Roof repair and roof replacement are two different things. A roof repair is when the shingles on your roof need to be replaced, or you need other minor repairs like fixing a leaky chimney, repairing loose tiles, or replacing gutters. A roof replacement is when your entire roof needs to be replaced because it’s beyond repair. Some signs that your home may need a new roof include missing shingles, broken flashing around the chimney, visible damage caused by heavy winds, hail, hurricanes, snow loads, and leaking roofs. The difference between needing a roof repair and a roof replacement is discussed below.
Repairing vs Replacing Your Roof
The damaged area is usually small when you only need roof repair and affects just one or two shingles. You can complete these types of repairs in an hour. A roof replacement may take several days because it’s much larger than any other type of home renovation. Additional materials are needed because older roofs don’t meet current building codes. Roof replacements may also take several days to complete, but sometimes homeowners need to be displaced for months or even years because of other repairs.
Advantages of Repairing Your Roof
If you need roof repair, your home will stay protected during the job. Usually, the only thing affected by roof repairs is aesthetics. The materials used to repair shingles are usually lighter than those needed for a roof replacement, so the weight on the roof isn’t much different. For this reason, homeowners who have busy lives or are taking care of a family member on a fixed income may not need to hire a professional company. Also, if you have a busy schedule or your roof is located in an area hard to reach, the repair process won’t be as time-consuming. Additionally, if you’re planning on selling your home soon and don’t want to deal with repairs for a few more months, a roof repair will buy you some time.
Advantages of Replacing Your Roof
The main advantage of getting a roof replacement for residential roofing is that the new roof will last a long time. New roofs better meet current building codes in terms of insulation and energy efficiency, which in return reduces your utility bills. There are also newer shingle designs that last longer and won’t need to be replaced for a long time. Many homeowners who have a roof replacement done see a return on their investment when they sell their homes, as replacing the roof can raise the property value.
There are many advantages and disadvantages to choosing whether or not to repair or replace your roof. It’s important when making these decisions to determine just how extensive the damage is on your roof and whether or not a few shingle replacements or a simple quick fix is enough. Either option fixes your roof and better protects your home, however there are some forms of damage that aren’t easy to simply repair and you may have to bite the bullet and replace the entire roof.
