Roof Repair vs Replacement

ROOF REPAIR VS REPLACE
​For owners, it is a tough decision. Whether it is a residential or commercial roof, every owner has to face this decision when the roof starts to show its age or contract leaks. Some budgets are not ready for the replacement costs that come with removing the old roof and installing a new one.

Sometimes, simply patching or doing a partial re-roofing will not do anything except delay the inevitable. The condition of the roof will help guide you through this tough decision.

There are some situations where repairing is the best option and others where, over time, replacing the roof is the less expensive route to take.

When to repair the roof
Usually, the time to repair is when your roof still has plenty of life left in it. Plus, the leaks or damage are not that severe and can easily be fixed with little effort. For example, shingles are blown off your roof.

The wind can blow a few shingles off and there is no point in replacing the roof when a couple hours of time and a few new shingles will handle the problem.

The type of roof will also indicate if you should repair or replace your roof. For example, if you have a slate roof that can last up to 100 years and is only 20 years old, then repair not replace it.

Then the weather will also tell you when it is best to repair the roof instead of replacing it. If a major storm is coming to your location, you won’t have time to replace the roof. Find the vulnerable spots and repair them to protect your belongings inside.

You will be the judge or you can call in a top roofing company to look at your roof and make suggestions. Our professional roofers are ready to examine your roof and let you know if you should repair the weak spots or replace them.

When to replace your roof
There are several key situations that will tell you that repairing is not going to be enough. Those situations will indicate that you need to replace the roof as quickly as possible.

When it comes to roof damage time is always of the essence. Most often, repairing only delays what really needs to be done.

#1. The age of the roof- the typical commercial or residential roofs have limited lifespans.. if you are closing in on the end of that lifespan, then replacing the roof is your best option.

#2. Severe damage- light damage is okay to repair but when the damage is extensive then again, replacement will be your only option. If the damage done to your roof is covered by insurance, then replacing the roof is the intelligent thing to do.

#3. Selling or staying in your home- this is an important situation to consider. If you are looking to stay in your home for a good 5 to 10 more years, then repairing may be the way to go. That would depend on if the roof can be repaired or not.

However, if you are thinking of selling your home in the next 2 to 3 years, then to add value to your house, and make it look good, replace the roof. A new roof provides good curb appeal and that influences the value of your home.

#4. Moving to energy-efficient roofing materials- this should only be considered if your roof is not brand new. There is no financial sense in upgrading your roof when it is in top condition.

But if the roof is getting older and showing its age, then replace it with those energy-efficient materials. The energy savings will help offset your roofing costs.

#5. Building codes may make the decision for you- there are regions of the country where building codes will restrict how many layers of roofing material you can have on your building at the same time.

The building code in your area will let you know that you have to remove the old roofing materials and replace them with a new roof.

The tough financial decision
It goes without saying that replacing your roof can be very expensive, especially when you are going to updated roofing materials. In many cases, your budget will dictate what action you can take at the time.

Repairing your roof is often the only route your budget will let you go in. That is okay as a repaired roof will still protect your building’s contents until you can afford to replace the roof.

Check your budget and get good estimates for both repairing and replacing your roof to see which is the most financially sound direction to take.

Repairing, replacing, or partial replacing
Technically, you could say that partial re-roofing is the same as repairing but in reality, it is not. Partial re-roofing will fix the damaged or leaking area but it also replaces other sections of the roof that do not have problems.

The initial cost for repairing one side of a four-sided hip roof may be roughly $3000. But if you replaced all four sides at the same time, your cost may be lowered to $2000 per side or $8000.

You may be paying more upfront for a partial re-roofing but you are saving money per side. This option works best when the original roof is nearing the end of its lifetime. It can save you money in the long run.

When it comes to repairing or replacing your roof, you do not have to make this decision on your own. To get help and all the facts, contact our company, Motor City Roofers, to get all the facts and figures you need for both options.

Our company has the experience and knowledge to guide you to the right decision for you and your home. We are located in Detroit so we can be at your home quickly to provide a free estimate. Call us today to schedule an appointment and have experts repair or replace your residential or commercial roof.