There are times when a damaged roof can be fixed, but in other cases, a full replacement may be the most cost-effective option.
Your roof is an important part of your house because it keeps water, animals, and wind out. This keeps you safe, warm, and dry. To stay alive, you need a place to live, and your roof, walls, and floors must give you that.
Since this is the case, you need to take care of your roof to make sure you and your family can stay safe and comfortable inside your home.
When you notice a problem with your roof, you can fix it in a few different ways. Most of the time, you can get a contractor to fix it. This is usually the least expensive choice, especially if the damage isn’t too bad and the shingles aren’t too old.
In other situations, a whole new roof is needed. This makes the most sense when your shingles are getting close to the end of their useful life or when they are badly damaged.
Either way, there is a lot to think about when making this choice, and you should carefully consider all of your options to find the most convenient and cost-effective option for your home.
Here’s what you need to know to make the right decision about roof repairs and replacements in northern New Jersey.
Should I Fix My Roof or Get a New One?
Most roof problems can’t wait for a few months, because leaks can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. When you notice a problem, the first thing you should do is figure out what the problem is and how to fix it. Usually, this means calling a professional roofer to come take a look.
Whenever possible, it’s better to fix the roof instead of replacing it. The main reason is cost, since putting on new shingles is usually a lot more expensive.
But if the repair will only solve the problem temporarily, buying a new one right away can save you money.
Say, for example, you need a small repair that will cost you about $400. If that fix lasts for years, the money was well spent. But if the fix only lasts for six months and you need a new roof anyway, you’ve basically wasted $400 because you didn’t put it toward a long-term solution.
Getting in touch with a roofing professional is a good idea because they can give you an honest assessment of your roof. The contractor will start by looking for damage and figuring out the best way to fix it. You’ll get all the information you need to make an informed decision.
You will save money right now if you go ahead with the repair. But if you think about the long-term costs, like the damage leaks could do to your attic and home, a replacement might save you not only money but also time and trouble.
Every situation is different, so carefully look at your roofing options to choose the best one for your property.
Other Things to Think About When Getting a Roof
When you look at your roof as a whole, there are many other things to think about.
The first thing you should look at is how often you do maintenance. Do you take care of the roof you already have? Many homeowners think that once their roof is put on, it should last for at least 25 to 30 years no matter what. But you can’t expect that to happen if you don’t take care of it.
The truth is that roofs need to be taken care of so they don’t have problems and last as long as they should. We get a lot of snow and ice in New Jersey in the winter. This weather is hard on roofs and can make your shingles last less long.
With regular maintenance, any small damage will be found and fixed before it can get worse. This will keep your roof in better shape for longer. Having a professional take care of your roof’s maintenance is a great way to find problems and fix them before water starts pouring into the house. As a result, there will be fewer problems with the roof and it will last longer.
Even if you take good care of your roof, you should think about how old it is before making a repair or getting a new one. If your roof is 27 years old and the shingles are supposed to last 30 years, you might want to replace it if problems start to happen.
The reason is that your repairs might not give you much more time anyway. As your shingles get older, they start to show signs of wear and the structure starts to weaken. Sure, a repair at this point could give your roof a couple more years, but is it really worth the money if you’re going to have to replace it soon anyway?
Of course, this is a choice that depends on the situation and how much it will cost to fix. It’s also important to know that some insurance companies won’t cover your roof if it’s over a certain age, even if the repair lasts longer than a few years. Even if the repair seems to have fixed the problem, you might have to replace the old shingles.
The availability of materials is another thing you should think about. Even if you want to fix your roof, that doesn’t mean that the materials will be easy to find. Think about how much has changed since your roof was first installed. Depending on the type of roof you have, the shingles you have now could have been put on in the 1980s or 1990s. Since then, technology has changed a lot, and your contractor may not have the same shingles on hand.
There’s also a good chance that your roofer won’t have the same set of colors because they change often. Or, if things are really bad, it’s possible that the company that makes the shingles is no longer in business.
Even though this doesn’t make the repair impossible, it won’t look as good if you use two different colors or types of shingles. If you want to sell your home or care about how it looks from the street, this could be a time when it would be best to replace the roof completely.
Last, think about your warranty. If your shingles are still covered by a warranty, you’ll probably want to do what that agreement says. In some cases, the manufacturer will pay for the repairs. In other cases, they will only pay for the cost of the new shingles.
There are also labor costs to think about. Even if the repair is covered by a warranty, you may or may not have to pay for them.
Look at your warranty and do some math to figure out what the best short-term and long-term move is for you. Your roofer can also help you figure out what the manufacturer is responsible for and how to deal with the problem.
Costs & Expenses of Fixing a Roof
Obviously, what you do will depend a lot on how much it will cost to fix your roof. If your roof’s warranty has expired and you’re responsible for any repairs that need to be done, think about the costs you’ll have to pay.
The problem is that there are so many things that affect how much it costs to fix a roof that it’s hard to talk about numbers without knowing the details. If your roof is leaking, you may need to fix damage to your underlay, decking, insulation, and rafters.
In the same way, the problem might not be with the shingles but with the flashing or valleys.
There are many different parts to your roof, and they all affect how much it will cost to fix.
But you should know that small roof repairs can cost anywhere from $200 to $1,500, while major repairs could cost you more than $3,000. If you only need to replace a few shingles or the flashing around your chimney, it will be much cheaper than fixing water damage to your decking.
The final cost of your repair could end up being the same as the cost of a full replacement. This is especially true if the repair won’t add more than a few years to the life of your roof.
Why It’s Important to Hire a Professional Roofer
Since there are so many things that could go wrong with your roof, each with different effects and costs, it’s always a good idea to have a professional roofer check it out. These experts will not only figure out exactly what is wrong with your roof, even if you can’t see it, but they can also help you come up with the most cost-effective plan for your home.
The option that costs the least right now isn’t always the best one for your long-term plans. Think about all your options before making a final choice.
In the Bergen County, New Jersey, area, Wayne Roofing & Siding has a team of skilled roofers and builders. We can do everything you need for the outside of your home, including letting you know if a roof repair or replacement is best. Get in touch with us for a free consultation and know that your roof is in good hands.
