Do I need a new roof or just a repair?
A repair is usually enough when the damage is limited to one area, the roof is under about 15 years old, and the shingles elsewhere are still flat and intact. Replacement makes more sense when damage is spread across multiple slopes, the roof is near the end of its life, or there is already more than one layer of shingles.
Want to know what your own roof looks like? Send a few photos from the ground and get a plain-English answer.
Start my free roof checkFree · About 5 minutes · No salesperson unless you ask
Three questions that decide it
Most of the judgement comes down to age, how widespread the damage is, and how many layers are already up there.
- Age: an asphalt shingle roof in Wisconsin typically lasts 18 to 25 years. Past 20, spending money on repairs often buys very little time.
- Spread: damage in one spot, near a chimney or a valley, is a repair. Damage visible on two or three sides of the house points to replacement.
- Layers: if a previous roof was shingled over rather than torn off, a new roof means a full tear-off, and patching a layered roof rarely holds.
Signs that point to replacement
Shingles that are curling at the corners, losing their granules in large patches, or cracking across the face are showing age rather than injury. So are bald dark patches where the mat shows through, and a roof deck that looks wavy from the street.
Signs that point to a repair
A handful of shingles blown off after a storm, a leak traced to a single flashing point, or a damaged vent boot are all localised problems on an otherwise healthy roof. Fix them promptly and the roof carries on.
How to check without climbing up
You can get most of the way to an answer with your phone from the ground. Photograph each side of the house straight on, then close up on anything odd, plus any ceiling stains inside. PointView's free roof check reads those photos and tells you in plain English what is actually visible — and says so when nothing is.
Related questions
- Is it cheaper to repair a roof than replace it?
- In the short term, almost always. But repeated repairs on a roof past 20 years old often add up to more than a replacement would have cost, without extending the roof's life.
- Can I shingle over my existing roof?
- Wisconsin code generally allows a second layer, but it hides deck problems, shortens the new roof's life and makes the next replacement more expensive. Most reputable roofers recommend a tear-off.