Here’s a basic fact of life: Because your roof receives the brunt of the abuse from the elements, it will wear out eventually. High-quality materials, professional installation, and a roofing style suited to your area’s general climate increase the odds of your roof lasting longer, but problems will still arise sooner or later.
The trick to roof maintenance is to catch these problems early on so you can have a fair chance of reversing the damage through roof repairs. In fact, you might never have to do a reroof in your lifetime if you’re religious about proactive roof maintenance.
When to Repair
Roof repairs make sense when your roof is generally in good condition. For instance, you spot a major leak, but upon inspection, your roofer finds that the problem is isolated to a small part of your roof. That kind of problem can be dealt with with roof repairs.
There is, of course, a time and place for roof replacement, but if you haven’t fully maximized your roof’s service life and there is no question of massive damage, choose repairs over replacement and make the most of your existing roof. And then there’s the budget issue. If you can’t afford a replacement right now, you can do repairs to buy time to save up for a new roof.
Keep in mind, however, that repairing a roof that’s really due for a replacement will only delay the inevitable. It’s a short-term solution that’s only meant to tide you over until you can afford a reroof.
The Cost of Roof Repair
How much you’ll spend on roof repairs will depend on how much work will need to be done. For simpler repairs like resealing flashing, you can expect to shell out as little as $10. For more extensive repairs that require the removal and replacement of roof material—like fixing a leak in a valley—you may have to spend up to $1,000 on labor and materials.
Still, roof repairs, no matter how intensive, are still considerably cheaper than roof replacement. A reroof can easily cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the kind of roof you’re getting and on how big your home is.
Need to get your roof fixed? Stay tuned for Part 2 of Roof Repair Rudimentaries to learn about some common roofing problems and how to solve them.
