When you find damage to your roof, should you replace it or fix it? Before making a decision, take into account these eight factors:
Removing the old shingles and felt paper (or moisture barrier) is the simplest way to replace a roof. Other options include replacing the deck, gutters, roof vents, soffits, eaves, and fixing any damage that was caused by the old roof failing.
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However, fixing isolated damage is typically the extent of roof repair.
How do you decide whether to replace the roof or simply repair damage when you find it (perhaps during a storm or a falling tree limb)?
Before making a choice, take into account these eight variables.
1. The Roof’s Age
Because roofs have a lifespan that varies based on the manufacturer and material, the age of your roof plays a significant role in determining whether to replace or repair it.
Roofs often endure ten to fifteen years or more. It can make sense to just fix the damaged areas if yours is only a few years old.
But as roofs get older, they could sustain wear and tear that leaves them vulnerable to more harm.
Roof repairs are only a short-term fix. It won’t always extend the lifespan of a roof. The age of the original roof will continue to be a limiting factor in the roof’s longevity.
It could make more sense to replace the entire roof, even if the damage is currently restricted to one or two sections. If not, you could have to make repairs on a frequent basis until the roof needs to be replaced nevertheless.
It’s also crucial to remember that matching the color of the current shingles will get more difficult the older a roof becomes.
It’s possible that some of the shingles you kept from the initial installation won’t look well. The new shingles won’t match the old ones straight out of the box since the old ones will have weathered a little.
2. The Damage’s Amount
What is the extent of the damage?
Did water get behind the moisture barrier, or are there only a few shingles that were blown off during a storm? Was the deck damaged or left uncovered? Did the damage cause you to have a leak?
Repairing the roof might be a cost-effective solution if the damage is restricted to a single piece or a small region.
However, a repair can wind up costing almost as much as replacing the roof if the damage is severe enough.
Any underlying problems that initially caused the issue may also be discovered by replacing the roof.
3. The Roof Type
When choosing whether to replace or repair your roof, the type of roof you have may play a role.
Slate roofs, for instance, may endure for more than a century, so fixing damage rather than replacing the entire roof can make sense. Individual roof tile replacement is possible, and the work required is little.
Even if the slate tiles themselves may be reused, it might still make sense to replace the roof if the damage is due to structural collapse or if water has harmed the deck.
Age once more becomes a significant consideration with various roof kinds. The surrounding shingles will not endure any longer if a single shingle is replaced.
4. Immediacy
You might not have time to plan for a complete roof repair if a significant storm is approaching. To prevent more damage, the roof must be repaired or at the very least protected.
By waiting until the hurricane season is finished and then addressing all the damage at once, some people may believe they are saving money. Even while you are aware that the roof would need to be replaced, that risk might end up costing you more than the short-term fixes.
Damage from wind getting up under the roof or water damage to the interior of the house might be more expensive than just repairing the roof.
5. Extended-Duration Plans
For what length of time do you intend to remain at home?
A new roof might be a selling factor for prospective purchasers if you plan to sell in a few years.
Although you don’t have to get the priciest roof, an outdated roof may make your house a “fixer upper.”
Since the expense of updating your roof will be spread out over the course of the home’s life, you might be able to justify it if you intend to stay in your house forever. Additionally, selecting a higher-quality material doesn’t usually cost that much more.
6. Efficiency in Energy Use
Every year, roofing materials get better. One area where roofs are still developing is energy efficiency, and there are now more options than ever before.
In fact, the energy savings from an energy-efficient roof may help you recoup some of the installation costs. That might quickly mount up, depending on the age or kind of roof you currently have.
7. Construction Codes
Another approach to save time and money is to re-roof. In essence, the old shingles are immediately covered with a fresh coating.
Because the existing roof doesn’t need to be removed, it is quicker and less expensive. Additionally, it offers a fresh coating of protection that will seem brand-new from the street.
However, the disadvantages are substantial.
Most building rules forbid adding a third layer of shingles if you already have two. The additional weight of a fresh coating of shingles is mostly to blame for this.
Asphalt shingles typically weigh between 275 and 350 pounds. It would be like placing two SUVs on a roof that is 2,500 square feet.
It is impossible to determine whether there is damage below without removing the existing shingles.
Re-roofing might also nullify or decrease the new shingles’ guarantee because they usually don’t last as long as a new roof.
The savings may be sufficient to convince you that this is the best course of action, but be sure you’re factoring in these unforeseen expenses.
8. Spending plan
Before choosing which option is best for you, it might be helpful to know how much replacing a roof would cost compared to repairing one.
Although it’s not always the case, repairs are often less costly.
Per square foot, the cost of repairs may be higher. They can be just as labor-intensive as replacements, and you do not benefit from bulk discounts on supplies.
The cost may also vary depending on the amount of the repair. Will you only fix a tiny section or replace a few shingles? Or do you have to address any underlying problems that may be found?
Do you, for instance, reside in a location with a lot of wind? Do the current shingles have a high wind rating? Upgrading to a higher-quality roof will probably be less expensive in the long term than repeatedly fixing the isolated damage.
The least costly repair option is to replace broken or missing shingles, or patch an area by doing so. However, matching the new shingles with the old may be challenging, as we previously discussed.
That might not be the ideal option for you if you value aesthetics and it’s on a prominent area of the roof.
A more economical option may be partial replacement, which involves replacing a portion of the roof rather than the complete structure.
If only one side of the roof is damaged, this might be a possibility. The entire side’s old shingles are taken off, and new shingles and a moisture barrier are installed.
There may be issues with this approach even if it addresses the problem of matching shingles when mending. At the ridges where the new shingles connect the old roof, they might not line up perfectly. particularly if there were already two shingles on the original roof.
The expense of removing two layers of shingles from the previous roof might reduce your savings if it had two layers, which is the maximum number permitted.
The fact that the remainder of your house still has an outdated roof is another drawback of partial replacement.
Although it may appear to be the most costly option, full replacement actually costs less per square foot than repair or partial replacement. It also makes it possible to examine the roof structure in its entirety.
Before installing the new roof, any underlying damage may be found and fixed.
With a complete replacement, you may upgrade to a higher-quality roof choice or take advantage of the newer materials and solutions that are available, thereby resetting the clock on your roof’s lifespan.
You could only be liable for your deductible if your insurance covers the damage, which would further reduce the savings on the cost of repair.
The bottom line
It’s easy to focus simply on the expense of replacing your roof while deciding whether to fix it or replace it. However, as you can see, a lot of things might influence your choice.
A reputable service roofer might be a great resource if you’re unsure. They may do a comprehensive roof check and determine how the previously listed concerns relate to your circumstances.