Your home’s roof is key to protecting it from the elements. If damaged, it could result in water, pests, or other risks to the roof and your home below. Therefore, it’s critical to have your roof inspected and maintained regularly. Here is some information regarding whether an existing issue can be repaired or your roof needs replacement.
Damage Is Localized
Generally speaking, you can first look to repair any damage limited to a particular roof area. For instance, if it is missing just a few shingles, you can probably replace them and move on. This is because the risk of water or pest damage spreading to other parts of the structure is limited.
Damage Is Widespread
If an old roof is missing large portions of shingles, most of the structure is vulnerable to moisture and other damage. There is nothing to protect the decking or underlayment below. Furthermore, repairing widespread issues may take almost as much time and money as a complete replacement.
Storm Damage
Storms may brush branches across roofs, knocking shingles off. They may also cause larger structural holes in roofs. In both cases, you should start with an inspection of the damage by a professional roofing company. This will give you the documentation you need to work with your insurance company. The roofers will discuss the extent of the damage and the amount of work and cost that are associated with each approach.
Newer Roof
If your asphalt shingle roof is less than 20 years old, it may be best to repair it, assuming the damage isn’t widespread. This is because many shingles are designed to last 20, 30 or even 50 years.
Your insurance company is more likely to approve a claim if you can show that your negligence didn’t cause the damage and that it will preserve the roof for the long term. Typically, the amount you receive is prorated based on the age of the structure. For instance, you may be paid in full for covered repairs to a newly installed roof, while you might receive pennies on the dollar to repair a structure installed a few decades ago.
Aging Roof
If your roof is nearing the end of its useful life, it’s generally in your best interest to consider replacing it after it has been damaged. There are several potential benefits to putting on a new roof, including a new warranty. Your new roof is less likely to leak or experience other severe damage for several years after it is installed. This can give you peace of mind that your property is protected from the elements.
A warranty protects you from paying for damage related to an improper installation or defective materials. You might also receive a guarantee that shingles won’t blow off up to a certain wind speed. Ultimately, if the roof needs to be repaired, there’s a good chance that you won’t be stuck paying for all or any of the bills.
Multiple Layers of Shingles
If your roof already has more than one layer of shingles, experts say not to leave the shingles in place and put another layer on top. This is partially because of the additional weight that your roof must bear. Also, tracing leaks through several layers of different materials is much more difficult. It’s a lot easier for damage to spread unchecked.
Long-Term Home
If the other factors are still a wash regarding repair versus replacement, the next thing to consider is the amount of time you plan to live in the home. You may want to consider replacing a damaged roof if you plan to stay in your house for decades. This is because the investment you make today can help you reduce maintenance costs for years or decades.
Alterations
If you want to change the material that your roof is made from, it means a replacement. Keep in mind that this may not just be a matter of switching from one material to another if you are going from composite shingles to metal or tile. It may also be necessary to alter the pitch or add additional reinforcement beams to ensure that your home can handle the heavier materials.
If you are adding a section onto your home that will add to the footprint of your roof, it is often most useful to replace the whole roof. This keeps you from having different ages and conditions of materials. Also, you won’t need to worry about whether to do future roof replacements in sections due to different ages.
Saving and Budgeting
You may have noticed some of the shingles on your roof are damaged or evidence of a roof leak. However, you might not have the necessary money to replace your roof. Opting to repair whatever you can now buys you enough time to find the funds to put a new roof on your house.
The cost factors to keep in mind include the price of a new roof, the monthly payments you would need if financing and the repair cost of damage to the subroofing. Since prices tend to rise year over year, it’s often less expensive to get a new roof sooner rather than later. However, if you are planning to finance, you may benefit from extra time to save for a down payment or increase your credit score to get a lower interest rate. If you are nearing the end of a loan, like a car payment, you may also wish to wait to take on an additional monthly payment.
Even if you can afford a new roof, it might be best to postpone the replacement project. If you notice issues in the winter, holding off on a new roof until the spring may make it easier to have the job done right. This is because the weather will be more amenable to installing something on the outside of your house. If you schedule service early enough, you may have a shorter lead time in the spring than in other parts of the year.
Roof Inspections
One of the easiest ways to determine if your roof should be repaired or replaced is to have it inspected by a team member. We will carefully walk on the roof to look for signs of hail, lightning or other damage you might not be able to spot on your own. We can also look in the attic, interior rooms, or other spaces for clues about a leak or other damage that you might not know how to look for. Ideally, you’ll have an inspection done at least once a year for best results, either in the spring or the fall months.
At Red Bird Roofing, we can help with insurance claims and perform emergency and storm damage service to ensure your home remains in quality condition throughout the year. If you need roof repair or roof replacement services, don’t hesitate to contact the folks at Red Bird Roofing in Indianapolis today.
