Repair is the right call when damage is local
A roofing contractor can often replace a few shingles, reseal flashing, or patch a pipe boot without tearing off the whole roof. That only works if the surrounding material still has years of life left.
- A handful of missing or cracked shingles after a storm
- One leaking pipe boot, chimney cricket, or valley flashing
- Roof age well under the material’s typical lifespan
- No soft decking, sagging, or widespread granule loss
Replacement is cheaper than repeating repairs
Once a roof is near the end of its life, each repair is a short delay. Multiple leak locations, curling shingles, or a second layer already on the deck usually mean a full tear-off is the honest recommendation.
- Leaks in more than one area, or leaks that return after a patch
- Shingles curling, blistering, or shedding granules into gutters
- Roof is 20+ years old (asphalt) or past the warranty window
- A quoted repair exceeds roughly 30% of a comparable new roof
Inspect the deck, not just the shingles
Surface patches fail if the wood deck is wet or rotten. Ask the contractor to check attic sheathing, ventilation, and drip edge. Soft spots around skylights and valleys are a replacement trigger even when most shingles look intact.
- Daylight through the sheathing or dark water stains on rafters
- Musty attic air and inadequate soffit/ridge ventilation
- Two existing layers — many codes limit you to two before tear-off
How to compare a repair bid to a reroof bid
Get both numbers in writing with the same scope notes (tear-off, dump fees, flashing, and ventilation). A cheap repair that ignores flashing or ventilation often leads to another leak next season.
- Repair bid should list each leak location and materials
- Replacement bid should include tear-off, underlayment, flashing, and ventilation
- Ask how the warranty changes if you repair vs replace