9 Signs Your Roof Needs a Repair or a Full Replacement

If the damage is limited to a few sheets, tiles or one flashing, a repair is usually the cheaper choice. If leaks keep returning, fixings are rusting or the roof is near the end of its life, a full replacement is better value over time. Use these nine signs to tell which one you have.

4 signs a repair will do

1. The damage is in one small area. A few sheets, tiles or one flashing, not the whole roof.
2. The roof is still fairly young. Roughly under 15 years old and otherwise sound.
3. The leak has a single cause. Like a lifted sheet or a cracked tile.
4. Everything else looks solid. Fixings and sheeting elsewhere are in good shape.

5 signs it is time to replace

1. Leaks in more than one place, or leaks that return after repairs.
2. Widespread rust, corrosion or flaking paint on metal sheets.
3. Cracked, crumbling or slipping tiles across large areas.
4. Sagging sections, or daylight visible from inside the roof space.
5. Repair bills adding up to a large share of the cost of a new roof.

The cost test

A simple rule: if repairs would cost more than about 30 to 40 percent of a reroof, replacement usually makes more sense.

Get an honest assessment

Look for a roofer who inspects your roof and tells you straight whether a repair will do.

Frequently asked questions