Coming across damage on your roof is certainly frustrating. What’s more, it forces you to make many important decisions at once, one of which is whether to repair your roof or replace it altogether.
Sadly, there’s never an easy answer to this question. It depends highly on the state of your roof and its support structure, as well as your budget, time constraints, and a few other factors. Read more, to determine if you need your roof repaired or replaced.
When to Repair the Roof
Sometimes your roof doesn’t require any major interventions. For instance, a hailstorm might damage a shingle or two, which requires only a bit of patching up. A small crack, hole, or leak could also be taken care of in no time. In such cases, there really is no need to replace your entire roof.
Here are some cases in which repairing your roof is a smart option:
When You’re on a Tight Budget
Not everyone can afford a full roof replacement, especially when the need for it comes out of the blue. You simply can’t plan natural disasters and accidents. Therefore, if you’re in a tricky financial situation, you might want to consider fixing the roof rather than replacing it, as it’s much cheaper.
According to Home Advisor, the average cost of a roof repair is anywhere between $150 and $5,000. It all depends on the size of your roof and the extent of the repair. On the other hand, a full roof replacement averages anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 and can cost as much as $30,000.
When You Need It Done Quickly
Again, severe weather can come suddenly with less than optimal timing. For example, you might have a trip coming up or another obligation that requires your immediate attention and the last thing you need is another “to-do”. Lower costs and your time on your roofing projects with small updates when needed. Small repairs take no time at all lasting about 30 minutes up to a few hours, while a total roof replacement could take days to weeks to complete.
Don’t let repairs go unfixed just to have one bad storm take out the roof. Smaller repairs and updates can help extend the life of your roof and avoid costly last-minute replacements.
When You’re Not Worried About the Aesthetics
Although it’s by far cheaper and faster than reroofing, fixing the roof also has some disadvantages, one being the potential for mismatched and uneven shingles.
Even if you manage to find the same exact type of shingle to purchase, it will most likely not be a perfect match to the existing shingles. After all, they have been subject to years and years of sun, rain, and other weather elements that cause them to age. For example, exposure to the sun eventually causes the shingles to become lighter in color and dirt can accumulate and alter their appearance even further.
When to Replace the Roof
When large-scale disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and heavy storms hit, you are likely to take on massive damages that require roof replacements. New roof replacements can also help you withstand future damages from extreme weather. This is also true when damage to the internal structure of gutters occurs.
Although it does require a larger investment and time commitment a new roof will last much longer than a quick patch-up.
We recommend you opt for a full roof replacement in the following situations:
When Your Roof Is Old
You should definitely consider reroofing if your roof is aged, ill-maintained, and nearing the end of its warranty. For instance, if the warranty covers 20 years and your roof is 18 years old, replacing the roof is surely the better option. After all, you’ll need to redo your roof in two years anyway, so you might as well do it now and skip the repair costs.
When The Damage is Heavy
In some cases, you can’t avoid a full roof replacement. For example, if moisture has managed to reach your roof deck or the internal structure, you must redo your roof entirely. You’ll also be better off installing a new roof if more than 30% of it needs to be replaced.
There’s also partial reroofing, which, as the name suggests, involves the replacement of one portion of your roof. It might not look as perfect as a brand new roof would, but it can look significantly better and help protect your home at a lower price tag than a full roof replacement.
When You Want to Increase the Value of the House
In case you were planning on selling your house in the near future, you should consider reroofing it beforehand. This will increase your home’s market value significantly, not to mention its curb appeal. Make sure your home looks great and is well protected in order to get the biggest bang for your buck.
Final Thoughts
In order to decide whether to repair or replace your roof, you should ask yourself these questions:
- How old is my roof?
- How much time and money do I have at my disposal?
- What is the extent of the damage?
- Do I care if the roof is not perfectly uniform? Does my roof look old or untidy?
If you’re not sure how to determine the extent of the roof damage or have any questions, contact us to get suggestions from an expert. Let us help you determine your next steps.