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Deciding whether to repair or replace your roof is not an easy task if you aren’t a roofing professional. You have the difficulty of not wanting to waste money at your home or business as well as not wanting to put yourself at risk of anything dangerous happening or having unnecessary damage occur because your roof is too weak.

You have to think about roofing materials, which roofing contractors to go for, roofing cost and more. Some people might not even have the money to get repairs or a roof replacement so they’re thinking about watching do it yourself roofing videos and getting themselves up there! We definitely don’t advise this and think you should look to professionals for most things you need – especially in the trades. We take courses and get qualifications to be able to perform these tasks for a reason – they’re dangerous and specialist. Also, you’re not going to be able to get the types of roofing materials you need at the same price that tradesman can.

So below we’ve compiled a list of reasons that you might want to actually consider keeping your current roof rather than replacing it. Yep, every other roofing Telford company is going to be pressuring you into a new roof even if you don’t need one. Now, that’s not to say that we won’t really advocate someone getting a new roof if they do actually need it, but we’re not the type of people to push a new roof on you if your current roof is fine or the situation deems that it’s a good idea to keep what you currently have.

1. A first consideration. What time constraints are you under?

How long does your roof ‘have left’ so to speak? Again, this can be tough without a professional’s help. You could be at so many points here and you need to accurately assess what your time constraints are. If your roof already has damage incurred to it, you might not have time to book a full roof replacement. You’re basically out of time and your roof has no time left. Plenty of roofers are going to need to know in advance that you need a whole roof replacement as they can be busy for weeks on end. Most decent roofers are going to help you out if you have damage and get over to you before anything like a leak gets out of hand. If you think your roof is likely to be damaged but you can’t tell, you have a bit more time and can plan to get a roofer in within the next couple of months. Just don’t let it get to the leaky stage. This way you can get your roof replacement without paying for the roof repair in between. Smart!

2. As ever, a second consideration is cost.

This is multifaceted. Okay let’s consider you have critical roof damage first. How much is the repair going to cost against just getting a whole new roof? If the difference is manageable and your roof is old anyway, it might be worth it in the long run just to get another roof as you might be paying for several more of these repairs in the coming months anyway. You’ve just had one critical bit of damage so the proof is in the pudding. So here’s another consideration. What if you’re trying to increase the value of your home or property? An old/brittle roof is only going to bring down the perceived value of your home as well as the actual value of it. So, you’re either going to lose this on the cost of your home or you can pay for it now. The benefit of paying for it now is that people will bargain you down when it’s them that has to put in the time sorting out a roof repair as well as the expense. People are funny like that. Ultimately, it might just make more sense to get the repair if it’s considerably less money than a whole replacement and you’re struggling to make sense of the replacement. It isn’t always necessary in every situation!

3. A third consideration is the amount of shingles you have on your roof.

Ripping off old shingles to put on new shingles will cost you more than just adding more shingles over the existing layer. However, you won’t be able to do this if you have 2 layers of shingles already as the law states you can only have two layers. So, you could just get the roof shingled over, which wouldn’t be a full replacement but would effectively replace part of the strong outer shell in a wholesome way without having to redo the actual structure (which would get costly). Alternatively, if you do already have two layers, it might still be a better option for you to get rid of the top layer of shingles, have a fresh layer put over this and save on having the structure being altered.

4. A fourth consideration is aesthetics.

If you get a temporary repair like some shingles being replaced over on your roof, these shingles are never going to be a matching colour as you’re going to have the brand new shingles alongside the old and worn shingles. These shingles will have been discoloured by the battering elements throughout the year(s) so you’re indefinitely going to have inconsistency in the colours of your roof. This might or might not be important to you. For businesses with a reputation to protect or where people are going to exchange a lot of money, you probably can’t get away with having a big ugly building. Some homeowners might see it as an unnecessary expense which is okay, save yourself on getting all the shingles replaced and keep the inconsistent colours. However, if you do care about the aesthetics of your home and your roof is highly visible, you might want to consider getting all the shingles removed and getting new ones on. This still means you might not have to get the structure re-done and you can just get all the shingles replaced. Think of it as a wholesome replacement without the costs! One thing to make sure with this choice though is that you have no moisture damage to the roof deck. If the underside of your roof shows warning signs of moisture damage, adding shingles over the top isn’t going to solve this issue. So, you might just want to consider full replacement at this juncture.

5. How’s your guttering?

If your guttering system is shot it might just be worth getting a whole new guttering system in place alongside a brand new roof. This way, your roofer can rip out the old guttering system, replace the roof and reinstall a brand new roofing system. Of course, you might just want to get the guttering done by itself and that’s okay, but things like guttering systems become cheaper as you spend more (i.e. on a brand new roof replacement).

So really, it’s about weighing up the different factors and what’s happening in your unique situation. How much time do you have? Is the repair needed right now? Does it make sense to get the full replacement or just repair the damage? What are the cost implications? Are you adding value to your home? Can you afford repair or replacement? Is the repair costly anyway? How will the aesthetics of your property be affected? Will your property still look okay? And how’s your guttering? Is it old and worn? Does it need replacing now?…. These are all considerations to take into account that you can use to possibly justify repair of a roof rather than repairing the whole lot. It’s up to you! If you’re one of the crazy DIYers, you could look at home depot roofing for supplies.

As usual, please check out our flawless 200+ reviews on Checkatrade to see how well we treat our customers!

Roofing, plumbing, flooring. Whatever the service, your house has, at one time, had people from all disciplines doing their part to create the space that you live in. We usually take it for granted, and don’t pay attention to the fact that everything has a finite lifespan. Walls get damp, grouting in floors starts to crack, and roofs are subjected to the elements all year round. Usually we don’t give much thought to these things – it’s simply a case of if something breaks, we call out a specialist to fix the problem. However, as any engineer or tradesman knows, preventative maintenance is one of the best things that can be done to extend the lifespan of anything that was physically made. Roofing is no exception. Here are a few simple roof maintenance tips that most roofing contractors in Telford should be letting you know.

Keep your gutters clean and clear
One of the major problems that can lead to leaks in your roof is your guttering system becoming clogged, by various types of debris. Good drainage is absolutely essential. Given the unpredictable nature of the weather, especially in a country like England, means that very sudden heavy rain can cause a lot of damage, and suddenly you have to fork out money for an urgent fix. Leaks are dreadful, because not only does that mean the roof is damaged, if the leak goes unnoticed then your personal things can get damaged too, depending on the leak’s location.

You need to inspect your gutter on a semi regular basis. How often exactly? Well, it depends. If your gutters sit under or nearby large trees, then you’ll probably need to check more frequently. Especially in the autumn, where dead leaves fall, gutters can clog much quicker than under other conditions. Once your gutter is completely clear from debris, check that water flows nicely. The gutter angle should be slight, but water should still flow smoothly and not sit there. Pooled water from an improperly sloped gutter can be as much of a problem as if it was clogged. Not only do you have the worry of water leaking inside the building, but the weight can damage the gutter itself. If the angle does need adjusting, assess whether you can do it yourself or if you need a professional to come and take a look.

Keep your attic well ventilated, and well insulated
Your attic needs to be well ventilated, or you risk creating a humid environment above you. We all know how devastating moisture can be to walls and ceilings inside the home, so why is the roof any exception? The very foundation of your roof, the wooden beams, can easily be subjected to roof rot, which can compromise the structural integrity of your roof. A soffit vent system is the best way to ensure good ventilation and good air flow. In the colder months, poor insulation allows ice to build-up easily. Once ice begins to form, it’s imperative to clear it as soon as possible, especially when you know there is more cold weather coming soon. Not only is ice a problem for diminishing the structural integrity of roofs because of it’s expansion properties, but what can look like a small amount can in fact have huge weight. You certainly don’t want this unnecessary weight sitting on your roof!

In general, your insulation should be around 10-14 inches thick. This corresponds with what is called an R-value. In this case, the standard R-value is called R-38. 10-14 inches is simply a guideline, however, as there are different materials available for suitable insulation, depending on how much space you have. If your home has insulation from older standards, it is well worth updating to modern standards.

Inspect the roof itself
It’s good practice to get up on a ladder and have a good look. Make sure you follow safety protocols when doing any activity at height. Check your roof for signs or wear, degradation, cracks etc. Are any tiles loose or cracked? Does the sealant still look in tact? Volatile weather, where extremes of hot and cold in a short period of time can really mess with your roof integrity.

Catching a problem early will go a long way to saving you from a bigger problem in the future. A cracked tile is an easy replacement, but a full-blown leak can mean a much bigger job that will take time and cost you more money. Sometimes the elements are simply too much, and no matter how diligent you are, big damage can occur. Do your part to inspect and look after your roof and prevent problems from occurring in the first place!

Take care of your roof and your roof will take care of you! For the best roofing services Telford, check us out on Yell and at the social media links below!