Repair or replace: how to tell what your roof needs
One leak doesn't mean a new roof. Here is how to tell whether yours needs fixing or replacing, and what to ask whoever comes to look at it.
Nobody wants to be sold a roof they didn't need, and nobody wants to pay for the same repair three times. The honest answer to "repair or replace?" usually comes down to one question: is the problem in one place, or everywhere?
Signs a repair will do
- One leak, in one place, often after a storm.
- A few shingles missing or damaged in one area.
- Flashing that has lifted around a chimney, a vent or a skylight.
- The rest of the roof lying flat, with its granules still on.
Problems like these are local, and a roof repair fixes them without touching the rest of the roof.
Signs it may be time to replace
- Leaks in more than one room, or the same leak coming back after repairs.
- Shingles curling, cracking or going bald across whole slopes.
- Granules piling up in the gutters.
- A roofline that sags, or roof boards that feel soft from the attic.
When the whole roof is wearing out at once, each repair buys less time than the one before, and a replacement ends up costing less than a string of repairs.
What to ask whoever looks at it
Ask them to show you what they found, and to tell you whether a repair would last. A roofer should be able to point at the problem, from a ladder or in a photo. If a repair is enough, that is the quote you should get.
If you would like us to take a look, the quote is free. Homeowners who do need a new roof can finance it.