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Fall is usually considered the best time of year to replace a roof, as the temperatures are moderate, and having your living space exposed to the outdoors won’t cause extreme temperatures inside. Spring could also work, but the higher risk of rainfall makes fall the best time of year overall. You can opt for a replacement in the summer or spring to avoid peak demand and potentially save some money, though.

Re-roofing is the process of placing a layer of shingles over top of existing shingles, rather than pulling out those shingles and replacing them. Compared to a full roof replacement, re-roofing typically costs less and requires less labor and time. It's not an option for everyone, though. You may need a full roof replacement if your roof already has more than one layer of shingles. A full replacement may also be necessary if your roof has extensive damage.

Torch down roofs have a relatively short lifespan of between 10 and 15 years, although one with up to three layers may last as long as 20 years. This is on the low end of the normal lifespan of a roof. For reference, most wood or asphalt shingles last between 20 and 30 years, while high-quality asphalt shingles can last up to 50 years.

With torch down roofing, expect a 12-year warranty for one-ply systems and a 15-year warranty for two-play systems.

Whether you should choose a flat roof or a sloped roof depends on your particular situation. Flat roofs tend to be less expensive to install. However, sloped roofs have longer lifespans and stand up better to heavy snow and other inclement weather.

Keep in mind that even a flat roof needs to have a slight slope, usually around 1/2 inch for every foot. If it is completely flat, water will pool and cause damage, either from weight or leakage or rot.