You may be wondering what the difference is between roofing replacement and roof repair. Roofs differ in many ways but they all have one thing in common: they need to be repaired or replaced every so often. The roof on your house has a lifespan of 20-30 years and replacing it can cost $25-50,000 depending on the size of your home. For this reason, it’s important to know when you should repair vs replace your roofing material. The roof repair cost by roof repair companies must be considered.
In this blog post, we will discuss some things that distinguish roofing repair from roofing replacement and help you determine which option is best for your Bronx Roofing!
What is Roofing Replacement?
The old shingles felt paper and moisture barrier are removed with new materials. Repairing or rebuilding the deck and any other damage discovered when removing the old roof may be required. Like replacing your asphalt shingles, leaking roof, sagging roof, flat roofs, and other minor roof repairs.
How is Roof Repair Different from Roof Replacement?
Roof repairs are limited to the roof’s damaged regions. Therefore, the best roof repair may appear to be an intelligent alternative if the damage isn’t extensive. However, even though the damaged area is small, it may be necessary to replace the entire roof.
There are two additional repair alternatives that you may have heard about. First, when roof damage affects more than one or two regions, partial replacement and re-roofing are occasionally given as cost-effective options.
When the damage to the roof is more substantial, partial replacement is often used, but just on one or two parts of the top. Partially replacing shingles entails removing all of the old shingles from a portion or side. Then, a new roof is built and blended with the old top at the peaks and valleys. The color of new shingles rarely matches the color of previous shingles. The primary goal is to avoid the patchwork effect when only a few damaged or missing shingles are repaired.
Simply speaking, re-roofing entails laying a new layer of shingles on top of the old. It might be called a repair because it does not replace the original shingles. Each of these options for dealing with roof damage has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. First, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of repairing and replacing your roof.
Pros of Repairing Your Roof
Some homeowners make the mistake of deferring roof repairs until there is enough damage to justify hiring a roofer. However, the optimum time to address roof damage is as soon as you notice it. Delays can result in more severe issues. For example, water can get behind the flashing or beneath the shingles. The wind might lift even more shingles if there are missing or broken shingles.
If left untreated, leaks into the attic or the house’s interior can cause thousands of dollars in damage. After you’ve discovered any damage to your roof, determining whether to repair or replace it depends on various factors. (These are the eight elements to consider.) However, while weighing the benefits and drawbacks of fixing your roof, there are four areas to consider: the cost, the time needed, the functionality, and the aesthetics affordable roof repair is better to have a roof replacement.
- If the damage is modest or limited to a small area, it may be less expensive to repair than replace your roof.
- Repairing your roof takes less time than having it replaced. This could be critical if the top is exposed and predicted inclement weather.
- Functionality – While a repair won’t make your roof last any longer than it did before, it may help it reach its total life expectancy. Repairing damage as soon as possible helps avoid the need for more extensive repairs down the road.
- Roof damage can expose a roof to the elements and detract from the overall aesthetic. Repairing the roof restores the street appearance and protects the roof from the weather.
Cons of Repairing Your Roof
Instead of replacing your roof, it can be more costly per square foot. In addition, you miss out on bulk pricing for materials because it’s usually a limited area, and the labor is usually the same.
A partial roof replacement (replacing a single section or side) could cost almost as much as a complete roof replacement.
- Time – Although repairs can frequently be completed quickly, keep in mind that they are temporary. Because of its age and quality, the original roof is still limited.
- Lifespan – Roof repairs may fail to address underlying problems. Without removing the existing roof, the repair can sometimes only address what is accessible.
- Other underlying issues, such as water damage, may go unnoticed. The deck and structure can be examined when the roof is replaced.
- Aesthetics – Replacing shingles that are missing or damaged will rarely match perfectly. Shingles lose some of their granules as they age, and their color may fade. So you’re unlikely to find a precise match even if you have leftover shingles from the original installation.
Pros of Partial Replacement
- Cost – A partial roof replacement is only a few dollars per square foot, more expensive than a complete roof replacement.
- Time – Because partial roof repair focuses on a smaller region, it takes less time to accomplish.
- It will behave like a new roof because it is essentially a new roof with a new felt or moisture barrier and shingles.
- Aesthetics – Replacing a few missing shingles rather than the whole side or portion will make the new shingles stand out more. In addition, the new shingles go up to a ridge or valley, minimizing color and age disparities between the old and new shingles.
Cons of Partial Replacement
- The expense of removing and disposing of the old roof material might be as high as the cost of a complete roof replacement. However, even for a tiny portion of the roof, the base costs of setting up the operation, bringing a crew on site, renting dumpsters for removal, and so on don’t vary significantly.
- Time – It takes about 1–2 days to replace a roof on average. Partially replacing the roof may save you time, but it will not extend the life of the older components.
- Functionality – The new portion should last for the same time as a new roof. But keep in mind that it won’t help your roof last much longer. Let’s say the existing roof has a 10-year warranty left and the new part has a 20-year warranty. When the roof as a whole needs to be replaced in ten years, you’ll have to remove that unused portion as well, losing those extra ten years.
- Aesthetics – Connecting the margins of the new section to a ridge or valley hides the contrast between old and new, but it can also make the peak or valley appear bulky or uneven.
Pros of Re-roofing Your Roof
Because it does not replace the original shingles, re-roofing is considered a repair. It just adds another layer of shingles on top of the existing one. It may provide some quick relief for a roof that has begun to deteriorate, but it comes with several significant disadvantages.
From a cost-per-square-foot standpoint, re-roofing is the most cost-effective approach to repair your roof. The savings can be significant because there is no labor involved in removing the roof. You’ll also save money because the old roof’s debris won’t have to be hauled away.
- Re-roofing is the quickest option to replace your entire roof with new shingles.
- Functionality – A new layer of shingles provides an immediate layer of protection over an older layer that has begun to disintegrate.
- Aesthetics – If your old roof was soiled, damaged, or worn out, re-roofing will give it a new lease on life.
Cons of Re-roofing Your Roof
- Cost – Most building rules only allow for two levels of roofing to be installed. Therefore, when it comes time to replace the roof completely, the expense of removing two layers may outweigh any savings you realized when you chose to re-roof.
- Time – Replacing a roof takes only 1–2 days on average, but it does not extend the roof’s life. Re-roofing may reduce the lifespan of your roof by years.
- Shingles installed on top of old shingles have a shorter life expectancy. However, when they’re fastened to a smooth surface, they’re the most effective. If you lay new shingles on top of old shingles, certain shingle manufacturers will void your warranty or even nullify it entirely. Another disadvantage of re-roofing is that it does not address any of the initial roof layer’s hidden problems.
- Aesthetics – If you’ve ever seen a lumpy or uneven roof, you may need re-roofing work. This is because the second layer of shingles will ultimately adhere to the roof’s curve beneath them, curling up at the edges. If the first layer was a higher-quality roof, this could be even more of an issue. Architectural shingles, for example, are more dimensional than 3-tab shingles. Over the more curved look of architectural shingles, a second layer of shingles may have trouble laying flat.
Wind and water may be blown up under the new layer due to this.
Which Is Right for You?
Repairs may appear to be a reasonable, short-term remedy from a budgetary standpoint, whereas roof replacement may occur to be unnecessary (especially if you only have a small leak). However, keep in mind that repairing your roof may not be enough to remedy your problem. A leak signals that your roof is collapsing. If this is the case, a roof replacement may be more cost-effective in the long term.
Furthermore, today’s roofing materials are superior to those of the past. Although your roof is only ten years old, newer roofs are more durable, energy-efficient, and resistant to damage than older roofs. If you’re thinking about replacing or repairing your roof, take a step back and consider the larger picture. Don’t count on a simple repair to address the issue. Instead, a replacement may be the most cost-effective option in the long run.
If you’re thinking about replacing or repairing your roof, make sure you consider the big picture. Don’t count on a fix to address the issue. Instead, a replacement may be your best option in the long term.
