Repair or replace
When a repair stops making sense
A rule of thumb: if repairs would cost half or more of a replacement, the report says so. These signs point the same way.
The deck is wet in many places
A single wet spot is a repair. A wet roof is a replacement.
The shingles are at the end of their life
Curling, bare patches and granules in the gutters, all over the roof.
The same spot has been patched before
Repeated patches at one joint usually mean the joint, not the patch, is the problem.
The repair would disturb more than it saves
On brittle shingles, a small fix can crack the ones around it.
Side by side
What the report weighs
| Replace | Repair | |
|---|---|---|
| How much of the roof is the problem | ReplaceWet or worn across the roof | RepairOne opening or one section |
| The deck underneath | ReplaceWet or soft in several places | RepairDry except near the opening |
| The shingles around it | ReplaceBrittle, curling or bare | RepairFlexible, still sealed down |
| What you decide | ReplaceAsk for a replacement estimate | RepairApprove the repair estimate |
If it is time
We write the replacement estimate the same way
A replacement estimate lists tear-off, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and cleanup line by line, with the price of any extra decking written in. Ask for one with your report and compare it with other roofers' numbers.
Written options, repair and replace, in the same report
Nothing to sign on the day of the visit
Your report can go to any other roofer
Not sure which one you need?
Start with a diagnosis. The report says which one it is.