The term re-roofing applies to just about any roofing work that needs to be done on your home, from simple repairs to a complete tear-off and replacement of the current roof. Since your home's roof is vitally important to its overall structure and comfort, note when it's good to consider re-roofing and what to discuss with your roofing contractor about this work.

Why reroof if the home's roof seems fine?

Roof damage can't always be seen with a simple visual inspection, as the flashing under the tiles and shingles could be damaged. You might also not know what to look for if you inspect the roof yourself; for example, dried and brittle shingles, or those missing some granules, may look fine to you, but a roofer will know that they're failing to protect your home as they should.

Always note the expected lifespan of your home's current roofing materials and then have the roof inspected and repaired, or outright replaced, according to that schedule, versus waiting until you see obvious damage. You can also note other signs of the roof needing repair or replacement, such as a drafty or cold home, a spike in the utility bills or water stains on the ceiling.

Battens, sarking, and other such pieces

When shingles are removed from a roof, a roofer should inspect all the pieces that connect the home's rafters, joists and other parts of the framework. This includes battens, or metal clips that hold these pieces together, and sarking, a type of board to which roofing tiles are nailed. These may be old and worn and should be replaced as needed; if the battens rust or the sarking gets soft and weak, your new roofing tiles may easily come away from the roof or your roof may not be watertight. Expect at least some of these pieces to be replaced during a reroofing job.

Reroofing and the environment

If you're very eco-conscious, you may be worried about the amount of rubbish and debris that is created with a roof tear-off job or the amount of energy needed to create new asphalt tiles. First, note that old asphalt tiles can usually be recycled, and your roofer may be able to use tiles made with recycled materials for your new roof. Also, you might be able to have a metal roof installed over your current roof or have a layer of roofing latex sprayed over it. These reroofing methods will cover damage on the roof without creating the waste you would otherwise have with an entirely new roof installation.