- James Gasson
After a Windstorm: Repair or Replace My Roof?
After a major windstorm has blown through and you’ve found shingles laying in your yard. Your first thought is probably is that you need to patch or repair your roof. How do you know when to repair or replace your roof?
What to consider when deciding to repair or replace your roof
How old is your roof?
For asphalt shingles , there are many variables to consider when deciding to repair or replace your roof. The age of your roof is one of them. If you are unsure of how old your roof is, Georgia Roof Advisors can tell you and we can even tell you how much life you have left on it.
Here are some of the signs of an old roof:
Shingles are curling or buckling
Shingles are missing (i.e. they have blown off the roof.)
Roof is sagging
Moss and algae covering your roof
Blistering shingles
Granules in the gutter
Other factors to take in consideration:
Signs of moisture or water damage – if your roof is only five years old and it is leaking? The problem is more likely related to the quality of installation or defect in the materials than normal wear and tear.
Materials – For example, an historic home with slate roof might have few more decades of life ahead of it, whereas a metal roof in its sixth decade is well past its prime. The latest generation of premium asphalt shingles are now made to last up to 50 years with proper maintenance.
How long do you plan on staying in your home?
If you are not in your forever home but plan on being there for a while, it may or may not make sense to replace your roof. However, when the time comes to sell your home, you may find it hard to sell depending on the life and condition of your roof.
If this is your forever home and your roof has already had several repairs, or it is anywhere between 15 and 20 years old, have Georgia Roof Advisors inspect it. (Our roof inspection is free!). Our roof inspection will identify anything that needs attention. If everything looks good, we’ll make a recommendation that you get a roof maintenance plan to ensure you get the full life out of your roof.
If it is your plan to sell your home sometime in the near future and your roof is showing signs of damage, you are going to have a hard time selling your home. If that is the case, then installing a new roof may be your best option. Once you put your home on the market, the curb appeal of the new roof will help sell your house. Upon selling your home, you will get a return of 67% of the replacement cost on asphalt roofing . (if you decide on a metal roof , your return is 61% of the replacement cost)
As a GAF Master Elite Contractor, when we replace your roof, our 50-year roofing warranty and our 25-year workmanship warranty is transferable to the new homeowner during the sale. What a great selling point!
When is it ok to replace shingles?
In some cases, replacing a few shingles is all you need to restore beauty and function to your roof. Asphalt shingles are designed to last for decades, and today’s modern roofing designs are engineered to last for as long as you own your home.
Before you decide to replace shingles , however, it’s important to have a professional like Georgia Roof Advisors inspect your roof to determine if any of the underlayment or decking is damaged. There’s a big difference between a few missing shingles lost during heavy winds and a leak that extends through the various layers of your roof. If the damage is extensive, it’s usually a better idea to replace the entire roof.
Keep in mind that shingles are exposed to hail, rain and heat. Even if you have a spare box of shingles left over from when your roof was installed, you might have a hard time matching the “new” shingles to the ones on your roof. Depending on the location and the size of the area in need of replacement, it might be difficult to blend replacement shingles into the rest of the roof.
Tip: If your roof is missing a few shingles, don’t wait to replace them. The shingles are there to protect your roof’s decking from moisture and wind. Even a small exposed area can allow water to seep into the underlayment and into the deck, where it can cause rot and eventually leakage. Give us a call right away!
Let us take care of your roof
If you need a roof repair or roof replacement , you need an expert that takes the time to thoroughly inspect your roof and work with you and your current lifestyle and finances. After we take a good look at your home, we will work with you to put together the perfect roofing solution for you – including our 50-year warranty as a GAF Master Elite Contractor .
We bring trust and peace of mind to every roof. Contact us at (678) 757-3477 or visit us online at www.georgiaroofadvisors.com to schedule a free, no-obligation in-home consultation or to get answers to any home roofing questions.
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