Introduction
An old roof can cause a lot of unease for a homeowner, and for good reason! A roof is the only thing that stands between you and the elements. It is one of the most important aspects of your home, and it protects everything inside it. It is imperative to make sure your roof is viable and secure enough to protect your family from whatever mother nature will throw at it.
When your roof does get older and starts to cause you issues, it is important to consider your options. You could either repair the roof or replace it with a new one. At first glance, repairing a roof may seem like the logical choice, as it is cheaper and avoids having to replace the whole roof. But if you look closer, you’ll see that there are hidden dangers with repairing your roof piece by piece, and in a lot of cases, the better value is a full replacement. Let’s explore why just repairing your old roof may not be the best idea.
Repairs Are Temporary
When you repair an old roof, you are merely paying for a temporary solution to a larger problem. Think of it as putting duct-tape on a leaking pipe. Yes, it’ll stop the leak, but it didn’t fix the pipe. The pipe is still just as old, and just as prone to producing more leaks, which will mean more duct-tape, until you have no choice but replace it anyway. Your roof is the same, just on a larger, more serious scale. Repairing an old roof is cheaper in the moment, but you are merely buying time. A roof replacement may be more expensive up front, but in the end, it is worth it. Especially if the company replacing your roof offers roofing warranties. At American Design and Build, we offer LIFETIME warranties on the roofs we replace. This means you won’t have to think about your roof again or wonder if it will make it through another season. Don’t rely on temporary repairs for keeping your loved ones safe and dry, trust a more permanent solution and replace that old worn roof!
Can Cause Future Leaks
An old roof is just that, old and warn. There is a reason that old roof is struggling; it has been fending off the elements for decades! When you repair an existing old roof, there are always going to be seams in the repair. This can allow an entry point for water if the repair is not done exactly right. Furthermore, the roof may leak in other spots. If your old roof started leaking in one spot, chances are it will start leaking in another spot 3-6 months later, if not sooner. Get rid of the reoccurring headache and replace that old roof! When a roof is replaced all aspects of the roof offer similar protection at all points. However, when a roof is repaired, different parts of the roof have differing wear patterns. This may not be an issue for a while, but eventually the repair will be the strong point in the roof and the rest of the roof will need attention.
Better Products on The Market Today
As with anything, time brings innovations and better products. The same is true in the roofing industry. Shingles, sheathing, flashings, and other products today are not the same as they were 15-20 years ago. Roofing products today offer better protection and are meant to last longer! Give your roof a makeover with better roofing products. If your roof needs a repair, examine the shingles around it and access the overall condition of the rest of your roof. If the rest of the roof is in rough shape, it may be time to seriously consider a roof replacement. Repairing an aging roof is like repairing a worthless car, it doesn’t make sense!
Only Kicking the Can Down the Road
We have already hinted at this point, but it is worth restating. You are only delaying the inevitable with opting for roof repairs rather than a full replacement. With repairs you will eventually need to replace the whole roof anyway, so in a lot of cases a roof replacement makes the most sense.
No Successive Repairs
A roof replacement also will guarantee that you will not have to pay for successive repairs of an aging roof. Some homeowners play whack-a-mole with their roofs, patching the leaking spots until their whole roof is just a hodgepodge of patches! New roofs today come with great warranties, and even though there may be a high upfront cost for replacement, you as the customer will get a better long-term value!
Better Value
Value is an important aspect to highlight, as many homeowners today are concerned about increasing costs and inflation. While repairing your roof may be the cheaper option, it only provides value for as long as the repair holds. However, with a full roof replacement, you will know that your home is fully protected, and when you get your roof replaced by American Design and Build, your roof is a guaranteed for life. Roof replacements offer more value to a homeowner with an older roof than a repair would provide.
Peace of Mind
Perhaps one of the most overlooked benefits of replacing your roof is the peace of mind it brings. Any homeowner will know how stressful it is to worry about the security and safety of their home. For some, that is all they can think about, especially during inclement weather. Take one less worry off the table by replacing your old roof and keeping your home safe and dry. After all, shelter is one of the basic needs to survive!
Extreme Weather Can Undo Repairs
Depending on who is used to make the repair, inclement weather can turn the repair into a problem area again! Strong wind and rain can un-do what was done to help the aging roof stop leaking. Old roofs and extreme weather are like oil and water, they don’t mix. If your old roof was damaged in a storm, it might be tempting to just add another patch to the roof, but a full replacement will save you down the road. A full roof replacement is the only sure way to ensure there are no weak points in the roofing system.
Is There a Situation Where a Roof Repair Is Warranted?
That’s a good question, and the answer is yes. Say you have a newer roof (less than 5 years old) and a tree branch falls and hits a small section of your roof. Should you replace the whole roof for a spot that is not even 5% of the total roof? Probably not in cases like this, where the roof overall is in good condition except for a small blemish. However, in the same scenario one might opt for a full replacement if the roof overall is in poor shape. Give American Design and Build a call for an honest, expert opinion about your roof. Estimates are always FREE.
Conclusion
Hopefully by now it is clear that roof repair isn’t always the best option for homeowners with older roofs. Homeowners can really set themselves up for disaster by trying to save a dying roof. Replacing the old roof is almost always a better route to take, as it will save you time and money in the future. If you or someone you know is having roofing issues, give American Design and Build a call! Our roofing experts will honestly access your roof at no cost to you! What are you waiting for? Call or click today and experience the American Design and Build difference.
