7 Tips to Help You Decide if You Need a New Roof or Roof Repair

An early November storm poured a few inches of rain in Altadena, Monrovia, and onto homes along the 210 freeway.

If you’re a homeowner worried that your roof might leak during the rain, then you’re likely wondering now if you should replace your old roof or get it repaired and wait a few years.

Photo by Anna King Unsplash

The number one question Thomas Garvey gets asked by potential customers is if they should replace their existing roof or get it repaired. The answer isn’t always easy. Let’s look at the variables and see what you might do.

Garvey Roofing is a licensed roofer who gives free estimates on all new roof installations and roofing repairs. And full guarantees the on labor and materials used during new roof installations.

The weather—how much a factor?

Predicting the weather more than a week out is risky business, but let’s take a look. Almanac.com says November 2022 on will be wet months.

Winter will be warmer and wetter than normal, with above-normal mountain snows. The coldest temperatures will occur in mid-November, mid-January, and early February. The stormiest periods will be in mid- to late December, early and late January, early and late February, and late March.

The link is at the end of this post:

A word on the weather. Rain itself doesn’t degrade your roof as much as summer heat and the blazing sun does.

Sun cooks the shingles and then hard rains wash away granules and strong Santa Ana winds loosen ridge caps.

This is why Garvey Roofing says they install roofs for all seasons.

Asphalt shingles come in a variety of colors and thickness.

So it’s not just the rain that weakens an old roof, but it’s the combination of heat, rain and wind.

Think of what happens to a plastic bucket or RV that sits in the sun. The bucket becomes brittle and on older RVs, the seams become weak and leak water when it rains.

Roofing questions for homeowners

Here a few ways to decide if you should invest in a new roof and new roofing materials or repair your older roof if it’s leaking.

How old is your existing roof and has it been leaking? If it’s older than 15 to 20 years and it’s not just dripping in one spot then that’s an indicator that your roof needs replacing.
What’s the current condition of your shingles, tile, and underlayment? If the singles are curling and if you’re finding excess granules in your gutter then the coating is wearing down. Checking the underlayment isn’t easy, but if it’s an older roof then the underlayment is degrading as well.
Look in the attic for water spots. If you see water spots on the inside of your attic or if you see water spots inside your home then Garvey Roofing will try to identify where the leak is coming from.
Does your attic insulation look like it’s been wet and is it in clumps? You could benefit from new insulation, too.
How long do you plan to live in your home? The longer you plan to stay and the older your roof, then the more likely you should get a new roof installed.
Do you have missing drip edge around a low slope roof, chimney, or other vents? It’s possible that Garvey Roofing could make specific repairs to the drip edge or specific sections of the roof to correct a leak.
Does your roof feel like it has soft areas if you’ve stepped on it? That can mean the decking needs replacing in part or whole. It’s often possible to repair a section of decking and re-cover part of a roof, especially where low slope material meets shingles or tile.

Yes, a new roof costs money but it could be budget smart to get it sooner rather than later and risk interior damage.

Benefits of a new roof include using the latest underlayment like Therma Sheet which reflects the sun’s most harmful rays and helps your home become more energy efficient.

Roofing materials are now designed to last longer than they previously were. So installing a new roof could mean that you’re set for the next 40 years, 50 years or longer.