Re-roofing is of the best ways to simultaneously protect your home, enhance its curb appeal and increase its value. Clean, crisp and colorful new shingles make your home that much more enjoyable to live in, and visitors will notice as well. Re-roofing is a home improvement project that provides peace of mind for years to come.
Re-roofing or Roof Replacement?
If your home has just one layer of shingles on it, and the underlying roofing is still solid, you may benefit from residential re-roofing. Simple re-roofing consists of adding another layer of shingles over the existing ones. Costs are reduced because it is not necessary to tear off the existing roofing down to the sheathing.
However, today’s local codes typically do not allow a third layer of shingles. If you already have two layers of shingles on your roof, they must be removed before new shingles can be applied.
Sometimes, existing problems with your shingles, underlayment, sheathing or roof framing prevent simple re-roofing. For example, significant curling of aging shingles may prevent a new layer of shingles from laying flat, or moisture infiltration may have damaged the sheathing.
Does My Home Require Re-roofing?
There are various signs that point to the need for a new roof. Do you find yourself answering “yes” to any of these questions? If so, you might want to consider calling an NJ home improvement roofer to assess your roof and give you an estimate for a re-roofing project.
- Are roof repairs increasing in frequency as your roof gets older?
- Do curling, broken or missing shingles distract from the beauty of your residence?
- Are shingle granules increasingly collecting in your gutters?
- Are your energy bills increasing for reasons related to your roof system?
These are all signs that it may be time to enlist an NJ home improvement roofer in the re-roofing of your home. A certified roof inspector can provide you with a thorough evaluation of all aspects of your current roof system.
Advantages of Re-roofing
Consider these important advantages as you decide whether it is time for a new roof.
- Peace of mind when severe storms and winter weather occurs
- Eliminate or drastically reduce the need for roof repairs
- Add a new roof warranty that protects you from unexpected expenses
- Reduce energy costs with better ventilation, increased insulation and/or special reflective shingles
- Increase the appeal of your home to prospective buyers
Three Tips for Successful Re-roofing
There’s little doubt that re-roofing fixes many roofing problems at one time. Here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your re-roofing project.
1. Use a certified contractor to get a top warranty
A small percentage of NJ home improvement roofers are certified by one or more of the nation’s leading roofing manufacturers. Why does this matter? First, a factory-certified contractor must meet stringent requirements. Manufacturers only trust the best roofers to offer their top warranties. Understandably, a manufacturer is willing to stand behind a materials and labor warranty when there’s a high level of confidence in the contractor doing the work. For example, only a GAF Master Elite roofing company is authorized to offer its Golden Pledge Warranty, the very best warranty that the company offers.
2. Enhance your home’s curb appeal with a new look
Re-roofing gives you a chance to consider bold new colors, textures and styles of asphalt shingles. Your new shingles can emulate the look of wood shakes or slate. Choose specially cut architectural shingles for a dramatic three-dimensional effect. For example, the Timberline brand, America’s top-selling shingle, features highly dimensional designs like Ultra HD and Natural Shadow.
*Photo courtesy of GAF
Camelot shingles from GAF combine an artisan-crafted design and oversized tabs to deliver a sophisticated, dimensional look. You can also select from other GAF Designer Series shingles like Woodland, Sienna or Slateline.
3. Consider energy costs
*Photo courtesy of GAF
Some of the nation’s leading roofing manufacturers have developed shingles with specially coated granules that reflect more of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation back into the atmosphere. Surface temperatures are cooler, and less heat infiltrates the home. GAF, for example, offers its Timberline Cool Series.
As long as a crew is re-roofing your home anyhow, it is possible to take the opportunity to improve insulation and/or ventilation. An inadequately ventilated attic allows temperatures and humidity levels to build. Long-term exposure to excess heat may reduce the lifespan of your roofing materials. Excess humidity may cause condensation that moistens attic insulation, reducing R-values.
During the re-roofing process, it is also possible for an NJ home improvement roofer to improve insulation. Many area homes are insulated to yesterday’s less stringent standards. As electricity rates rise, inadequate insulation can cost you many hundreds of dollars every year. One solution is to add a layer of rigid foam insulation to the roof, and another is to increase the amount of attic insulation.
Finally, today’s relatively modest interest rates allow you to finance re-roofing costs over many years if you desire.
Contact CRS Today
Are you ready to explore a new roof for your home? If so, we have the expertise to help you get the most value from re-roofing your home. CRS is a reputable NJ home improvement roofer that has been in business since 1977. Over the past four decades, we have installed new roofs on thousands of residences in Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties.
We are proud to be factory-certified as a GAF Master Elite Contractor, a status achieved by fewer than three percent of roofers nationwide. As a certified GAF roofing contractor, we are authorized to offer the best warranties in the business.
To schedule a visit with our certified roof inspector, please contact us today!
