One of the biggest headaches a homeowner will have to face is a problem with your roof. If you do not keep it in good repair, your entire house will suffer. As they say, you could bring the walls down around you.
It is tempting to push roof repair and maintenance off because you fear it will result in needing a new roof. However, the fastest way to ensure you need to replace your homes roofing is to neglect minor repairs. If you know the condition of your roof and have some idea of when you may need a full replacement.
Keep the following in mind when talking to contractors and you will be ready to actively participate in developing your solution.
Your Roof’s Condition
Before determining whether you need to repair your roof or replace it is to consider its condition. The following are all parts of the condition you should consider.
Age of your Roof
The first is the age of your roof. Most roofs should last between 15 and 40 years when professionally installed. The quality of the shingles you use will help determine where in that range your roof will fall.
If you are nearing the end of the expected life of your home’s roofing, you may consider replacing it early if you have major repairs. This will help save you money in the long run, plus negate any possible complications from un-repaired damage.
You can always consider the condition to get a sense of what may be needed if you do not know the age.
Condition of the Shingles
The condition of your shingles will help you determine what course of action you should take. If they are not in good repair, they will not hold up during storms and will possibly allow leaking.
The following are things to look for that indicate your shingles are wearing out:
- Excessive mold or moss
- Many small sections missing
- Bald shingles
- If your shingles are curled or torn
Damage to the Roof
Next, you want to look for damage to your home’s roofing. A simple roof repair project can fix many types of damage to the roof, depending on its extent. There are many types of damage a roof may sustain over its life.
The first one most people think about is the damage caused by a storm, either through heavy rain, hail, or wind. This can cause shingles to blow off and tear, leaving your roof susceptible leaks. Hail that comes with these storms can also punch holes into shingles, depending on the size and wind strength.
Many people forget about the damage winter can cause roofs as well. The thawing of snow and ice and then refreezing can pry up shingles, making them much less effective.
A professional roofing contractor will be able to help you evaluate your roof to determine if you need a new roof or if you can repair it.
What Else to Consider
The condition of your roof is a strong indicator of whether you need a new roof or can repair it. However, below are two more considerations to help you determine your next step.
Your Project Budget
First, what is your budget for bringing your roof back into working order? Consider that the average roof replacement in Michigan costs anywhere between $6,500-$12,000. Most small repair jobs will cost between $300-$3,000.
If you are nearing the end of your roof’s estimated life, you may be able to get by with some repairs for the short term. However, you may find yourself needing more repairs during the winter before you can replace your roof.
To be best suited for dealing with your roof, start planning a few years ahead of the minimum expected life of your roof. This allows you to proactively replace it before there is damage and avoids surprise costs.
Expectations of Project
Next, what are the expectations you have for the job? Do you want to be done with the project, and not have to think about it for several years? Are you planning to stay in your home for another 15-20 years? Are you planning to move soon and want to maintain the value of your property?
All of these are important considerations when determining whether to repair or replace your roof.
How To Select Your Roofing Contractor
Once you get a sense of what direction you may go, it is time to look for a roofing contractor. It is important to get an estimate from multiple contractors and do your homework. The last thing you want is to end up in a worse situation than you are in now. Here are some important things to check in the process.
- Is the contractor licensed, insured, and bonded?
- Do they have references you can check?
- What kind of warranty on workmanship is included?
- Are there any hidden fees, such as disposal costs?
Take your time, do your homework and plan, and you will have a good experience maintaining your roof.
You made a good point that different roofing projects have different price ranges so I have to prepare my budget accordingly. I’m planning to get some roof repairs done before summer is over to make sure that I won’t have any problems during the rainy season. There are quite a lot of leaks that have accumulated through the years since I just chose to ignore them all this time.
It’s valuable that you point out that it’s a good idea to have your roof professionally repaired if it has lost shingles in a storm. A recent storm blew several of my roof’s shingles away, so I’m considering hiring a roofing contractor to make the necessary repairs. I’m going to search for a reputable roofing contractor in my area to use.
I like your post. you really mentioned some nice tips about should you repair or replace your roof. Thanks for sharing this post.
Roof is the most important aspect in the home since it protects you and your family from many things that is why I appreciate this blog because it tackled about the importance about when it’s time to replace or repair your roof. Very informative article.
It’s interesting that you point out that you should have your home’s roof replaced if there is a lot of moss on the shingles. The old roof on my house is covered in moss, so I’m thinking about hiring a roofing company to replace it this year. I’m going to search for a reputable roofing company in the area that offers roof replacement services to hire.
Thanks for explaining how a roof will sustain a lot of damage over time but roofing services are able to fix them up. My wife and I want to move to this beautiful house we found but the roof has some damage done to it. We’ll talk to the realtor about it first but it would be nice to have it fixed up so we can buy it.
Great blog!
All the information that you shared with us about Repair or Replace Your Roof is very usefull and important. Thanks for sharing this
You made a good point when you mentioned that there are some important factors that need to be considered which is to make sure that the contractor is licensed and insured before deciding to hire him. I would like to think if a factory is having some sort of trouble with the roof, they should hire a reliable roofing service that is experienced in handling the issue. It is better to look for a service that is specialized in commercial roofing as they are surely able to fix the problem.
It’s interesting that you mention that you should have your roof replaced if the shingles are bald. The old shingles on my house are almost completely bald, so I’m considering hiring someone to install a new roof for me. I’m going to look for a reputable provider of roof replacement services in my area that I can hire.
Thank you for reminding us that before deciding to repair or replace our roof, it is important to check the condition. My mother said her roof has been leaking. I will ask her to have it inspected before deciding on what to do.
You make absolute sense that it is important for us to have our roof inspected by a professional, as they will be able to share with us if a replacement or a repair is the best option. The other day my sister shared that she is considering having her roof replaced because it is old and she is experiencing some leaks. I will ask her to get in touch with a trained roofing service company to proceed.
Thanks for telling me that observing excessive moss around our roofing shingles might be a sign that we need a new one. We tried cleaning our roof using a pressure washer the other day and unfortunately, it still looks old and damaged. I guess it’s time to let roofers check the state of our roof and see if it needs a replacement.
Thank you for pointing out that it’s important to have your roof repaired quickly if it gets damaged to protect your home from water leaks. My roof received some damage in a storm recently, so I’m considering hiring a roofing company to repair it for me soon. I’m going to search for a good business near me that offers roof repair services to hire.
My cousin has been thinking about replacing his roof from the damage that has been done from storms. He would really like to get a professional to replace the shingles that are falling off. I’ll be sure to tell him about how he can be more susceptible to leaks and reduce future damage on other shingles.
I do love that this post encouraged us to have our roof changed when they are old as it will give us a new roof that is stronger and more durable. My mom has not had her roof changed in the last 20 years. I will encourage her to contact a reliable roofer to have it settled.
Thank you for mentioning that you should have your roof replaced if the shingles have a lot of moss on them. The old roof on my house is very mossy, so I’m thinking about hiring a roofing company to replace it this year. I’m going to look for a reputable roofing company in my area that I can hire.
My sister noticed that her roof has cracks and is also leaking, which is why we’re currently looking for a service that will be able to provide an accurate cost of the repair. Well, thank you for sharing here that replacing before it finally wears out will help my sister save more money. We’ll also keep in mind to check if the singles have olds already.
My mom has been thinking about taking better care of her home by getting the right roof shingles to reduce any damage. She would really like to get some help from a professional to replace it because it is older than 30 years. I liked what you said about how she should look at her shingles for indications of moss, baldness, curling, torn, or missing shingles.
Thanks for the tips on roof replacement. My wife and I are looking for a roofing contractor to install a new roof for us. Our old wood shake shingles are wearing out and we’re looking into synthetic roofing options for our roof replacement. This article is helpful – thanks again
You make a great point about how roofers can help with ice damage. We have an ice damaged building with a hole in the roof. I’ll have to consider getting a roofer to fix the gutters and the broken shingles.
It was mentioned that the age of your roof should be considered when trying to decide to replace your roof. We recently moved into an older home and the roof looks like it may be struggling a bit. It looks like it may be a good idea to contact a professional.
I appreciate the advice to look at the condition of your roof before getting it repaired. I wouldn’t want to have it done if it isn’t necessary. But I’ll just hire a professional to look at it and tell me what I need to do.
I’m glad you talked about how important it is to check your roof’s age, and if it’s too old, you might need a new one. Last week, I visited my mother’s house, and I noticed her roof had some missing shingles. I’m worried about her roof turning into a dangerous liability. That’s why I think it might be time to get a new one. Thanks for your information about how to spot if you need a new roof. I’ll be sure to call a roofing contractor soon.
really informative posts