Roofing Repair vs. Re-roof: What’s Best For You?

Roofing decisions are complicated. If your roof is showing signs of aging, it’s time to consider a re-roofing job or a repair. In some cases, it’s okay to repair a section of the roof that’s problematic while other times it’s best to repair the entire roof. Learn the factors that dictate the decision.

A Roof Repair

There are just a few instances when a repair makes sense. In general, the problem with the roof must be isolated to one area. For example, if just one side of the roof is damaged, you may be able to get away with repairing just the one side. If the roof repairs are minimal, for instance, a patch of shingles is missing in a rather small area, it’s a fairly easy fix.

Re-roofing

Several factors indicate the need to re-roof the area, including:

• The scope of the job. If systemic problems with the roof exist in multiple areas, it makes more sense to go with a re-roofing job. For example, if your roof leaks in multiple areas, you’ll want to fix its entirety and let new shingles do the job.
• The age of the roof. If the roof is very old, you should probably re-roof it, as an aging roof will eventually give way to extensive problems and costly repairs down the road.
• Future repairs. If the roofing contractor finds other weaknesses that will eventually require a repair, consider how much you want to invest in repairing the roof compared to the cost of re-roofing.

In general, experts advise homeowners to go with a new roof altogether when the decking is bad, the roof is in poor condition or if there are too many layers of shingles on the roof. When choosing between a re-roof and a roof replacement, keep in mind that the shingles will last 25 percent less with a re-roof than they will with a full roof replacement.

If you have questions about your roofing, or you’re not sure how to tackle your roof’s problem, contact Findlay Roofing today!

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