The day has come. You’re at the point of your roof’s life where you know it needs some help. But just what needs to be done? There are usually two main options when it comes to helping out an old roof: repair or replace. And it’s usually not too obvious which one you should do. You don’t want to replace it too soon because it’s almost always the more expensive option. But you also don’t want to wait too long or you’ll end up with leaks and damage, which could end up being more costly than the replacement. So how do you know if you should repair or replace your roof? Check out some factors below!
The first thing you should consider is the age of your roof. If your roof has already lived beyond its expected lifespan, you’re most likely going to want to replace the roof rather than repair. Eventually, every roof will need to be replaced, but whether or not that time is here could depend on how old your roof is. Repairing a roof that is already up there in age might just turn into a quick fix that you have to continuously do, so in that case, replacing may serve your needs better.
Another factor is how widespread your problem is on your roof. If it’s just a missing shingle or a small crack, there’s a good chance that repairing will be the way to go. However, if water has seeped into the underlayment of your roof or there is major damage, a repair might not be the way to go. You may need to go the replacement route if there’s substantial damage.
I know we just mentioned it but it’s worth repeating: if there is moisture damage to your roof deck, you are more than likely going to want to replace the roof rather than repair. The repairs would be like slapping a band-aid onto a broken bone in this case, as the foundation of your roof would have significant damage.
You should also ask, even if it is just a small repair, how much more a replacement will cost. While repairs are almost always going to be the cheaper option, sometimes a somewhat costlier replacement could have you sitting pretty for years to come while a repair might need to be done again in a short while. If it’s only a little bit more expensive, you might want to think about going for that replacement so you can have even more peace of mind.
Lastly, and this one is just aesthetic, but how important is it that your roof completely matches? There’s a very good chance that, with a repair, the shingles will be slightly off. It could be just that they are new while the rest of the roof is a little bit more worn down, but either way, there could be a few spots with slightly different colors or materials. So, if you take pride in how your roof looks (why wouldn’t you??), then you may want to consider a replacement when there is damage to your roof.
Now, there are plenty of other factors that go into the decision of repairing or replacing a roof. But this is a good place to start when the time comes to get some roof work done! Any professional roofer will be more than happy to explain all of your roofing options in detail and answer any questions you may have, but these are a few things to think about while talking to that professional roofer.
