It can be horrifying to discover that your roof is already showing some signs of damage.
Considering that this is what protects you from harsh weather conditions and other threats that might jeopardize your and your family’s safety, you need to get it checked right away by a specialist in roofing, so they can see the extent of the damage.
You must be wondering if it’s better to get your roof repaired or perhaps replace, but before you arrive at a decision, it’s good to know the differences between the two and everything that surrounds them.
Luckily, we have listed here a helpful guide to help you choose between roof repair or roof replacement. So, read on!
Roof Repair Vs. Roof Replacement
If this is your first time handling a damaged or broken roof, it’s common to be clueless about the two terms.
Roof repair and replacement are not the same things, as their names clearly suggest but to give you a better insight, check the info below:
- Roof repair – Roof repair refers to the process of repairing parts of your roof in order to put it back in good running condition. Roof repair may include fixing small leaks, patching up minor damages, and unclogging gutters. To make it more straightforward, roof repair deals with minor issues that can easily be fixed.
- Roof replacement – While roof repair talks about fixing the roof, roof replacement means taking out the whole roof and replacing it with a brand new, better functioning roofing system. Roof replacement is often needed for serious problems where fixes won’t be able to eliminate the roof issue you’re dealing with entirely.
When Should You Get Roof Repair?
If you’re having trouble deciding whether to patch your roof or replace it entirely, it’s helpful to know the common issues that can be easily solved with roof repair, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a new roof while your existing one can still be saved:
- If you have a minor leak that seems to be coming from your roof, this can easily be fixed with some strong sealant. Roofers have adhesives that can withstand weather conditions, so you don’t have to constantly worry about it opening up.
- It is also possible to repair damage to your roof caused by small animals and critters, such as scratches or gnawing. This won’t take much because roofers will easily apply a protective coat to the outer layer of your roof to ensure that no animals bother it.
- If you only need to fix a small section of your rooftop, such as a few shingles in a specific area on your roof, repairing damaged material in that section can be easy and inexpensive. You won’t need a roof replacement since the problem doesn’t impact the performance of your entire roof.
In particular, roofing repairs may be less expensive than a total roof replacement; but, if you pay for a series of repairs over the course of several years, the total cost of the fixes will ultimately surpass the expense of a complete roof replacement.
With this in mind, it’s good that you seek the help of a professional who can give you a precise answer on if your roof is better to be repaired or not.
When Should You Get Roof Replacement?
While roof replacement is expensive, it can save you money in the long run, particularly if you’re already making repairs to your current roof.
When repairing a whole roof, there are several factors to consider, and these are often the reasons you must get a new roof:
- If your roof has been operating for almost 50 years, and you already notice signs of aging (leaks, damages, discoloration, etc.), then it’s probably time to consider getting a new roof.
- When you’re conducting an inspection in your roof and notice there are several missing shingles, and the inner part of your roofing system has been damaged because of this, it might be a sign to replace your roof.
- Leakage may be a minor issue and can easily be fixed with a strong sealant. However, if you’re experiencing more than one leakage which constantly keeps on opening up, it won’t be easily handled with some simple fixes and may require a re-roofing.
- You’ll surely need a replacement if your roof has bald spots where shingles and granules are missing and frequent moss is growing in your roof’s gutters. Although these issues can be fixed, they will eventually wind up in the same state in the long run.
One way you can prevent an entire replacement of your roof is by getting your roofing system inspected and fixed right away, so minor problems won’t turn into big ones.
Before you decide on replacing your roof, talk with an expert roofer since they can determine if your roof can still be fixed.
Conclusion
A broken roof must never be seen as a chance to do a DIY project since doing this can lead to even costlier repairs.
You need to seek the help of a professional who can quickly determine if your roof can still be saved or if it needs to be replaced.