When your home is involved, you want to ensure that you make the right decisions to lessen the home improvement costs in the long run. This applies to all sorts of improvement projects, especially the bigger ones such as a reroof. The roof is a very important part of your home as it keeps you and your entire household protected from harsh climatic conditions and other elements. Without a good and dependable roof, your home is simply not livable.
However, due to its role, your roof is bound to wear out at some point which means that you’ll need to decide between patching and reroofing. Patching your roof basically involves making some minor repairs to the damaged, or leaking section of the roof. On the other hand, reroofing is a form or roof repair that involves layering a new set of shingles over existing ones in order to fix certain damage. Reroofing is ideally designed to increase the lifespan of your roof without going through the trouble of replacing everything.
Here is a complete guide that will help you decide on whether to patch your roof or move forward with a reroof.
Factors to Consider Before Patching or Reroofing
The extent of the damage
Before deciding on whether to patch your roof or move ahead with a reroof, you need to consider the extent of the damage. If the damage is small and confined to a small area, like a case of missing shingles due to bad weather, patching your roof is the best option. However, when it comes to bigger damages such as curling shingles, it’s best to move forward with a reroof.
You can also tell that your roof has suffered bigger damage if it is sagging or has a buildup of tile granules. Such issues might indicate a structural flow with your roof. Therefore, it’s best to contact a roofing company immediately. This is because you need a reroof as soon as possible.
Location of the damage
If the damage is smaller and in a less noticeable area, patching your roof should get the job done for you. On the other hand, if the damage is bigger and in a noticeable place, it might be best to opt for a reroof. This is because the damage might spread across a bigger area before you know it and leave you with a roof replacement situation on your hands.
If you’re looking to sell your home in the near future, you need to understand that first impressions matter a lot. Thus if the patch is noticeable, it could make your home aesthetically unappealing to potential buyers. In such a case, a reroof will work better in fixing the damage and maintaining the roof’s aesthetics.
The age of the roof
Like many things in life, a roof inst meant to last forever. In general, different types of roofs are meant to last between 20-30 years with proper maintenance. However, you need to understand that several factors can affect the lifespan of your roof, depending on the material it’s made from. If your roof is not nearing its life expectancy, then it’s advisable to get patching work.
On the other hand, if your roof is nearing its average life expectancy, it’s best to move forward with a reroof. Opting for patching work in such a scenario means that you’ll end wasting money on repairs to a roof that will need a replacement in the near future anyway.
How long do you intend to stay?
Are you planning on staying in that home for the long haul, or you’re simply counting days until you move out? If you plan on staying for many years and the roof is not in the best shape, it’s best to consider a reroof. Additionally, if you plan to stay longer and the roof is in great shape, getting a patchwork is economical.
On the other hand, if you’re planning on selling the property in the near future and the roof has significant damage, you might need to opt for a reroof to improve the resell value.
Time constraints
Another factor that will help you make an informed decision between patching your roof and moving forward with a reroof is the time constraints you’re under. If you’re under any time constraints, you can always go with either option.
However, if you need a leaking roof fixed in the shortest time possible, it might be best to contact a roofing company and get a patchwork in the shortest time possible. However, if you’re not in any rush to get your roof fixed, it’s best to schedule a reroof at your convenient time.
Need to preserve the roof color
As a homeowner, you need to understand that patching your roof will come with new shingles that might not exactly match the existing ones due to weathering, among other factors. Therefore, if want to preserve your roof’s color and don’t want any mismatched shingles, it might be best to get a complete reroof.
Your budget
Before deciding whether to patch your roof or move forward with a reroof, you should consider your budget. There is no denying that getting a reroof for your home is quite a big investment. Therefore, if the budget is tight at the moment, it’s best to go for a roof repair as you save money for a reroof. On the other hand, if your roof has suffered significant damage and you have the money for it, it’s best to get a full re-roof.
Pros and Cons of Roof Patch
Pros
- Patching your roof saves you a lot of money compared to getting a reroof or even a roof replacement. Therefore, if the damages on your roof are not big or serious, patching your roof is the most economical decision you can make.
- It helps prevent moisture damage that could happen if your roof is leaking on one side.
- Getting a patchwork for your roof is a simple job that a roofing company can complete in a few minutes or hours. Therefore patching your roof reduces the time your home is under construction, thus lessening the inconveniences.
- It helps eliminate any immediate threats to your roof before they become bigger and costly problems.
- It can be done as part of your routine regular maintenance.
Cons
- Patching your roof simply hides/masks all the major underlying problems that your roof might have. In the end, conducting a patchwork on your roof gives you the idea that your roof is fixed and in good condition when it’s actually not.
- If a roof patch is not done properly, it can extend the damage on your roof and eventually lead to bigger and more costly problems. This is why it’s best to hire a reputable roofing company to get the job done for you.
- If your roof is severely damaged, patching it is a complete waste of time and resources.
Pros and Cons of Reroofing
Pros
- Just because your roof is old doesn’t mean that it is in bad condition. Moving forward with a reroof can be a great way of breathing new life into your roof, and you can put off any roof replacement plans for a while.
- Reroofing goes a great hob in plugging up existing holes or gaps on your existing shingles to stop any water leakage from occurring. This will help you prevent any damages to the timbers underneath your roof, thus stopping any damp from spreading across the roof.
- Opting to reroof rather than getting a full roof replacement will save you a lot of money since the roofing materials and labor required for the work will be immensely reduced.
- Reroofing doesn’t involve getting rid of your entire roof, making it the fastest and most convenient way to restore your roof into the best condition possible.
Cons
- If you already have two layers of shingles on your roof, you’re prohibited to add a third one in many areas.
- Reroofing might not be as durable as getting a full roof replacement.
- If you have metal roofing, reroofing is never a great option.
- Since you’re not lifting the existing shingles, there is no certain way of telling whether there is existing damage underneath your roof, such as sagging or rot. This means that adding a new layer of shingles won’t necessarily fix such issues but will simply hide them.
- If your roof is damaged on one side and you get a partial reroof, it will make your roof appear uneven, which will affect your home’s appeal.
Summing Up
Are you looking for a reliable roofing company in Tulsa, OK? Contact us today at Billings Roofing & Solar and let us take care of all your commercial and residential roofing needs.
