If your home has an asphalt roof, chances are you're facing a roof replacement in the near future. At best, if your roof has high quality shingles and it was installed properly and maintained well, it can last 20 years. But many homeowners in our area who have asphalt roofs have them fail long before that.  There are many factors that affect the longevity, and things such as hail and ice dams can cause premature aging. So knowing what will be involved when the time comes to replace that roof is important.

Replacing any kind of roof on a home is important - not only for the homeowner but also for those who own the home after them.  Both the roofing material chosen as well as the roofing contractor matter, because that roof will be only as good as the installation.  Roof failure because of contractor error is something that happens far too often.

So choose your new roof and your roofer very carefully.

Should You Re-roof Your Home?

Don't go by just the age of the roof when you're evaluating whether it's time to replace it.  Does it really need it?  It's possible that if you've taken good care of it and your home is in an area that is sheltered, your roof may have a few more years left on it.  Replacing it early means you're spending money you don't have to.

If you've got questions about the state of your roof, it's a good idea to have a licensed Minnesota roofing company inspect it.  A reputable roofing contractor can give you more information about the state of your roof and what the best option would be.

Should You Tear Off Your Old Roof or Put New Shingles Over It?

We get asked this question a lot.  You don’t always have to tear of the shingles on a roof. Sometimes you can roof right over the existing one and create another layer. It all depends on how many layers are there already. Your roofing company will know what your local building code allows for.  It may also depend on whether there's damage to the understructure of the roof, because at times the old roof has to be torn off to make repairs first. Again, your roofing contractor can advise you on what's possible and what is the best for your home.

And we highly suggest that you vet anyone you're considering have do the work. Just because you have heard of a guy or know a guy who does roofing that is not a professional doesn’t mean they are going to do a good job.  And the roofer should be experienced with the type and brand of roofing you've chosen. You should feel comfortable with them, know they come highly recommended and that they are licensed and insured.

One last thing: just because your existing roof is asphalt shingles doesn't mean that's what your next roof needs to be.  We've installed steel and other metal roofing over lots of asphalt roofs across the Twin Cities. We offer a number of options that look just like asphalt shingles, but without the drawbacks of asphalt roofing.

Call our office today to speak with one of our Minnesota roofing experts.  We're here to answer your questions, and we can evaluate your existing roof and give you our recommendations.