Does Your Roof Need Repaired Or Replaced?

When you discover a leak in your roof you need to act quickly. How do you decide if you should repair your old roof or replace it? This is not always an easy decision.  There are several factors to consider. In the Springfield Mo area asphalt shingles generally have a life span of 10 – 20 years. This is news to some people considering most shingles are rated by the manufacture to be 25, 30, and 50 year shingles. The fact is that in the Springfield Mo area we have a lot of severe weather and it greatly reduces the life span of our roofs. Here are a few things to consider when deciding on a roof replacement or a roof repair.

Roof Storm Damage

If you have wind or hail damage you may need to replace your roof despite the age. Wind damage to your roof could be just a few shingles blown up or it could be a whole section of shingles blown off the roof. The wind may have blown shingles loose that you cannot see. Depending on the severity of damage your insurance company may want to replace the whole roof. Hail damage to you roof is much harder to recognize. It may be years before your roof starts leaking from hail damage. If you think you may have hail damage you need to have a licensed roofing contractor inspect your roof before you call your insurance company.

The Age Of Your Roof

If your roof is less than 10 years old you should consider having it repaired. Generally the shingles on a newer roof are less brittle and easier to repair.  Roofs that were installed more than 12 years ago have reached the average age of an asphalt shingle roof and replacement may be in order. Trying to repair an older roof with crumbling shingles can cause more harm than good.  Express Roofing offers a free roof inspection to advise you on the condition of your roof.

Poor Roof Installation

Here at Express Roofing we repair a lot of leaks that are from poor workmanship. Chimneys, skylights, and walls are a common place for leaks if your roof was not installed by a skilled professional. These are all things that can be repaired and usually do not require replacement. Express Roofing Guarantees all our work so you can have peace of mind.

Other Factors

Your plans – If you plan on staying in your home for a long time you may want to consider replacing your roof sooner than later. You could end up spending a bunch on repairing a roof you will have to replace anyway. On the other hand if you don’t plan on staying in your home long you could probably get away with a  repair.

Your budget will definitely play a big part in your decision. A new roof can cost anywhere from $4,000 to over $30,000. You need to decide is it worth spending $600 to repair a roof that you will have to replace next year for $6,000? If you don’t have the money saved for your roof, consider looking at a home equity loan.

Here at Express Roofing it is our goal to be there for you when making these tough decisions.

Mike