Should You Repair Or Replace Your Roof? Tips For You

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If your roof has sustained damage, whether from a big storm or just the usual wear and tear, you may be wondering what you should do about it. Deciding whether to repair or replace a roof can be difficult if you do not know what to look out for. Get to know a few tips that will help you decide if it is time to replace your roof or if repairs will do. Then, you can contact a certified roofer to help you out with the option you choose as soon as possible. 

Repair: A Few Shingles Are Missing or Damaged

When it comes to whether you should repair or replace your roof, the number of shingles matters. If you have a few shingles here and there that are missing, cracked, warped, or otherwise damaged, repairing the roof is the way to go. You can get those shingles removed and replaced quickly, leaving the rest of the roof intact. 

However, if there are numerous shingles missing all throughout the roof, or the majority are damaged from a storm, replacing the roof is the way to go. This will cost about the same as or less than replacing each individual damaged or missing shingle.  

Repair: A Small Area Is Damaged

If you have a branch fall on your house and damage a small area of the roof or some other incident that only affects a portion of your roof, you may be able to get away with repairs rather than replacement. The key in a situation like this is to act as quickly as possible once the damage has occurred.

If you leave it for long, the rest of the roof may also be affected as damage can spread or cause additional issues. For example, if the shingles are broken and the wood underneath the shingles exposed, significant rainfall could cause water damage to that underlying structure and could spread to nearby areas of the roof. 

Large areas of damage that take up a quarter to a half or more of the total square footage of the roof usually means you would be better off with a roof replacement, though.

Replace: More Than 30 Years Old

If your roof has been on your home for 30 years or more, it is time to go ahead and replace it. Roofs, particularly asphalt shingle roofs, only last about 30 years or so before they begin to significantly deteriorate. 

You want a roof over your head that is a solid shape and that will properly insulate and protect your home. So, contact a certified roofer for a replacement if the roof is over 30 (even if it does not seem to have any damage currently).

Replace: Water Damage

If your roof sustains water damage to the wood and underlayment beneath the shingles, you should opt to have your roof replaced. The certified roofer will replace the water damaged areas along with the shingles themselves to ensure that you do not develop any leaks into your home or any mold on your roof (or inside your attic). 

Now that you know the situations in which you should either repair or replace your roof, you can call a certified roofer right away to get the work done that you need. 


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