When you’re dealing with a damaged or aging roof, you may be wondering if it’s time for either a replacement or repair. Repairs are more affordable for minor damage on newer roofs and take less time for roofing contractors to complete. A repair isn’t as disruptive as a total roof replacement. If you’re planning on selling your property soon, repairs can get your home ready for market without a significant investment. But if you have an older home, a roof replacement may be necessary and ultimately more affordable than repeated repairs. If you’re trying to decide to replace your roof, you may wonder, how long do roof repairs last on flat roofs?
Be Proactive
A yearly roof assessment is one of the most important aspects of keeping your roof in good condition that many homeowners don’t realize. During a roof evaluation, a contractor will check for excessive wear and tear and your home’s interior for places where moisture may be coming into the property. If you’ve noticed increasing energy bills in recent months, it might be a sign of a problem with your roof.
Scheduling a yearly roof inspection gives homeowners a chance to determine if their roof needs repairs before the damage becomes so extensive a total replacement is necessary. The best way to make repairs last longer, and extend the lifespan of your roof in general, is to make proactive repairs.
What Material is Your Roof?
Flat roof construction uses a variety of materials that offer varying durability at different price points. The lifespan of your roof and the difficulty in repairing it depends on the material. A few of the common materials used for flat roofs include:
- Self-adhesive granulated modified roofing
- Silicone roofing
If your roof has an added coating for durability, such as fibered aluminum, it may last even longer. An experienced roofing contractor will be able to give you an accurate estimate of how long repairs will last or if it’s a better investment to replace the roof.
How Bad is the Damage?
Flat roofs are particularly susceptible to over-exposure to the elements, including sun, moisture, and striking damage from wind-blown debris. When damage is restricted to one area, a repair is likely the preferred option. However, a new roof installation may make more sense for significant damage, particularly to the underlying structure, such as a hole or collapse.
When facing an extensive roof repair, homeowners should consider if replacing the entire structure would make more sense in the long term.
How Experienced are the Roofing Contractors?
Contractors who have worked in roofing for a long time know how to make repairs to a roof that will last for decades to come. The range of a contractor’s experience also significantly impacts the lifespan of their work. Contractors who regularly work on flat roofs for repair, replacement, and new roof installation, know how to perform repairs that will last as long as a new roof.
Less experienced roofers, who work on one aspect of roofing, may provide short-term fixes that only last a few years before the entire roof needs replacement.
The Roof Doctor provides Philadelphia homeowners with flat roof repairs that last.
We’ve been roofing contractors providing high-quality repair, replacement, and construction in the greater Philadelphia area for the past forty years. Our top priority is building long-lasting customer relationships and exceeding expectations for quality and delivery in everything we do.
A mainstay of our services is providing cost-saving solutions that maintain the roof’s integrity without unnecessary expense for the customer. We offer free estimates to homeowners with honest assessments of the condition of their roofs. The Roof Doctor backs everything we do with integrity, which is why we’re the contractors Philly trusts with their roofs.
Call or contact us for a free quote or your questions about your roof, and we’ll provide answers, including how long roof repairs last.
