The roof is an essential part of your home’s structure, providing the primary defense against weather and other potential disasters. It’s important to clean and maintain your roof regularly to ensure its longevity. However, roofs do have a limited lifespan and may eventually require repair.
When faced with a damaged or worn roof, you will need to decide whether to restore or replace it. This decision can be difficult, which is why we have created this guide to explain the differences between roof restoration and reroofing and help you make an informed decision.
About re-roofing: Advantages and Disadvantages
Reroofing involves the removal and replacement of all roofing materials, including the support structure if necessary. It’s the preferred method when the roof is severely damaged and cannot be restored, and replacing individual shingles or tiles won’t be effective.
Advantages
- Re-roofing uses common commercial roofing materials like BUR, rubber, TPO, or PVC.
- Experienced roofers ensure reliable installation procedures that have been tested over decades.
- Roofing materials are easily accessible from hardware suppliers, making them readily available for any project needs.
Disadvantages
- Built-up roofing and single-ply roofing materials can become weak due to various factors.
- Single-ply roofs have a lifespan of 25-30 years, while built-up roofing has varying lifespans based on the materials used.
- There are minor regulatory standards for roofing materials, and some have none at all.
- Roof repairs can be troublesome as the entire roof must be removed before repairs can be conducted.
About roof restoration: Advantages and Disadvantages
Roof restoration involves cleaning, repairing, and recoating the existing material instead of replacing it. The process involves identifying problem areas and resurfacing them to extend the lifespan of the roof. As the original material is used, this method is less invasive and costly than a partial or complete reroofing.
Advantages
- Using industry-standard equipment, a restored roof can be fully operational within 48-72 hours.
- Roof restoration eliminates the need for old roof material removal, which can take up a lot of time and resources.
Disadvantages
- Roof restoration may require improvements to weak roofing foundations for better lifespan and performance.
- Winter weather can pose challenges for roofing restorations due to potential snow interference.
Re-roofing vs. Roof Restoration
Cost of roofing– Roof restoration is a process of cleaning, repairing, and recoating your existing roof that requires less labor and materials than reroofing. On the other hand, reroofing is a complete replacement of the roof, which requires more materials and labor, making it expensive. Reroofing involves removing the original roof.
Lifespan of the roof– Restoring your roof can increase its lifespan by 5 to 10 years, depending on its condition, which typically lasts for 25-30 years. Regular inspection and maintenance can not only extend your roof’s lifespan but also save you money in the long run.
Sustainability of the roof– Although roof restoration typically involves painting and is not as environmentally friendly, reroofing is the more sustainable option as it involves completely removing and replacing the old roof. Whether you choose re-roofing or a roof restoration, you will need roofing experts for the same. So, search “best roofing company near me” on the internet
