Should you Replace or Repair your Roof?

5/21/2018

Introduction

The decision to repair or replace your entire roofing system is critical. Does the decision to repair or replace your roof minimize or increase your short term and long term costs? It’s definite that everyone would like to minimize costs while having quality work done on their roofing system.

Before you hire a roofer, decide whether you need a repair or total roof replacement. You can do a repair or partial replacement or a complete replacement. Alternatively, you can opt to replace your entire roof or even build another roof on top of your existing roof.

Roof Repair

Factors that determine whether you need a repair or replacement include: the extent of damage, the location in need of repair and how long the roof has existed. For instance, a strong wind in your area can blow some shingles off your roof, calling for a repair, especially if the roof is still new.

Shingles Replacement

Torn shingles can be removed and new ones put in place. It's important to note that unless your roof is still new and you had some shingles left when you did your roofing, you’ll have to use the same shingles to replace the broken ones. If you buy new shingles, they might not match your old type on the roof, hence the need to use the same ones.

However, it’s hard to find matching shingles due to constant change in materials and visual effects. Furthermore, it’s likely your current shingles have faded over the years. If you had no shingles left, it is better to use mismatching shingles than replace your entire roof. Replacing a few shingles is also more affordable and easy to manage.

On the other hand, if you are planning to sell your house, contact a roofing company to help you find shingles almost similar to the ones on your roof. A house patched on the roof is not appealing to any potential buyer. Therefore, with the help of a roofer, you can find the best shingles to use, leaving your roof looking its best.

If a heavy object or tree falls on one side of your roof, it can dig a hole through it. Evidently, there is no clear damage on the other parts of the roof; all you may need is partial repair. In comparison to replacing shingles, partial repair is more expensive per square meter. For instance, look at a scenario where asphalt shingle has more than one layer.

A roofer can remove all the layers before re-roofing your roof. Additional costs might include higher costs of labor and the disposal of the layers removed. In some cases, installing a new roof can be cheaper in the long run than engaging in repairs.

Roof Replacement

Several signs can point to the need to replace your roofing system. The lifespan of your roof; if your roof is older than 10 years, then it could be time to replace it. Most roofs have a lifespan of about 20 years, after which they begin to wear out.

Looking at your roof from inside, do you see a light shining through the attic? If your answer is yes, it could be a sign your roofing needs replacement. Do not wait until you have leakage to contact a professional roofing company to fix your roof. The earlier you deal with the situation, the better so you avoid more costs and damages.

Shingles on your roof can also determine whether your roofing system requires replacement or not. If you notice buckling shingles, you might need to replace your roof sooner than you think. Even though such shingles might not be blown away by strong winds, they lose their ability to protect your roof from debris and water.

Another sign to look out for is the presence of small parts of shingles known as shingle granules in your gutter. It is an earlier indication of shingles tear, possibly leading to cracks or holes on your roof. Sagging of your roof is a red flag and definitely needs replacement.

With sagging roofs, you cannot wait for a disaster to contact a roofer. Call the Sacramento Roofing company to offer you roof replacement services. A sagging roof can collapse at anytime. Therefore, do not waste any time as it can cause damage and injury to the residents of your house.

Finally, consider the finances you can use on the roof replacement project. Replacing a roof can be more affordable in the long run than a repair. A partial repair is more of a temporary solution and in the near future, you might have to repair other parts of the roof. So, why not do a replacement instead?

Roof Tear Off or Roof Over?

Reroofing is one thing and the decision to reroof on top of your old roof or even completely tear off the old roof is another. It all comes down to saving costs without the need to embark on other repairs soon after. The best decision is to spend more money now and avoid future risks or expenses later.

According to the International Residential (R 907.3) code, you cannot put a roof where there’s already one or attempt to create two layers of a roof. Doing so can result in more weight exerting on the structure of your house. Although a single shingle is light, hundreds or thousands of them, covering up to 1500 square feet, can pose a risk.

Remove all the shingle layers on your existing roof before making a new installation to help you save money in the future. If you live in an area prone to strong winds, only a strong roof placed directly on the roof deck can withstand their damaging effect. Moreover, removing old shingles gives you an opportunity to check whether your roof deck is still in a good condition.

Assessing your roof deck is the only way to find out if the wood is rotten and the fastenings in top shape or not. Avoid dramatic losses associated with rotten roof decks falling when you least expect it through early repairs. At Sacramento roofing, we have a team of qualified contractors to assist you in making such crucial decisions.

We are just a phone call away. Contact us today to know whether you need a roof replacement or simply a roof repair.

(916) 385-0352

25 Comments

Millie Hue link

8/23/2018 06:58:05 pm

Thanks for pointing out that the roof should be replaced when it is already 10 to 20 years already because it is the normal lifespan of the roof. With that in mind, I might have to get the roof replaced already since it has been there ever since my parents got married. I am already 25 years old, and I was born three years after they got married. So the roof is already really old.

emma brian link

10/8/2018 12:05:19 am

You can opt to replace your entire roof or even build another roof on top of your existing roof.

It's important to note that unless your roof is still new and you had some shingles left when you did your roofing, you'll have to use the same shingles to replace the broken ones with EPDM Liquid Rubber Roof Repair.

Gillian Babcock link

12/19/2018 10:50:00 pm

Our roof was badly damaged because of the hailstorm last night. It was explained here that when planning to have the roof repaired, we need to determine the extent of the damage. Furthermore, it's recommended to hire professionals for quality roofing repair.

Kairi Gainsborough

12/26/2018 01:12:49 pm

Thanks for explaining that reroofing and rebuilding you roof are two separate things. I appreciate that you explained you need to choose between saving money now or avoiding more repairs in the future. I want to be confident that my house will weather any storms, so if I needed to rebuild my roof, I would take that option.

Gerty Gift link

1/2/2019 09:17:05 am

Thank you for explaining that the location greatly determines the need for repair. I never thought to keep track of the different locations that I notice need some repairs on my roof. It will definitely be something that I pay more attention to from now on.

Taylor Bishop link

1/7/2019 10:33:10 am

Thanks for explaining when it could be good to replace or repair a roof. I'm glad that you mentioned that replacing a few shingles is easier to manage. This seems important especially if the rest of the roof is in tact except for a few shingles.

Gary Puntman link

1/17/2019 07:27:52 am

I've been thinking I need to hire someone this spring to do some work on my roof. I've been wondering if I might just need to replace it though. It's good to know that I might need to replace my whole roof if enough shingles are damaged. I agree that it would probably be hard to match the color and specific style of my shingles by repairing it.

Hazel Owens link

1/28/2019 01:48:54 pm

You make a good point that it will be hard to find shingles that match your old ones. A tree in my backyard has a branch break off onto my roof, so I'm looking to repair some shingles. I'll have to find a company that can replace them with new ones since I probably can't get ones that match the color I have now.

1/30/2019 09:29:50 pm

My dad wants to have our roof repaired because it was badly damaged last weekend due to the hail storm. It was discussed here that the roof needs repair depending on the extent of the damage. Furthermore, it's recommended to hire professional roofers for quality work.

Ellie Davis link

2/5/2019 04:27:46 pm

My husband and I have noticed our roof seems to be leaking. Thank you for suggesting that if you roof is more than 10 years old it may be time to replace it. I'll have to look into finding the best contractor to come and replace our entire roof.

Dean Phillips link

2/11/2019 04:16:15 pm

I thought it was great how the article said that replacing a roof can be more affordable in the long run than a repair. My wife and I are thinking of selling our house and we have considered fixing our roof to raise its value. If it's more cost effective to have the entire thing replaced, then we will hire someone to do that instead of individual repairs.

2/24/2019 08:58:56 pm

Our roof was badly damaged because of the hail storm last weekend and my dad wants to have it replaced. It was discussed here that when there's light shining through from the attic, the roof needs replacement. Furthermore, it's recommended to hire professional roofers for quality roof replacement.

Larry Weaver link

2/25/2019 10:23:39 am

Thanks for explaining how a roof older than 10 years might need to be replaced. My home is 15 years old, and I don't think anyone has ever taken a look at the roof before. Since I noticed a few missing shingles the other day, I'll take a look at my roof and likely call a roofer to see if replacement might be an option for me.

Arya Smith link

2/26/2019 06:08:41 pm

Thanks for sharing that the roof can still be repaired as long as it is still new, or it has been there for a short while. I guess I can still have my roof repaired even with that damage since the house we bought is newly built last year. It just got damaged a lot when it rained with hailstones these past few days which caused holes and dents.

Liquid Rubber Roofing link

2/28/2019 04:28:02 am

Whether roof repair or replacement is necessary, it is important to take action immediately. The longer your roof is left damaged, the more exposed your house is to the elements. Thanks for this great helpful information.

Sariah Meagle link

2/28/2019 07:37:58 pm

I noticed that there are granules running down the roof after the storm passed last month. Since the shingles have buckled, I think it's time to replace the roof. It's getting old anyway so I'll hire a residential roof company to build me a new roof soon.

3/8/2019 05:00:40 pm

That's good to know that if you buy new shingles to replace broken ones that they may not match, so it's good to use any extras you may have. This is helpful since we had a hailstorm the other day and now we have some shingles that are broken or loose, so I'm trying to figure out what to do to repair it. I'll have to find a contractor I can hire to use shingles we have since our roof is only a couple of years old and I do have a couple leftover from the work that was done, that way I can make sure the shingles match.

Julian Ross link

3/14/2019 11:37:41 pm

Thanks for sharing useful information with us. It really helpful for me. I always read quality material. Thanks for sharing this blog with us.

steele honda link

3/15/2019 03:44:01 pm

Thanks for pointing out that if your roof is older than 10 years then it could be time to replace it. My husband and I moved into his parent's house recently, and I don't know the last time that this roof has even been looked at but I think it's been a while. We'll have to look into the residential roofers in our area and see if any of them can come help us replace it.

Paul link

3/26/2019 04:04:00 pm

We just had to have a roof replacement, in which our prior thought was just a roof repair. What started as a small leak was actually a years of that leak collecting in the attic creating a huge internal mess. Luckily we had it replaced and are happy with how it all turned out.

Derek Dewitt link

3/28/2019 10:38:58 am

I had no idea that the lifespan of a roof is about 20 years. I can't remember the last time I had my roof replaced. I might do this next season so there are no leaks.

3/31/2019 10:52:26 pm

My dad noticed that the roof at home looks like it needs repair after winter. It was explained here that the extent of damage needs to be determined before having it repaired. Moreover, it's recommended to hire professional roofers for quality roof repair.

Kate Welling link

4/3/2019 11:25:46 am

You mentioned that if the lifespan of your roof is over 10 years, you might need to get it replaced. My husband is thinking about starting his own business. He wants to buy this building that he has his eye on but the roof doesn't look so good! I wonder how long it has been since it has been replaced. I'll look into finding a commercial roofer to help him repair and replace it if he buys it.

Camille Devaux link

4/3/2019 03:58:55 pm

I have a sister that moved into a new home the other day. She is worried about getting the right kind of help for her needs. It might be nice for her to know that an old roof can be replaced and made better.

Sandra Patterson link

4/11/2019 04:44:17 pm

Wow, I didn't know that the lifespan of a roof was 20 years! I have lived in the same house for almost my whole life, and I don't think I can remember having our roof replaced. I will definitely talk to my parents about hiring a professional to come to take a look at our roof and see if there are any repairs or replacements that need to be made.

SACRAMENTO'S MOST ELEGANT ROOFS