A home roof replacement project may sound fairly dramatic. However, it's a normal process that virtually every house will go through if it lasts long enough. As a homeowner, it's a good idea to understand what a replacement is and what it entails.

Customers should expect these three things when they commit to doing a home roof replacement.

What Is a Roof Replacement?

Home roofing replacement refers to a process where a contractor removes all of the shingles and underlayment. They strip the roof down to the plywood decking. In some cases, the contractor may also need to remove deteriorated flashing and strips if those would undermine the weather resistance of the roof. Depending on the condition of the plywood, they may also have to remove a few sections and replace those.

With a clean base, the home roof contractor installs a new layer of underlayment, usually some type of roofing-grade felt. They then install a fresh layer of shingles.

Why Replace?

Sometimes the answer is that you don't need to do a replacement. If there aren't too many layers of shingles, for example, you might be able to do what's known as re-roofing. This involves simply attaching a layer of new shingles on top of the existing ones.

You might be able to get away with layering for several cycles. A lot depends on the environment where you live. The extra shingles can add more than a ton of weight to even a small roof. In regions that get heavy snow, for example, that can increase the risk of a collapse.

Another argument for replacement is if the current layer of shingles is in bad shape. If any of them are damaged or missing, it may be better to clean the roof up with a replacement.

Is Replacement Right for a Leaky Roof?

It depends on why the roof is leaking. Home roofing replacement projects often do fix leaks. However, a home roof contractor will have to see why a leak is happening. If the problem is due to bad flashing or the loss of several shingles, there's a good chance a replacement will solve the problem. There may be a point, though, where more aggressive repairs will be necessary.

Generally, a home roof replacement effort will work best when the structure of the roof is still in good shape. Other than maybe replacing a few pieces of plywood, the contractor shouldn't need to replace any element that's bigger or longer. In that scenario, a replacement stands a good chance of fixing a leak.

Reach out to a company like Allen  Roofing & Construction Inc to learn more.