As sturdy as your roof may be, it does sustain a lot of damage from severe weather, falling tree branches, and regular wear-and-tear. This damage will need to be repaired, but there may come a time when it is easier to simply replace your roof. Here are a few things to consider when you have to decide to make repairs or simply replace your roof altogether.
Easy Repairs
Repairing a roof is usually the best course of action if the necessary repairs are minor. This is usually the case if you only need to replace shingles that have been damaged by severe weather or a falling tree limb. Damaged shingles are easy enough to remove and replace, so there’s no need to install a whole new roof if this is your only real problem. On the other hand, if you have frequent leaks or you see any sagging in your roof, any repairs might be more costly in the long run. In these cases, it’s best just to have your roof replaced instead.
The Age of the Roof
A roof should last anywhere from 30 to 50 years before it needs to be replaced, but some roofs have had to be replaced after only 20 years. If you have an older roof that is at least 20 years old, you might want to consider a replacement, especially if you’ve had to make frequent repairs in recent years.
Raising the Value of Your Home
Replacing your roof might also be a good idea if you’re planning to sell your home. While you can get away with simply making minor repairs to a roof before putting your house on the market, a whole new roof that won’t need any significant work for a few decades will be a lot more attractive to potential buyers. Keep in mind that a new roof usually costs between $5,000 and $10,000. That’s certainly not a bad thing if you’re trying to raise the value of your home, but you want to be careful about making your house harder to sell when it goes on the market.
It is ultimately up to you to determine whether you should repair or replace your home’s roof, but the biggest consideration will most likely be the final price tag. It will likely cost you a couple thousand dollars to repair a roof versus $10,000 for a replacement, but that replacement could be worth it if it cuts down on the number of future repairs.