A building's roof has two main purposes. The first is to provide shelter from environmental elements like the sun. Secondly, a roof also provides insulation from hot and cold weather.

Roofs generally last for quite some time. However, there will come a period when it becomes necessary to repair and replace roof shingles on your own home because of damage from harsh weather conditions, earthquakes, falling tree limbs or leaks. Poor maintenance may also speed up deterioration.

Sometimes roofs are replaced simply to improve appearance or raise the property's value.

How will you tell if your roof needs replacing? If you're worried about the health of your roof, the ultimate way to troubleshoot any potential problems is to request an inspection from the roof replacement expert. A specialist roofing company will look for missing shingles, loose roofing material, sags, signs of water damage and mold and places w here light is shining through the roof.

If the damage is severe as well as your roof can't be repaired, it will need to be replaced.

When replacing a roof, there are now a large number of roofing materials to choose from, both natural and commercially made. A new energy efficient roof may also save you quite a bit of money over time.

Shingle is a general term for most different types of roofing materials that overlap each other when installed on the roof, including asphalt, slate, tile and wood.

Asphalt shingles are less expensive that slate or tile, and the most popular type of shingle. For a professional, roof shingle installation is rather easy and the shingles themselves are believed quite resilient.

The shingles are usually made of both fiberglass and asphalt, and covered with grit. The life span expectancy of asphalt shingles often varies based on their construction, although most asphalt shingles could have a 20 or 30 year guarantee.

When reroofing a residence with asphalt, you can either remove the old shingles or place the new shingles along with the existing layer. One thing you have to be careful of when doubling up on roof shingles is the increase in weight. If your roof becomes overweight, it could damage the frame. You should also know that any roof irregularities will be repeated if new tiles are simply just placed on the surface of the old ones.

If you need the old shingles removed, consider hiring a professional roofing company to accomplish the work. A roofing expert will know how to quickly take away the existing shingles.

Slate is an extremely durable roofing material, with a life span that exceeds 400 years. Ceramic tile can also have a long life - sometimes around 100 years. Wood shingles, usually manufactured from cedar, can last around 30 years.

Reroofing a house may also be finished with asphalt rolls, thermoplastics, polyester, fabric and metal.

In some cases, the structure of your home will narrow your list of choices. Foundation repair specialists that are experienced at roofing may help you avoid common reroofing mistakes which could end up costing you many thousands of dollars.

Having your roof inspected regularly will increase its longevity, especially when any issues are quickly addressed.