When your roof shows damage, you may wonder whether a roof repair is sufficient or if it needs a replacement. If you are considering a new roof installation, repair, or replacement, you should seek the help of a trusted roofing contractor to guide you on the ideal option for your home.
What’s Involved in Roof Repair?
A roof repair may resolve minor or moderate damage to your roof. The roof repair process can restore your roof and even extend its lifespan.
Roofing repair involves working on a small, isolated portion of the roof. Based on what type of damage you have, the roofing repair process may include replacing damaged or missing shingles or patching up holes and leaks. Most owners try to handle the repairs by themselves, but if their roof damage is not easy enough to DIY, it would be best to hire a qualified roofing company to ensure the roof is fixed correctly.
Minor Damage
If you need to repair your roof due to minor damage, then the process will be relatively simple for a contractor and inexpensive for you. However, some roofing materials may be more expensive or complex to replace individually, including metal panels.
Suppose you have spare shingles leftover from your previous re-roofing job. The main difficulty is that you may try to match the existing roofing material so that the repaired roof area blends in with the rest of the roof. The colors may not match exactly due to exposure, but you can ask the roofing contractor to order shingles to correspond to the roof’s existing color as much as possible.
Moderate Damage
The roof’s color can fade over time due to weather exposure, and as a result, the newly repaired portion may stand out from the rest of the roof. On the other hand, if your roof damage is more significant but only on one side or area of the roof, you may consider partial reroofing. It will cost less than a complete reroofing project, but it may be harder to match the color of the existing materials with the new ones.
What to Expect in the Roof Repair Process?
After contacting a roof inspector, they will determine the extent of your roof issues. Here are some things you should expect:
- An insurance claim process: The contractor should guide you through the inspection and insurance claim process if you have insurance that covers roof damage.
- A detailed contract: The roofing company must provide you with an agreement, including the scope of work, the timeline, contact information, and pricing.
- A building permit: The company must acquire the necessary building permit to start your project. They can also get homeowner’s association (HOA) approval if needed.
- Home preparation: Taking the necessary steps to protect your home and property, such as covering your landscape and putting tarps on the ground
- Roof repair: When everything is safe and prepared, roof repair starts.
- Clean-up: After the roof repair is done, the roofing company will remove any debris from your property.
Roofs are durable and built to last and protect you against extreme weather. However, most roofing materials have a limited lifespan, so they may eventually need repairs. While asphalt shingles only last for two decades, metal roofing materials and clay roof tiles last for much longer.
