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The material and frequency of maintenance are the biggest factors for determining the longevity of your shingles, not the color. For instance, luxury asphalt shingles can last 30 years or even longer, while slate tiles have an impressive lifespan ranging from 75 to 100 years. That said, lighter-colored shingles can help reduce your energy costs in the summertime.

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.

Whether flashing goes over or under shingles depends on the type of flashing. For example, with step flashing, the shingles go on top, but they overlap one another. So technically, flashing goes both over and under shingles. But generally speaking, flashing goes under shingles and beneath the house siding. And in most cases, you can't see the flashing from the ground.

Asphalt roofs provide better insulation than metal roofs, but that doesn’t always mean that asphalt roofs are better for reducing heating and cooling bills. In hotter climates, metal roofs will usually be better for home efficiency because the material reflects more sunlight and reduces solar heat gain. In colder climates, asphalt roofs are sometimes superior in terms of efficiency because they introduce more solar heat gain to your home and have greater insulating capabilities. However, metal roofs installed with an air gap can provide similar levels of insulation.