When it comes to protecting a house, your roof is one of those key pieces in the equation. Without it, your house doesn’t stand a chance. That’s why roofing problems are always serious and need to be addressed quickly. When your roof takes damage, you’re often going to have to make a choice. Do you just want to replace the damaged parts of your roof, or should you get a whole new roof? Determining the right answer is fairly complicated, and it requires you to compare a lot of options. This guide is going to show you the most important things you should consider when facing this decision.
Age
Typical roofing is expected to last 15 to 20 years, although some high-end shingles are good for around 40 years, even in hurricane winds. If your roof is nearing the end of its expected lifespan, getting a replacement should be the go-to choice. The work has to be done anyway. If you only repair one section, you’ll likely see more damage in the next storm — again and again until the roof is replaced. Skip the hassle.
If the roof is under 10 years old, repair is likely the better choice, assuming the damage is not so extensive that full replacement is justified.
Are You Sticking Around?
If you think you’ll be selling the house in the next couple of years, it can and should affect your decision. The condition of the roof will impact your ability to sell the house, especially if your repair uses mismatched shingles. You can’t go for the cheapest repair and hope to make it someone else’s problem.
You should seriously consider how the condition of the roof would impact your desire to buy. There are certainly investors and house flippers who would make you an offer despite a banged-up roof, but if you want the most out of selling your house, a replacement might be justified.
The Type of Damage
Damage that is limited to shingles and the outermost layer of the roof is the best candidate for repair. The repairs are cheap (relative to roofing work), and they can resolve issues just fine.
Replacement becomes a more appealing option when the damage gets deeper into the structure. Obviously, if the framing is compromised, you have to get a new roof, but problems with shingles and studs aren’t so cut and dried. If those sorts of problems affect your roof, you want to compare costs versus the extent of the damage. A small repair is usually justifiable, but as the damage becomes more extensive, it becomes worth it to replace the roof, at least on that part of the house.
Estimate
Sometimes, the answer is easy. If the cost of repair is close to the cost of replacement, replacement is the better choice. Replacements come with a new warranty and should last much longer. Unfortunately, the prices aren’t always close enough to make an easy decision.
The method is to weigh cost versus value. This isn’t always easy, but you’re comparing the cost of the service and dividing it by how long you expect it to last. A cost-per-year-of-life analysis produces a reasonable estimate that you can use to help make the decision.
What Does Your Insurance Say?
Ultimately, your insurance is usually the biggest factor in making this decision. Your provider will do a ton of calculations to decide whether repair or replacement is more cost effective, and it’s good to have that on your side. They also might be bound by laws and regulations to go a certain route.
Typically, your insurance will want you to get a quote from a qualified roofer. They’ll use that quote to determine what they are going to pay to you. That amount might be enough for a replacement (or almost enough). It might only be enough for a focused repair. That makes the decision easy.
In some cases (usually after natural disasters), the insurance company will be bound to replace roofs en mass. If you’re in that situation, you might as well get a new roof. It’s ultimately the better option, provided you aren’t on the hook for the bill. When you’re ready to get deeper into deciding whether to get a roof repair or replacement, you’re going to want an expert opinion. You can get estimates for repair and replacement pretty easily. Contact Alpine Roofing Construction. We’ll set you up with one of our roofing experts. We can assess the damage and let you know exactly what your options are. You can take our quotes to your insurance company, and we can work out a plan to make sure you have a good roof over your head.