Knowing when to repair or replace your roof isn’t always easy. The time frame is different for every roof, every home, every homeowner. Things like age, weather, maintenance level and the quality of the materials to begin with all factor into the decision-making process: to repair or to replace?
Make the decision easier by asking these questions to yourself:
How old is the roof?
Age is one of the main factors pointing you in the direction of replacement. If your roof is nearing the 20-year mark and you’re having problems such as leaks and missing shingles, replacement is the best option. However, if your roof is over 20 (old age for an asphalt roof) but you’ve always taken good care of it and don’t have many issues with it, you could put off replacement for a few more years. There’s another side to it and that’s the warranty: if your roof is 18 years old and has a 20-year warranty, it makes sense to replace the whole roof.
What are my time constraints?
If you have a leaky roof and you need it fixed by the weekend because you’re going away on vacation, a repair is the best option here. You don’t have time to schedule a contractor for complete replacement at this point. However, if you’ve planned out the project, have the time to schedule it and your budget is stocked, it may be a good time for a roof replacement.
How big is the issue at hand?
If you only need to add a few shingles, a repair is in order. If the issues cover more than 30 percent of your roof, you will want to consider replacement.
What is the additional cost to replace the entire roof?
When you have an extensive repair that you know is going to cost you, it’s wise to explore the potential cost of a replacement. For example, if you have a $4,000 repair job to the roof on the side of your home yet you get a quote on roof replacement for $6,800, it’s a better value in this case to opt for the replacement.
How important is uniformity to you?
If you’ve had missing shingles replaced so many times that your roof looks like a patchwork quilt, you may want to consider re-roofing so that you can maintain the uniformity and curb appeal of your roof. Especially if you have a highly visible roof, you must keep in mind that any new shingles you add will not always match the same hue as the existing ones.
Is there moisture damage to the roof deck?
Simply adding new shingles over areas of significant moisture damage won’t solve your problem. Part of roof placement involves repairing underlying issues, which will benefit you in the long run.
Do you have to replace your gutters too?
If you’ve been thinking about replacing your gutters, a new roof may be a great option since your contractor can just rip off the old gutter system, lay down a new roof and add a brand new gutter system afterwards.
Contact Hi-Tech
If you would like a free, no-obligation consultation to determine whether you need a whole new roof or a simple repair, contact us at 800-851-0900.
- Category: Roofing Contractor
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