As is the case with most things in life, it’s a given that at some point, the roof of your house is going to age, and will need to be replaced. More often than not, it’s a hurricane or a hailstorm that tips the scales and forces your hand. However, not every instance of damage to your roof requires a complete replacement.
Naturally, installing a brand new roof comes at a higher cost than some simple patchwork. But at the same time, you can’t put a price on peace of mind- and your safety. It’s all about engineering a cost-benefit analysis of the situation, and making your “repair or replace” decision on a case by case basis.
It should go without saying that if your roof is damaged beyond a point of repair, the decision has been made for you. But if the damage is mild or moderate, it can be a difficult decision. Here are three important factors that can help you determine which route to go.
The Age of Your Roof
Of course, if you just installed a brand new roof twelve days ago, you’re not going to want to replace it entirely if a strong storm inflicts damage. Nobody likes paying for back-to-back roof installments- particularly if the damage is minimal.
If your roof is more than ten years old, though, it may be worth replacing it. Most roofs last between 15-30 years on average, but as a roof begins approaching that fifteen-year mark, it starts to become more susceptible to damage simply due to its mileage. For example, the same hailstorm that did no damage to a roof in its first year of life could inflict major damage upon an identically styled roof that’s ten years older.
Whether or Not The Storm Created a Leak or Leaks In Your Roof
A roof with a leak is more worrisome than one with just a few missing shingles, simply because no homeowner wants to tack water damage to their list of house repairs. That’s not to say that the slightest leak is grounds for a new roof- a good roof inspection will ultimately result in the leak being fixed with some patchwork.
But on the other hand, if the leak is widespread, or if your roof is leaking in multiple spots, it’s probably best to simply replace the roof. Patchwork is a strong band-aid, but it’s not guaranteed to stop serious water damage in that location from the next strong storm. Ultimately, you may wind up paying even more for multiple roof repairs and water damage than to just get a new roof altogether.
How Long You Plan To Live In The House
If you’ve got dreams of moving to another city, or even to a different sized house, it’s probably not a good idea to replace the roof entirely if the storm merely dislodged a shingle or two. Nobody would suggest showing prospective buyers a house with a roof that’s on its last legs, but assuming the roof hasn’t begun to visibly deteriorate yet, some quick patchwork should suffice.
However, if you just moved into a new house and plan to be there for the long haul, you might want to consider replacing the roof. There’s no such thing as a true “set and forget” option for your roof when you live in the potential path of hurricanes, but a brand new, sturdy roof is the closest you can get to it. Also, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to rebrand your house to your liking, so go and pick out a color scheme and style that you like!
Are you in need of a roof repair or replacement? Contact our team at Southline Roofing right away!
