Should you Replace or Repair your Flat Roof

December 5, 2019 | General
Should you Replace or Repair your Flat Roof

Even with regular maintenance and the most reliable of flat roofs, there can be no certainty that you won’t experience problems with your roof. As a time-consuming and often costly process, roof repairs and replacements should not be taken lightly. The wrong decision may not only result in an issue not being properly resolved,  but it could lead to more serious issues that will end up costing you more in the long run.

In the unfortunate case of your roof becoming damaged, you will usually want to consult a roofing professional to identify the scope of the problem and if it can be repaired. If you have come across a problem with your roof and want to figure out the correct way to go about fixing it without the immediate help of a professional, this simple guide should help you decide the right course of action.

Repair

If there aren’t any glaring issues with your roof and you are simply experiencing a one-off damage, it will not usually be necessary to replace your roof and you can generally look to have it repaired.

Most low-level repairs to issues such as small leaks, build up of debris, water ponding, wind damage and top coating damage, can be dealt with with a simple repair. Although they can be carried out at home, we would recommend seeking out an experienced roofing contractor to carry out the work. This way, you can be assured that the issue has been properly resolved and they will be able to potentially identify any more serious problems with your roof.

Replace

As demonstrated, in the unfortunate case that your roof becomes damaged, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to replace it. If anything, replacing a roof should be considered a last resort because it is generally a time-consuming and costly process. So, when do you actually need to replace your roof? There are 3 main reasons you might want to consider it:

  1. If your roof materials have reached the end of their lifespan. This will of course depend on the type of flat roof you have. The lifespan of roofs can vary from 5 years for asphalt roofs up to 50 years for high quality Firestone EPDM rubber membranes.
  2. If your roof hasn’t been installed properly, you will start to notice issues soon after it has been completed. Signs of improper installation can include sagging, water pooling and damaged flashing.
  3. If there is excessive damage to the roof. We’ve mentioned that a damaged roof isn’t always reason to get it replaced, however if there is excessive or repeat damage, it could be a sign that there has been a problem with the materials or it has not been installed properly.

If you are currently experiencing a problem with your flat roof and are looking to speak to a roofing expert, our team will be happy to help anyway they can. You can get in touch with them here.


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