So what should you do? Here are two pretty universal options:

1. Overlay the existing shingles with a new second layer.

2. Strip down the old roof and begin anew.

There is a time and a place for the overlayment method.

For instance, if you have a metal roof that has never been damaged — or if you are 110% certain that your old roof has no leaks or any structural problems with the flashing, et cetera. In this kind of ideal scenario, overlaying a second roof might save you a modest sum on the work, in terms of upfront costs.

It’s a possibly dangerous choice, though! If you do not analyze the decking to find damage, leaks, and problems with the flashing, you may be in effect covering over structural deficiencies. And can this cost you, big time. Consider:

• The second layer will add more weight to your roof, potentially compromising its integrity, especially after big leaf falls or snowfalls or icefalls.

• You can’t install a barrier for ice and water between the first and second layers. This means that ice/water can easily seep into old leaks and can create huge headaches, including problems with mold, air quality, and damage to structural components. It can even contribute to electrical shortages or even a house fire.

What You Can’t See Can Still Hurt You

Your current decking may look pretty good. But you may not have spotted a sheathing rot or other areas that are destined to become problematic. Perhaps they’ll be fine for the next two or three years. But then the sheathing rot, leaks, et cetera will begin, and you have to spend huge amounts of money on roof repair, provided that you want your home to remain standing.

The bottom line is that your roof is one of the most important elements of your home.

Get the job done right by investing in smart and strategic refinishing. Connect with the team at Century Roof and Solar to learn more about what choices to make, how to make them, and how to save the maximum amount of money on your project.

Rather than give you a boring list of “ways to conserve” that you can find a million other places on the internet, we thought it might be interesting to turn the tables a bit.

To that end, here three surefire ways to waste our most precious natural resource:

1. Gush excess water on your lawn or garden.

NASA statistics suggest that each American, on average, dumps 200 gallons of H2O on our properties and gardens every single day. To waste even more water, cut your grass really short, water lawns during the hot afternoon hours so that more water will evaporate, and aim your sprinkler system haphazardly, so the water hits walls or pavement and thus evaporates.

2. Use and abuse your pool.

Pools are notorious water wasters. So, rather than use a sprinkler system – or a community pool – to enjoy summer water play, buy your own pool. Be sure to leave the top off, when it’s not in use, so that the maximum amount of water can evaporate. Also, be sure to change the water more frequently than the manufacturer recommends.

3. Crank up your home water consumption.

There are countless ways to waste water in your home. You can take extra long showers every morning and run your dishwasher when you only have few dishes or plates inside. Ignore your water bill and refuse to look for inefficiencies that you can easily correct… and that could save you tens of dollars a month in utility costs just for a few minutes of work.

Of course, this article is meant to be facetious. We really do want you to conserve water – not only to protect the environment here in and around the Bay Area but also to save you money.

Fortunately, “going green” — being a conservationist — does not mean that you have to pay more or do anything extravagant. Century Roof and Solar is the premier solar solution provider for the Bay Area. We can help you go green, handle construction and roofing needs, and answer any of your questions about going solar.

Find out more about us online at www.centuryroofandsolar.com or contact us toll free at (888) 233-7548

Image credit: ehow.com