribution overlay
 // identified by the given name.
-func GetDistributionOverlay(name string) (overlayPath string) {
-	controller := warewulfconf.Get()
-	return getOverlay(controller.Paths.DistributionOverlaydir(), name)
+func GetDistributionOverlay(name string) (overlay Overlay) {
+	return getOverlay(config.Get().Paths.DistributionOverlaydir(), name)
 }
 
 // GetSiteOverlay returns the filesystem path of a site-specific overlay
 // identified by the given name.
-func GetSiteOverlay(name string) (overlayPath string) {
-	controller := warewulfconf.Get()
-	return getOverlay(controller.Paths.SiteOverlaydir(), name)
+func GetSiteOverlay(name string) (overlay Overlay) {
+	return getOverlay(config.Get().Paths.SiteOverlaydir(), name)
 }
 
-// getOverlay constructs the filesystem path of an overlay based on the given
-// overlay directory and overlay name.
-//
-// The returned path will include a "rootfs" directory if it exists.
-func getOverlay(overlaydir, name string) (overlayPath string) {
-	/* Assume using old style overlay dir without rootfs */
-	overlayPath = path.Join(overlaydir, name)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(path.Join(overlayPath, "rootfs")); err == nil {
-		/* rootfs exists, use it. */
-		overlayPath = path.Join(overlayPath, "rootfs")
-	}
-	return overlayPath
+// getOverlay constructs an overlay based on the given overlay directory and
+// overlay name. The overlay does not necessarily exist.
+func getOverlay(overlaydir, name string) (overlay Overlay) {
+	return Overlay(path.Join(overlaydir, name))
 }
 
-// CreateSiteOverlay creates a new site overlay directory with the specified name.
+// Create creates a new overlay directory for the given overlay
 //
-// This function constructs the path for the new overlay based on the site's overlay directory
-// configuration and checks if the directory already exists. If the overlay already exists,
-// it returns an error. Otherwise, it creates the necessary directory structure, including a
-// rootfs directory.
-//
-// Parameters:
-//   - overlayName: The name of the site overlay to be created.
-//
-// Returns:
-//   - overlayPath: The full path to the created site overlay directory.
-//   - err: An error if the overlay already exists or if directory creation fails.
-func CreateSiteOverlay(overlayName string) (overlayPath string, err error) {
-	controller := warewulfconf.Get()
-	overlayPath = path.Join(controller.Paths.SiteOverlaydir(), overlayName)
-	if util.IsDir(overlayPath) {
-		return overlayPath, fmt.Errorf("overlay already exists: %s", overlayName)
+// Returns an error if the overlay already exists or if directory creation fails.
+func (this Overlay) Create() error {
+	if util.IsDir(this.Path()) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("overlay already exists: %s", this)
 	}
-	overlayPath = path.Join(overlayPath, "rootfs")
-	err = os.MkdirAll(overlayPath, 0755)
-	return overlayPath, err
+	return os.MkdirAll(this.Rootfs(), 0755)
 }
 
 // Creates a site overlay from an existing distribution overlay.
 //
 // If the distribution overlay doesn't exist, return an error.
-func CloneSiteOverlay(name string) (err error) {
-	controller := warewulfconf.Get()
-	distroPath := path.Join(controller.Paths.DistributionOverlaydir(), name)
-	sitePath := path.Join(controller.Paths.SiteOverlaydir(), name)
-	if !util.IsDir(distroPath) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("overlay %s does not exist", name)
+func (this Overlay) CloneSiteOverlay() (siteOverlay Overlay, err error) {
+	siteOverlay = GetSiteOverlay(this.Name())
+	if !util.IsDir(this.Path()) {
+		return siteOverlay, fmt.Errorf("source overlay does not exist: %s", this.Name())
 	}
-	err = copy.DirCopy(distroPath, sitePath, copy.Content, true)
-	return err
+	if siteOverlay.Exists() {
+		return siteOverlay, fmt.Errorf("site overlay already exists: %s", siteOverlay.Name())
+	}
+	err = copy.DirCopy(this.Path(), siteOverlay.Path(), copy.Content, true)
+	return siteOverlay, err
 }
 
 // OverlayImage returns the full path to an overlay image based on the
@@ -117,6 +97,5 @@ func OverlayImage(nodeName string, context string, overlayNames []string) string
 		return ""
 	}
 
-	conf := warewulfconf.Get()
-	return path.Join(conf.Paths.OverlayProvisiondir(), nodeName, name)
+	return path.Join(config.Get().Paths.OverlayProvisiondir(), nodeName, name)
 }
diff --git a/internal/pkg/overlay/overlay.go b/internal/pkg/overlay/overlay.go
index d7f1f84b..133633b9 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/overlay/overlay.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/overlay/overlay.go
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ import (
 	"text/template"
 
 	"github.com/Masterminds/sprig/v3"
-	warewulfconf "github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/config"
-
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+
+	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/node"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/wwlog"
@@ -26,6 +26,82 @@ var (
 	ErrDoesNotExist = errors.New("overlay does not exist")
 )
 
+// Overlay represents an overlay directory path.
+type Overlay string
+
+// Name returns the base name of the overlay directory.
+//
+// This is derived from the full path of the overlay.
+func (this Overlay) Name() string {
+	return path.Base(this.Path())
+}
+
+// Path returns the string representation of the overlay path.
+//
+// This method allows the Overlay type to be easily converted back to its
+// underlying string representation.
+func (this Overlay) Path() string {
+	return string(this)
+}
+
+// Rootfs returns the path to the root filesystem (rootfs) within the overlay.
+//
+// If the "rootfs" directory exists inside the overlay path, it returns the
+// path to the "rootfs" directory. Otherwise, it checks if the overlay path
+// itself is a directory and returns that. If neither exists, it defaults to
+// returning the "rootfs" path.
+func (this Overlay) Rootfs() string {
+	rootfs := path.Join(this.Path(), "rootfs")
+	if util.IsDir(rootfs) {
+		return rootfs
+	} else if util.IsDir(this.Path()) {
+		return this.Path()
+	} else {
+		return rootfs
+	}
+}
+
+// File constructs a full path to a file within the overlay's root filesystem.
+//
+// Parameters:
+//   - filePath: The relative path of the file within the overlay.
+//
+// Returns:
+//   - The full path to the specified file in the overlay's rootfs.
+func (this Overlay) File(filePath string) string {
+	return path.Join(this.Rootfs(), filePath)
+}
+
+// Exists checks whether the overlay path exists and is a directory.
+//
+// Returns:
+//   - true if the overlay path exists and is a directory; false otherwise.
+func (this Overlay) Exists() bool {
+	return util.IsDir(this.Path())
+}
+
+// IsSiteOverlay determines whether the overlay is a site overlay.
+//
+// A site overlay is identified by its parent directory matching the configured
+// site overlay directory path.
+//
+// Returns:
+//   - true if the overlay is a site overlay; false otherwise.
+func (this Overlay) IsSiteOverlay() bool {
+	return path.Dir(this.Path()) == config.Get().Paths.SiteOverlaydir()
+}
+
+// IsDistributionOverlay determines whether the overlay is a distribution overlay.
+//
+// A distribution overlay is identified by its parent directory matching the configured
+// distribution overlay directory path.
+//
+// Returns:
+//   - true if the overlay is a distribution overlay; false otherwise.
+func (this Overlay) IsDistributionOverlay() bool {
+	return path.Dir(this.Path()) == config.Get().Paths.DistributionOverlaydir()
+}
+
 /*
 Build all overlays for a node
 */
@@ -71,7 +147,7 @@ func BuildHostOverlay() error {
 	hostname, _ := os.Hostname()
 	hostData := node.NewNode(hostname)
 	wwlog.Info("Building overlay for %s: host", hostname)
-	hostdir, _ := GetOverlay("host")
+	hostdir := GetOverlay("host").Rootfs()
 	stats, err := os.Stat(hostdir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("could not build host overlay: %w ", err)
@@ -87,7 +163,7 @@ Get all overlays present in warewulf
 */
 func FindOverlays() (overlayList []string, err error) {
 	dotfilecheck, _ := regexp.Compile(`^\..*`)
-	controller := warewulfconf.Get()
+	controller := config.Get()
 	var files []fs.DirEntry
 	if distfiles, err := os.ReadDir(controller.Paths.DistributionOverlaydir()); err == nil {
 		files = append(files, distfiles...)
@@ -177,7 +253,7 @@ func BuildOverlayIndir(nodeData node.Node, overlayNames []string, outputDir stri
 	wwlog.Verbose("Processing node/overlay: %s/%s", nodeData.Id(), strings.Join(overlayNames, "-"))
 	for _, overlayName := range overlayNames {
 		wwlog.Verbose("Building overlay %s for node %s in %s", overlayName, nodeData.Id(), outputDir)
-		overlaySourceDir, _ := GetOverlay(overlayName)
+		overlaySourceDir := GetOverlay(overlayName).Rootfs()
 		wwlog.Debug("Changing directory to OverlayDir: %s", overlaySourceDir)
 		err := os.Chdir(overlaySourceDir)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -416,7 +492,7 @@ func ScanLines(data []byte, atEOF bool) (advance int, token []byte, err error) {
 
 // Get all the files as a string slice for a given overlay
 func OverlayGetFiles(name string) (files []string, err error) {
-	baseDir, _ := GetOverlay(name)
+	baseDir := GetOverlay(name).Rootfs()
 	if !util.IsDir(baseDir) {
 		err = fmt.Errorf("overlay %s doesn't exist", name)
 		return
diff --git a/internal/pkg/overlay/overlay_test.go b/internal/pkg/overlay/overlay_test.go
index 56dab2f4..a409041d 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/overlay/overlay_test.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/overlay/overlay_test.go
@@ -10,10 +10,106 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	warewulfconf "github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/node"
+	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/testenv"
 
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/util"
 )
 
+func Test_OverlayMethods(t *testing.T) {
+	env := testenv.New(t)
+	defer env.RemoveAll(t)
+
+	// Setup test data
+	sitedir := "/var/lib/warewulf/overlays/"
+	distdir := "/usr/share/warewulf/overlays/"
+
+	env.WriteFile(t, path.Join(sitedir, "siteonly/rootfs/testfile"), "a site overlay")
+	env.WriteFile(t, path.Join(distdir, "distonly/rootfs/testfile"), "a distribution overlay")
+	env.WriteFile(t, path.Join(sitedir, "legacy/testfile"), "a legacy overlay")
+	env.WriteFile(t, path.Join(sitedir, "both/rootfs/testfile"), "the site version")
+	env.WriteFile(t, path.Join(distdir, "both/rootfs/testfile"), "the distribution version")
+
+	var tests = map[string]struct {
+		name    string
+		path    string
+		rootfs  string
+		file    string
+		content string
+		exists  bool
+		isSite  bool
+		isDist  bool
+	}{
+		"site overlay": {
+			name:    "siteonly",
+			path:    path.Join(sitedir, "siteonly"),
+			rootfs:  path.Join(sitedir, "siteonly/rootfs"),
+			file:    path.Join(sitedir, "siteonly/rootfs/testfile"),
+			content: "a site overlay",
+			exists:  true,
+			isSite:  true,
+			isDist:  false,
+		},
+		"distribution overlay": {
+			name:    "distonly",
+			path:    path.Join(distdir, "distonly"),
+			rootfs:  path.Join(distdir, "distonly/rootfs"),
+			file:    path.Join(distdir, "distonly/rootfs/testfile"),
+			content: "a distribution overlay",
+			exists:  true,
+			isSite:  false,
+			isDist:  true,
+		},
+		"overlapping overlay": {
+			name:    "both",
+			path:    path.Join(sitedir, "both"),
+			rootfs:  path.Join(sitedir, "both/rootfs"),
+			file:    path.Join(sitedir, "both/rootfs/testfile"),
+			content: "the site version",
+			exists:  true,
+			isSite:  true,
+			isDist:  false,
+		},
+		"legacy overlay": {
+			name:    "legacy",
+			path:    path.Join(sitedir, "legacy"),
+			rootfs:  path.Join(sitedir, "legacy"),
+			file:    path.Join(sitedir, "legacy/testfile"),
+			content: "",
+			exists:  true,
+			isSite:  true,
+			isDist:  false,
+		},
+		"missing overlay": {
+			name:    "absent",
+			path:    path.Join(sitedir, "absent"),
+			rootfs:  path.Join(sitedir, "absent/rootfs"),
+			file:    path.Join(sitedir, "absent/rootfs/testfile"),
+			content: "",
+			exists:  false,
+			isSite:  true,
+			isDist:  false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for name, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			overlay := GetOverlay(tt.name)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.name, overlay.Name())
+			assert.Equal(t, env.GetPath(tt.path), overlay.Path())
+			assert.Equal(t, env.GetPath(tt.rootfs), overlay.Rootfs())
+			assert.Equal(t, env.GetPath(tt.file), overlay.File("testfile"))
+			if tt.content != "" {
+				buffer, err := os.ReadFile(overlay.File("testfile"))
+				assert.NoError(t, err)
+				assert.Equal(t, tt.content, string(buffer))
+			}
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.exists, overlay.Exists())
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.isSite, overlay.IsSiteOverlay())
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.isDist, overlay.IsDistributionOverlay())
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 var buildOverlayTests = []struct {
 	description string
 	nodeName    string
diff --git a/internal/pkg/warewulfd/util.go b/internal/pkg/warewulfd/util.go
index 06bcaa5a..a40c1781 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/warewulfd/util.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/warewulfd/util.go
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func getOverlayFile(n node.Node, context string, stage_overlays []string, autobu
 		build = util.PathIsNewer(stage_file, config.Get().Paths.NodesConf())
 
 		for _, overlayname := range stage_overlays {
-			overlayDir, _ := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayname)
+			overlayDir := overlay.GetOverlay(overlayname).Rootfs()
 			build = build || util.PathIsNewer(stage_file, overlayDir)
 		}
 	}