Your roof is a significant investment, so when faced with the prospect of performing repairs, you may be wondering if it pays to pump more money into what you have or upgrade to an all new model. Jon Tallman of Carrollwood Roofing offers advice on when to replace or repair a roof. “I first evaluate the age of the roof,” he says. “If the roof is older than 18 years old, it most likely needs to be replaced.” A new roof for a 2000 square foot home in Tampa can cost, on average, around $7,000 to $8,000.
If the roof is newer, then Tallman can often repair the problem. He has been offering roof repair in Tampa for years and discusses some common problem areas that need patching. “Most leaks are due to flashing problems around the chimney, vent pipes, and skylights and where a flat roof and sloped roof meet,” he explains. Using a simple water test to pinpoint the leak, the old shingle is removed, the hole is patched, and a new shingle is installed. Leaks are typically caused by nail guns, cracked caulking around flashing, missing shingles from high winds, holes from tree branches, and missing drip edges that allow water to run behind the gutter. Tallman adds, “Squirrels have also become a nuisance and will eat the flashing around plumbing vents. We now install a squirrel cage around the vent and fix the flashing.”
The durability of your roof depends on the climate, exposure to the weather, and the slope. As a rule, the steeper the roof, the easier it is for water to run off and cause less damage to your roof. Replacing a roof, on the other hand, happens when the shingles have dried out and are damaged, cracked, and brittle from years of UV radiation. At this point, water is more likely to seep in and rot the wood underneath, which can cause irreplaceable decay. It may not cause an interior leak, but it can slowly damage your roof’s exterior. Of course, you want to replace your roof before it reaches this state.
By understanding what causes leaks and what affects the life expectancy of your roof, you can make an educated decision on whether to patch or replace the roof over your own head.