Roof Repair or Roof Replacement: How to Decide

When a repair is the right answer

• The problem is in one place: a few tiles, one length of flashing, a section of ridge
• The rest of the roof covering is in sound condition
• The felt and battens are dry and firm where they have been checked
• The roof is well within its expected life

When replacement starts to make sense

• Tiles or slates are slipping across whole slopes, not just in one spot
• The same areas keep leaking after repair
• The felt has perished widely or the battens are rotten
• Tiles are crumbling or slates are delaminating
• The roof line sags, which suggests a structural problem

The middle option: partial re-roofing

It is not always all or nothing. One slope, usually the one facing the weather, often fails before the others. Re-roofing a single slope, or stripping and re-laying an area on new felt and battens, can add many years of life without the cost of a whole new roof.

Reusing materials

Sound slates and tiles can often be lifted and re-laid on new felt and battens. This keeps the look of the house and reduces the cost, because the fixings are usually what has failed and not the slates themselves.

Questions to ask your roofer

• Can you show me photos of the problem and what is underneath?
• What will a repair cost, and how long should it last?
• What is causing the problem, and will the repair deal with the cause?
• If you recommend replacement, why will a repair not do?

Be wary of the hard sell

A roofer who recommends a new roof without showing you evidence deserves a second opinion. An honest assessment will explain the options and leave the decision to you.