Should You Repair or Replace Your Roof? Heres How to Decide
When you notice that you are having problems with your roof, you most likely begin to ask yourself if you should repair your roof again. In addition, you most likely begin to ask yourself if now is the time for a replacement. As a homeowner, it is reasonable to ask yourself these questions when facing a roof repair. While there are many possible solutions for your roof problem, your specific scenario can be the determining factor as to what you do next. There are a number of questions you should answer to determine if you want to repair or replace the home’s roof. The questions listed below will help guide you in your decision.
How Much Damage Is There
One of the top considerations when determining if you should repair or replace the home’s roof is how much damage it suffered. If it has deteriorated over the years and it is too damaged to repair, you may need to replace it. If you have large holes in your roof, you are going to need to replace it. There is probably no fixing that amount of damage. If you have a small or moderate amount of damage, you can probably repair it. If the damage covers less than 30 percent of the roof, it may be salvageable. It is essential to keep in mind that you may not be able to see all of the damage. Some of it could be under what you can actually see. You need to contact a residential roofer to assess the full extent of the damage to your roof. They will inspect your roof and help you make the best decision.
Are You Repairing More Than Usual?
When you are making a decision if it is time to repair or replace the home’s roof, you want to consider how much of the roof must be repaired. Many people think that repairing a roof is more cost-effective than replacing it. That is not always the case. It is often less expensive per square inch to replace the roof instead of repairing it. When you buy materials in bulk, you get a discount on them. You have to balance the difference in the cost of replacing versus repairing. If you are repairing more than a certain amount of the roof, it is going to make more financial sense to replace the roof. A reputable roofing company can help you understand how much of your roof must be repaired to help you make an educated decision.
How Old Is Your Roof?
When it comes to repair or replace the home’s roof, age does matter. A roof is durable and will protect the inside of your home from extreme weather. A roof withstands a lot while taking a beating from mother nature. Unfortunately, it also has an expiration date. It is typical for asphalt shingles to last for about two decades. However, heavier shingles can last as long as 40 years. Metal and clay roofs tend to last longer. Once your roof hits a set amount of time, it will begin to show wear and begin to break down. You may not want to know this when you are considering your options, but often replacing the roof makes the most sense when it comes to long-term finances.
Local roofers can assess your roof and look for signs of an aging roof. These signs include curling, missing, or blistering shingles, sagging roof, or moss covering your roof. They also look for any granules in the gutter. You may want to talk to more than one roof company to get a full assessment of your roof. If multiple roofers tell you the same thing, you can feel as though you are making a good decision considering the age and condition of your roof.
Are You Ready for a New Look?
You may come to a point where you want a new roof simply because of the way it looks. When you are thinking about whether it is time to repair or replace the home’s roof, you can consider the exterior of your home and curb appeal. If you have done other work to the outside of your house, such as new siding or paint, you may want to replace the roof to complete the look. You will be surprised at how much a new roof can change the look of your house. It can bring new life to your house by just replacing the roof. No matter what roofing material you choose, a new roof gives your house an entirely new look.
Local roofing services can assist you when making decisions about transforming your roof. You can use the same material that is currently on your roof. However, you can opt for a completely new material to give it an entirely new look. In addition, if you are thinking about selling your house in the next few years, it can increase your home value.
Which Area of Your Roof Is Affected?
The part of your roof that is affected by damage helps you determine if you should repair or replace the home’s roof. If the damage is in one small area and does not extend anywhere else, roofing contractors may be able to repair it at an affordable rate. When the damage is contained to a small portion of the roof, it is easier and more affordable to repair instead of replacing. If the roof can easily be patched and fixed, then that may be the best way for you to go. You must consider that if there is a hole or damage to the roof, there could also be damage to the inside of your house. For example, you could see water damage on the ceiling in a bedroom if the damage to the roof is over that room. When you repair the roof, you also want to repair the water damage to the inside of your house. You want to keep the 30 percent rule in mind when making this decision. If the damage covers more than 30 percent of your roof, it could be time to get a new roof.
How Long Are You Staying in Your Home?
A good question to ask yourself is, how long do you plan to stay in this home? If you plan to stay in your house for a while, you may decide to hold off on a roof replacement. On the other hand, you may decide that, for now, roof repairs are acceptable. This may be a good choice if you plan to stay for a while, but not forever. If you have decided that this is your forever home, then it is time to consider the age and how many repairs the roof has had. If you have an older roof that has had numerous repairs, then it could be time to replace the roof. Either way, you want a qualified and reputable roofer to assess your roof. This can help you decide if you want to repair or replace the home’s roof.
Another consideration to make is if you plan to sell your house soon. While at first, you may think if you are going to sell your house, then you do not need to replace the roof. However, you may need to think about that again. It could be difficult to sell your house with an old roof that needs a replacement. This is especially true if you can see that your roof is damaged or worn from the roof. Curb appeal helps you sell your house more than you realize. You have to remember that the first look at your house will leave a lasting impression on potential buyers.
Do You Have a Warranty?
When you have a warranty or insurance for your roof, it may make a big difference in the decision you make. Typically a roof is going to have one of two types of warranties on it. There are manufacturer warranties and contractor warranties. Typically, a manufacturer warranty is a 25 to 30-year warranty on asphalt shingles. You can also find 50-year and lifetime warranties. These warranties can help you make the decision between a repair or replace the home’s roof. These warranties include the materials for the roof. You must keep in mind the price of these items in the future is prorated, and the cost of disposing of them is not included. You may have the option to upgrade your warranty to cover workmanship and the value of a full roof replacement.
A contractor warranty typically covers the work that the contractor provided for you. This type of warranty is different based on each contractor. When you have this type of warranty, it is best to ask for it in writing. This allows you to read and understand but also have something to refer to if you need it in the future. If you cannot get a copy of this in writing, you may want to look for a different roofing contractor.
Does Your Budget Fit an Entire Replacement?
When you are thinking about repair or replace the home’s roof, you must be realistic about what you can afford. The budget with which you are working is critical to the decision you have to make. You may have to make repairs until you are in a place where you can pay for a complete roof installation. You may want to look for a roofing contractor that offers payment plans if you absolutely need a new roof on your house but do not have the cash for one. Your budget is important because you do not want to get yourself into something that you just cannot afford. You may want to determine how much you can afford before you contact the contractor. This could help make your decision easier.
Do You Get Regular Maintenance or Inspections?
You may be able to prevent yourself from having to make the repair or replace the home’s roof decision if you take some proactive steps. You can take steps like regular roof maintenance by contacting a roof inspection service. It would be best if you had this service performed every two years to keep your roof in its best shape. During this maintenance, you can expect them to check the pipe boots for wear and cracks. This is one of the most common reasons for leaks in your roof. During this regular maintenance, the technician will remove any dirt, debris, sticks, and leaves from the valleys and gutters on your roof. Leaves and sticks cause water to back up under your shingles and cause a leak.
In addition, they will ensure that all fans and turbines are functioning properly and there are no obstructions. When there is condensation stuck in your attic, it seeps into the adhesive in your decking. This causes the layers to weaken, and the nails will not be able to hold them together. This ultimately causes the shingles to loosen and blow off easily. The flashing and caulking will be checked to see if it is loose or missing. Caulk is necessary for your roof because it keeps all nailheads tight to prevent penetration, and everything stays watertight.
The decision to repair or replace the home’s roof is a big one. If you have money to spare, this may be an easy decision. However, for everyone else, this decision may be a difficult one. There are a lot of items to take into consideration when making this decision. Your budget, the age of your roof, and the amount of damage are integral factors in making this decision. If you answer all of these questions, they should help you determine which is the right choice for you to make.