New Roof or Repair? How to Make the Right Decision

Your roof can often take a battering in the course of protecting you from the wind, rain and cold. Whether the problem is cracked or missing tiles, damaged flashing or leaking gutters, it’s often perfectly OK to patch up the damage. There comes a point, though, when repairs aren’t going to be enough, and you need a new roof.

So how do you know whether that point has been reached? How do you make the decision — new roof or repair?

What Are the Signs That You Can Repair Your Roof?

It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to make an accurate enough assessment yourself to judge whether your roof needs repair or whether you need a new roof — that will take a professional inspection.

Signs that your roof can be repaired rather than having to be replaced include:

• The damage is localised — for instance, maybe a few tiles are missing, or there are one or two isolated leaks.
• There’s no underlying structural damage, and the roof is fundamentally sound, meaning simple repairs should be enough.
• Your roof is fairly new. How new depends on the materials, but certainly under ten years would count as new, and longer for clay tiles or slates.

What Are the Signs That You Need a New Roof?

The roofing company may, on thorough inspection, conclude that patching your roof up isn’t enough to fix the damage and that you need a new roof. The most common signs they might point out are likely to be:

• There are multiple leaks, which can lead to mould, rot and structural damage.
• For a tile or slate roof, a large proportion of the tiles or slates are cracked, curling or missing.
• The roof is sagging, which suggests there are serious underlying issues.
• The roof is older than twenty years — although a longer-lasting material, such as slate or tile, should still be good for a while more.

Needless to say, the cost of replacing your roof is going to be a good deal higher than the cost of repairing it. The figures will depend on several factors, but for an average roof, replacement is likely to cost around five times as much as major repairs.

It’s important to remember, though, that a deteriorating roof is likely to require regular repairs, and this could ultimately add up to more than the cost of a replacement.

Upgrading the Roofing Materials

Roofing materials are improving all the time, and one factor that might tip the balance in favour of roof replacement is the opportunity to upgrade. This isn’t only for looks or durability, though. Materials like insulated tiles or solar panels can offer significant long-term savings on energy costs.

A perfect compromise, especially for flat roofs, would be to use liquid rubber. This is an efficient, inexpensive system that goes over your existing roofing materials and effectively gives you a new roof with little disruption.

Give Empire a call, and whether you end up needing a new roof or repairs, we’ll give you the best possible service.