Roof Repair VS Replacement: 6 Factors to Consider Before Deciding

The roof of your home is one of the most important, and expensive, parts of it. Of course, when problems arise, you don’t want to have to deal with issues that can cost quite a bit of money. However, it’s crucial.

Luckily, it’s not always necessary to replace a roof and take on debt or massive expenses. Sometimes, you can just repair it. It’s still unexpected, and it’s certainly not optimal, but it’s a lot cheaper than replacing it in a lot of situations.

In this guide, we’re diving straight into the roof repair vs replacement dilemma. Read on and discover 6 ways to determine which solution is the best for your roofing needs.

1: The Lifespan of the Roof VS Its Age

First and foremost, you need to consider its age. The average residential roof is expected to last about 25 years. It can last a lot longer if it is maintained and isn’t subjected to extreme conditions too often. 25 years is just a general average.

If your roof is damaged to the point of requiring professional help, think of the age of the roof first .

If the roof is practically brand new, but a hailstorm punches a hole through it in one spot, it’s easily the better option to just repair it.

However, consider if the roof is 24 years old. Do you want to pay a bunch of cash just to get a few more months of use out of it? You might as well pursue replacement options. That will not only fix the problem, but it will also prevent you from having to deal with roofs at all for quite a while outside of extreme circumstances.

2: Type of Roof

Next, consider the type of roof. If you’re in a residential home, you’ll likely have a shingle roof. However, commercial businesses can have any kind of roof from metal to various polymers.

The reason this is important is that some roofs are easier to repair than others.

For example, with a shingle roof, if a few shingles blow off, it’s a quick and easy job. However, with an EPDM roof, which is common with industrial buildings, it can take a lot of work to properly repair the roof and not leave weak spots.

If you have an easily repairable roof, repairs are usually a good option. If you have a more complex roof that is going to cost as much as a replacement to repair, you might as well get a new roof.

3: How Damaged the Roof is

Obviously, if you wake up after a big storm and a couple of shingles blew off your roof overnight, you don’t need to have it replaced. That’s ridiculous. However, roof damage is rarely that easy to understand. You need to get an in-depth analysis of the extent of the damage .

If the cost of repairs is going to be almost as high as the cost of a roof, you need to get a new roof. It just makes sense.

Also, if the damage is so prevalent that over half the roof needs to be replaced, that’s another reason to just get it replaced. 



There’s simply no point in getting a large portion of it fixed when you can just get it replaced and be done with it.

4: Your Plans for the Future

What are you going to do going forward? That needs to be one of your concerns. Are you planning on staying in the house for the rest of your life, or are you planning to sell it? Replacements can be optimal in either case.

Hear us out.

First, if you plan to sell, you can’t say you have a new roof if you just got it repaired . You don’t. You have an old roof with some nice patches on it. That means you can’t maximize your home value and selling price. If you replace it, you get to use that as leverage, and you get to charge more for the home. Buyers also want to avoid paying for new roofs. So, you can attract buyers that way.

Even if you plan to stay at home, it’s a bonus. If you have gotten plenty of use out of the roof already, a new roof offers you at least 25 more years of service without major worries. For most people, that’s the rest of a lifetime, or it’s a benefit for inheriters.

5: Urgency

This is usually a big deal with commercial buildings . When your roof is damaged, it usually requires you to shut down the business for safety reasons and for the team to work without worry. Do you have a week or more to close down, or will that destroy the business?

In that case, repairing things as you can is usually a better option, because repairs usually only take a day; not weeks.

This can mean the difference between shutting down your business from revenue losses or staying open. Consider that.

However, the home environment is dramatically different . You can usually be in your home while repairs or replacements are made. So, either option might be optimal in that situation. However, you have to consider how much time the company has available. Can you deal with a very leaky roof for weeks waiting for a company to have time to replace it, or will a repair suffice?

6: Efficiency

A big focus of modern society is going “green”. In other words, energy efficiency matters. That’s for two reasons. First, it’s better for the planet. Second, it’s better for your wallet, because you’ll spend less on bills.

So, if you’re using a very outdated roof that has lasted decades, you’re likely dealing with something that isn’t great for your home’s energy efficiency . Technology has simply advanced too much for roofs from 30 or 40 years ago to be effective to modern standards.

In that case, a replacement is your only option. Getting a newer roof seems expensive, but you’ll save money every month on electricity and gas payments. So, it balances out.

Get Your Roofing from the Best in San Diego

Now that you are informed enough and probably made a decision on roof repair vs replacement , it is time to contact the professionals to do the job.

Dana Logsdon Roofing & Solar is a roofing contractor based in San Diego , known for providing real results and caring about its customers.

We provide roof installation , roof repair , solar panel installation , and much more, with a focus on customer satisfaction. Contact us , today.