Water brings life, and a calming rain forms the backdrop of a peaceful moment.
But that peace can quickly turn to turmoil when the gentle rain turns into a loud dripping sound in your home. You quickly realize that moisture has breached your roof, and you need to find a solution.
Nightmares of paying thousands of dollars to a roofing company begin to haunt you. Reality may not be as scary as you think.
Keep reading to learn the answer to the question, “how much to repair a roof?”
How Much to Repair a Roof?
Generally speaking, replacing your roof costs much more than repairing your room. A roof repair will cost between $5,000 and $15,000. A roof repair, in contrast, costs between $150 and $1,600.
The materials you use, your roof size, and the additional materials and services needed all determine the cost of your roof repair and your roof installation.
When you contact a contractor for an estimate, ask for their honest opinion. Can you repair your roof rather than have a new one installed? How much longer will your current roof last?
An honest contractor will give you an honest answer, so ask several contractors for their opinions and estimates.
Factors That Affect Roof Repair Costs
Roof repair costs vary based on several factors. Sometimes you just need a few patches for mild leaks around pipes or vents. Other times you have entire chunks of the roof that have rotted and need to be replaced.
Here are the factors that determine your roof repair cost.
Types of Repairs
The severity of your roof damage plays the biggest role in repair costs. The most minor repairs consist of loose flashing or a few missing shingles.
However, if you’ve ignored the telltale signs that you have small problems, such as small leaks here and there, you will soon find yourself with big problems.
Small leaks will eventually lead to large, rotted portions of the roof. So take care of small problems first before they become expensive, time-consuming problems.
Roof Design, Pitch, and Size
When you hire a roofer, you are paying them for their time as well as their skill and the materials they use. So if you have a simple, square repair, then you won’t have to pay as much as if you have several repairs on a more complex roof with multiple levels.
Pitch also makes a difference. The steeper your roof, the more expensive the repair job. Roofers will take extra precautions and move more slowly, so they will cost more.
Roof Material
While the basics of tar paper and nails may cost the same, other roof materials vary greatly in price.
Often homeowners choose asphalt shingles because they’re durable and inexpensive compared to other roofing materials. Also, asphalt shingles and roofing cost the least to repair.
Metal and slate roofs have durability, but they cost the most to repair.
Whatever your roof material may be, make sure you ask your roofing company what materials they’ve worked with. Ask about their experience, and ask for pictures of the work they’ve done.
Roof Features
Special features will also make your roof repair more expensive. If you have a skylight or a chimney, for example, you have a higher chance of a leak. You also have a more complicated roof, which means the repair will cost more than if you had no features.
Time of Year
Roofing season usually runs from spring to fall. If you have a problem with your roof during the winter, your roof repair will cost more. The contractor will need more time to work on the roof, and the increased risk of injury will lead to a higher cost of repair.
With that said, roofing season tends to slow down later in the fall and mild winters. So you may actually score a deal with your contractor if you catch them during a slow part of the season.
Location
Where you live determines the roofing cost as well. Homes in urban areas will cost more to repair.
Also, if you live in an area with mostly new construction, expect to pay more. Materials and laborers will be scarce, and thus they will cost more.
Extra Costs
When you need a roof repair, you will ultimately end up paying for more than just a few shingles and some roofing nails. Your contractor will let you know specifically what extra services you need. Here is what you should expect.
Roof Inspection
Your roofing company will need to inspect your roof to evaluate the damage before they can give you an accurate estimate. They will check around the fixtures and inspect the gutters and fascia as well as the shingles.
An inspector will cost extra money. Expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $300 for an inspector to thoroughly inspect your roof.
Emergencies
If you have an emergency, expect to pay more for the immediate response. For example, if a storm blows shingles off your roof or puts a tree through your ceiling, your roofer will need to respond immediately.
Often homeowners insurance covers the cost of emergency repairs caused by a storm, so check your policy.
Gutters
If your gutters are as old as your roof, your contractor will recommend new gutters as well as a new roof. Plan on paying an extra couple thousand dollars for gutters and the fascia that they affix to.
If you want to save money, do not save it here. Old, unsightly gutters attached to a new roof just don’t look right.
Repair and Relax
Now that you know the cost of how much to repair a roof, you can make your plans to call the contractor. When you hear the rumble of thunder in the distance, you can sleep easily because you’ll know your roof will hold steady with the repairs that you just had completed.
Do you need a roof repair? Contact us for an estimate. We are a family-owned and operated general contracting company that specializes in commercial renovations and roofing.
We aim to provide the greater Champaign and Vermilion counties with quality workmanship. Call us today. We’d love to serve you.
