Your roof protects your home against the elements, but it won’t last forever. If you have leaking ceilings or mold and mildew growing on your walls, your roof is likely allowing water to find its way into your home. If the problem is being caused by a few missing shingles, a simple repair may be all that’s needed. If your roof is old and deteriorated, replacement could be the best option. Here are some factors to consider when you decide whether to repair or replace your roof.
The Age of Your Roof
Most roofs last for between 10 and 15 years. If your roof is reaching the end of its life span, repairing a damaged section may not be wise. Further repairs will almost certainly be needed in the future, so it could make more financial sense to replace rather than repair an older roof. It can also be difficult to color-match shingles to a roof that has been exposed to the sun’s UV rays for many years.
The Extent of the Damage
It will take a trained and experienced professional to determine how badly your roof has been damaged. If you inspect your roof regularly and call an expert as soon as you notice missing shingles, the damage is likely to be limited and the repair straightforward. If water has penetrated your roof’s moisture barrier, important components like the decking and rafters may have been compromised. In these situations, repairing a damaged roof section can cost almost as much as replacing an entire roof.
Your Roof’s Insulating Properties
If you are torn between repairing and replacing your roof, other factors could help you to decide. Roofing technology has improved in recent years, and roofs built today are far more energy efficient than older roofs. Replacing your roof will probably cost more than repairing it, but you could get some of that money back in energy savings. An experienced roofing contractor will be able to determine how old your roof is, and they could use this information to estimate how much lower your utility bills would be if you replaced it.
Your Home’s Appearance
A new roof can transform a home’s appearance. Home improvements are made for aesthetic as well as practical reasons, so replacing a roof that could be repaired might make sense if you want to improve the way your home looks. Roofing shingles are available in a wide variety of styles and colors, so you will have a wealth of options to choose from.
Experience and Craftsmanship at Affordable Prices
If your roof is starting to show its age, our friendly professionals should be your first call. Guy Brothers Roofing has been serving Mobile, AL residents for more than 30 years, and we can help you to decide whether a roof replacement makes sense. Roof damage gets progressively worse over time, so call us for a free estimate today.
