Have you found shingles laying in your yard? How about sure signs of roof failure such as water spots or leaks on your ceiling? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are in a group of over 5 million people a year in the United States that either need a roofing repair or their roof replaced. Having been in the roofing and construction industry for more than 40 years, I get asked daily what the solutions to these problems are. There are many solutions, but most of the time your roof can be repaired. All exterior components of a house have a useful life span - at some point in time the only option is to replace the roof. The question is, how do you know which route is right for you? Luckily, we've got you covered.
The team at GoTech Roofing has provided the residents of Northern VA with roof repair and replacement services for the last decade. With honesty and a strong history of high-quality workmanship, we strive to give you a customer experience rare in the roofing industry. When you work with us, your roofing worries are over. How do you know if you need roof repairs or a full roof replacement? I'm going to answer that question. We are always here to help you find the right option for you and your roof.
Things to Consider When Deciding to Repair or Replace Your Roof
In order to determine if you just need repairs or a total roof replacement, there are some things you need to consider. First, how old your is your roof? Second, how long are you planning on staying in your home? These questions and more will give you an idea if it's time to replace your roof.
Do you know the age of your roof?
There are a lot of variables to consider when deciding to repair or replace your asphalt shingles roof. One of the most important ones is the age of your roof. Maybe you bought the house and have no idea of how old the roof is. A HAAG-certified roof inspector can tell you’re the age and give you a full free roof inspection report. Typically, the cheaper end three-tab shingles will last between 15 and 20 years. Architectural shingles which are higher quality and much heavier can last up to 30 to 40 years and resist wind speeds of 120 MPH.
Some signs of an old roof are:
- Shingles curling or buckling
- Shingles are bald
- Shingles are missing
- Roof sagging
- Moss covering your roof
- Blistering shingles
- Granules in the gutter
How long do you plan on staying in your home?
If you plan on being in your home for a while and you know it is not your forever home, it may not make economic sense to replace your roof. However, when it’s time to sell, you could find it hard to sell. Mortgage lenders will require an independent appraiser to provide a written status of what they believe the remaining life of your roof is. If they believe it is too short, the underwriter may require the roof to be replaced. Next scenario: you plan to stay in your home and your roof is anywhere between 15 and 20 years old and has already had several repairs. I would recommend having a HAAG-certified roof inspector out to inspect it. That way you can find out if any roof component needs attention. If everything looks fine, I would highly suggest that you get on a regular roof maintenance plan where a roof technician gets up on your roof to check things out at least once a year. Following these recommendations will ensure that you get the full life out of your roof.
One final point – if you decide to put your house on the market, the curb appeal of the new roof to potential buyers will help sell your house. In most cases, you will recoup the costs of installing a new roof back by increasing the sales price of the house. Homebuyers want to purchase a home that gives them peace of mind.
” The average roof only lasts about 50 – 70% of their designed lifetime. Furthermore, insurance data shows that 40% of all building-related damage claims are due to water intrusion—and water usually intrudes through the roof. Even more astonishing, is the fact that, while roofs only make up about 2% of total construction costs, water intrusion-related damage accounts for more than 72% of construction litigation. Most often roof failures and related water damage are often at the root of the issue. Your roof will last its lifetime if it is professionally installed the first time. ”
Julian Stevens
What does your roof replacement budget look like?
For some homeowners, the price of installing a new roof is not in their budget. Be honest with your roofing company and let them know financially is not the time. Until you are financially ready, the roofing company should be able to work with you and help you along with some repairs .
Should You Have Your Roof Repaired?
If you are experiencing any of the following, you will want to consider repairing your roof :
- Leaks around the Pipe Boot
- Leaks Around the Chimney
- Missing shingles
- Air Gun Nailing Mistakes
- Nail pops
- Fascia Replacement
- Punctures and Holes
- Cracking and Blistering
- Poor Installation
- Tree Damage
- Weather Damage
- Granule Loss
- Splitting
- Shrinkage
- Poor Maintenance
- Ventilation Problems
Trust GoTech Roofing in Northern Virginia
Founded by Julian Stevens over a decade ago, GoTech Roofing has established itself as the number 1 provider of roofing services in Northern Virginia. We provide roof repair and roof replacement services with a real focus on customer satisfaction. We are a Virginia Class A Contractor and fully insured with Workman's Compensation and Liability Insurance. GoTech Roofing provides each and every client with an incomparable roofing experience through our outstanding customer service and exceptional quality. We understand that each roof is unique and will treat it as such. Having worked 10 years providing multi-million dollar contracting services for the Federal Government, Julian took a look at the antiquated roofing construction process and knew there was a better way. He built GoTech Roofing utilizing Dynamics Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software fully integrated with Microsoft Project Professional software to create a Proprietary Customer Service-Oriented Roofing Process that starts with your first communication with us all the way to when we shake hands when the job is done. With our GoTech Proprietary Customer Service-Oriented Roofing Process you can skip the headaches, schedule delays, lack of contractor communication, cost increases, and nonsense – we handle every roofing project detail from start to finish in a written scheduled process you will receive on day one.