When to Repair vs. Replace Your Roof
The age, damage extent, and decking conditions that tip the math toward full replacement.
Roof repairs run $400-$1,500 for typical issues. Full replacement starts around $9,500. The decision between them depends on roof age, damage extent, and what's happening beneath the surface.
Repair makes sense when
The roof is under 12 years old and most of it is in good condition. Damage is localized (a single leak, missing shingles from one storm event, isolated flashing failure).
The damaged area is less than 30% of the roof and the remaining shingles have at least 5-7 years of life left.
Replace when
The roof is 20+ years old (architectural asphalt) regardless of how it looks — granule loss accelerates rapidly in the last few years.
Multiple leaks across different sections — a sign of widespread underlayment failure.
Decking damage visible from the attic. Replacing shingles over rotted decking guarantees premature failure.
More than 30% of shingles need replacement — the patch will be obvious at sale and the labor savings versus full replacement is minimal.