When it is time to replace your asphalt shingle roof, you can either install new shingles over the existing roof or remove the old shingles entirely before replacing them with new ones. Both re-roofing options may be viable depending on the condition of your current roof and whether your area-specific building codes allow or prohibit installing a new roof over an existing one.

Building the new roof directly over the old one can result in many great advantages including but not limited to the following:

1. Saving You Time

If your roof is sturdy enough to carry the weight of the second layer of roofing material and your local council permits having two layers of roofing material on your roof, you don't have to tear off your current roof in order to replace it. Stripping your residential roof of all the old shingles takes time and this will increase the total amount of time it takes to complete your re-roofing project. You can save a considerable amount of time if you choose to install your new roof shingles over existing ones.

2. Saving You Money

The cost of house re-roofing varies from job to job depending on a variety of factors. One of the main things that determine the cost of a residential roof replacement is the amount of work that needs to be done.

The more the work involved, the more it costs to renew a roof. Laying a new shingle roof directly on top of an old one eliminates the need to tear off the old roof. This reduces labor costs, thus lowering the total cost of a re-roofing project.

3. Reducing Waste Generation

Roofing shingles torn off from houses contribute to the total volume of solid waste that is taken to landfill sites for disposal. The more construction waste you have, the more you will need to pay to have it disposed of at the landfill. This can add to the cost of your roof replacement considerably. Fortunately, laying new roofing shingles over your existing roof is an excellent way to minimize waste generation when you are re-roofing your home. This is a good thing for the environment.

If your existing asphalt shingle roof is still in structurally sound condition, installing a new layer of shingles directly over it can deliver the above-elaborated benefits. Contact a residential roofing contractor for more information regarding residential roof replacement options.