1. How old is the roof?
Age is the first filter. A 6-year-old shingle roof with a leaking vent boot needs a repair. A 22-year-old shingle roof with the same leak is telling you something bigger. Shingles typically last 15–25 years, so if yours is in that window, money spent on repairs is money you will not get back when you replace it anyway.
Older metal roofs are different. A 40-year-old exposed-fastener roof may only need new screws and washers. A 70–80 year old metal roof, like the one we replaced in Lynn, Indiana, has earned its retirement.
2. How widespread is the damage?
- Repair territory: one leak, a few missing shingles, a failed vent boot or broken vent cap, loose fasteners, a single damaged panel.
- Replacement territory: curling and cracking across whole slopes, heavy granule loss, leaks in several places, soft spots that suggest rotten decking, rust spread across a metal roof.
3. What is under the surface?
The real condition of a roof is often hidden. On our Centerville job, tearing off the shingles exposed a large section of bad decking that would have kept getting worse under a new roof. We never install over rotten or damaged decking, and you should be wary of anyone who will.
4. Repairs add up
A repair costs less today. But if you are calling a roofer every year or two, add up the last few invoices. Frequent repairs on a worn-out roof can approach the cost of the down payment on a new one, with nothing to show for it.
5. Plans for the house
If you are staying for the long haul, replacing with standing seam means you should not have to think about the roof again for decades. If you are selling soon, a sound roof helps the sale, and our warranties transfer once to the new owner.
Get an honest answer
We do repairs as well as replacements, so we do not need to sell you a roof you don’t need. Customers have written that Isaac “found the leak and told me how to fix it.” Call (937) 423-9352 for a free look.