It’s a new year, and as we’ve talked about before on our blog, a new opportunity to upgrade your roof. However, not all roofing jobs are the same in scope and scale. While many homeowners can benefit from complete roof replacement, others are only in need of a repair or patch job. Keep reading to learn when to repair, patch, or replace your roof, and remember, you can trust our experts at Lyons Roofing for all the residential roof services you need.
What Service Does My Roof Need?
- When to Call for Patching: Roof “patching” usually refers to a job where only a few shingles need to be replaced. Less comprehensive than a full repair, a patch is often needed after a small tree branch has fallen on your roof, or excessive wind has caused minor damage. In some cases, your roofer will even patch up a leak—though this will only work in instances where a leak is concentrated to one spot. Patching may also be a part of regular roof maintenance—something which is worth considering every year or two.
- When to Call for Repair: There are a myriad of reasons your roof may need a repair, so even trying to narrow them down is somewhat folly. For starters, you should call for a roofing repair if you notice cracked, curling, or missing shingles/tiles, granules from shingles in your gutters, discoloration, moss, or algae on your roof, broken flashing or clogged gutters, and any minor leaks. You should also watch out for debris accumulating in your roof’s valleys, aka the sections of your roof where the slopes meet. And if you see any sunlight coming in through your attic, call a roofer right away to find out how big this opening is. For smaller holes in your roof, a repair is usually the right option. However, the larger those openings get, the more you will need to think about complete replacement.
- When to Call for Replacement: As we just mentioned, large or even medium-sized cracks in your roof are a prime reason to call for replacement. However, while a gaping hole in your roof might be the most obvious reason to replace it, this is far from the only reason to consider installing a new roof. Just as problematic are roofs that have begun to sag after years of moisture accumulation. Roof sagging is also often accompanied by roof rot, which can occur when wooden roofs have weathered a heavy amount of rain. Of course, a metal roof can last for 40-70 years, but no matter what kind of roof you have, it’s worth bearing in mind it won’t last forever. This is really the final factor to consider when weighing whether to replace your roof. If your home is several decades old and the roof is experiencing problems, you may be able to get away with repairing it. However, the older your home gets, and the more wear and tear your roof experiences, the greater the chance that it will be more cost-efficient to call for a complete replacement.
For more information on services your roof may need, call Lyons Roofing today at (520) 447-2522, or send us a message online.
