Repair, Patch Or Replace Your Roof – What’s Your Best Option
Replacing a complete roof can be an expensive business. However, if there are obvious problems, such as water coming in, you need to do something about it.
Roof problems generally require prompt action to prevent damage to your property. But you often have to decide whether a quick repair will be adequate or whether you need to replace the entire roof. The following guidance should be enough to help you make an informed decision.
Deciding on the Best Course of Action
Problems with your roof must be fixed quickly because they can cause damage to your property and threaten the safety of the occupants. A simple patch or roof repair may be necessary as a temporary fix until you can deal with the problem properly. It will also be much cheaper than a full replacement and may be enough for the following problems:
- small leaks, cracks and holes
- poor installation
- missing or slipping tiles
- minor weather damage.
A repair will extend the life of your roof and can often be done quickly and for a small cost. However, it may be unsightly if, for example, you have mismatched tiles or obvious patches, and may not be a long-term solution.
Full roof replacement will obviously take longer, be more disruptive and cost a lot more but it may be the only option if:
- the roof is nearing the end of its expected life
- there is extensive damage to the roof, with many broken or missing tiles and widespread leaks during rain or when snow accumulates
- repairs are required frequently and the cost is mounting up
- the ridge or other areas of the roof are showing signs of sagging, which can indicate serious structural damage
- the roof has been damaged or weakened by objects falling onto it
- concrete tiles have sedimentary deposits that indicate that oxidisation has turned the surface to powder and caused weakness in the tiles
- slate tiles show signs of powdering or flaking, which causes the tiles to become porous.
Often a full roof replacement is the most cost-effective option when compared to repairs since it:
- will last longer and benefit from a long warranty
- improves the appearance and value of your property
- should reduce energy bills due to better insulation
- avoids frequent repair bills that can soon exceed the cost of a new roof
- may reveal problems that need to be resolved when the old covering is stripped off.
Cost-effective Solutions
The cost of a full roof replacement is generally £5,000-8,000 although this depends on several factors and a partial replacement may be possible. Labour costs for a repair may be £200-300 per day with other costs on top so there can be a significant difference.
If you have any problems with your roof, give us a call and we’ll carry out an inspection at no cost to you. We can then advise the best course of action, whether a repair or replacement. We’ll always recommend what’s best for you and will take your situation into account. And we will do a thorough job so future problems are eliminated for many years.
Some of the areas we service across Central Scotland:
