A residential roofing system in good condition will boost your property's curb appeal, enhance its energy efficiency, keep interiors dry during rainy weather, and increase your home's resale value. Depending on the material, the membrane will last between 20 and 50-plus years with maintenance. When it's time to upgrade, you can either reroof the current installation or invest in a replacement. Here is a guide to both options to help you choose. 

Reroofing Involves Adding Another Layer

Instead of tearing off the old system, reroofing allows you to add another layer of new shingles on top. This option will seal spots with missing shingles and patch other damage to restore your home's curb appeal and the protective barrier between the interior and the elements. 

As there's no need to remove the existing membrane, reroofing is less costly, and contractors can complete it faster than a replacement. Multiple layers can weigh down the system, which could compromise the structural integrity of a building. That's why building codes only allow for reroofing on structures that only have one existing layer. 

A Roof Replacement Is a Complete Redo

If there are already two layers on your home, replacing the entire residential roofing system is the only choice. Replacement is also ideal when the deck is in poor shape, or the current surface has severe water damage. The saturated shingles cannot bear the weight of a new layer. 

During the project, roofing contractors will remove the old materials. Then, a protective underlayment or felt is added to the deck. Since the deck is like the roof's backbone, keeping it dry will add to the strength of the entire system. Finally, the team will place a new layer of shingles on top of the substrate. Reroofing is a temporary solution, while a replacement will give your home many more years of service.

Whether you opt for reroofing or replacement, the professionals at Formula Roofing and Remodeling in Denver, CO, will deliver impeccable results. The licensed, certified roofers install and repair composition asphalt, concrete tile, metal, synthetic shake, and clay tile roofing systems on area homes and businesses. Learn more about each material they work with online. Call (303) 600-8696 for a commercial or residential roofing estimate. See photos of the crew at work on Facebook.