The average lifespan of a quality roof is about thirty years. This is only an approximate figure given that some factors may contribute to earlier or later replacement. Eventually, though, any roof will require or need repair or replacement.

Roof replacement is not a cheap affair though and many homeowners are quite unwilling to proceed with it unless it is the only option available.

Deciding on whether to replace or repair a roof is the big question.

Need for Roof Repair

It is much cheaper to do repairs than to replace the whole roof. Repair is mainly called for when the damage is small and localized. The roof may, for instance, be leaking because of cracked flashing seams or slight damage along the seams of the roofing material.

Such types of damages are quite easy to deal with. They are essentially caused by natural weathering on the caulking and roof patching materials. Most of the times, you can do it yourself using readily available all-weather caulking patch tubes.

Flat roofs have to be re-coated once every three to five years. This is not a major builders London repair job, but a long-term maintenance method. It helps in taking care of the bumps, cracks breaks which occur in the protective coating. Failure to do this may result in the underlying material becoming damaged. You may apply the roof coating or hire a roofing London contractor to perform the job.

Either option depends on the steepness of the roof and personal ability. Roof coating and shingles are the first line of defense for you home. They should, therefore, be in perfect working condition to protect the rest of the roof and the house in general.

Need for Roof Replacement

Roof replacement is a major renovation process that will probably require you to move out of your home for a while as it is undertaken. It is also costly which is why most homeowners prefer to put it off as long as possible.

There are signs that will show you the roof is in need of total overhaul. They include:

- Curling or buckling of the roof shingles. If the roof has outlived the recommended thirty years lifespan, it should be replaced with a new one.

- When you need to upgrade your home, either add extra rooms upstairs or install components like rain water harvesting systems, you will be forced to add a new roof.

- Lastly, if the roof requires constant repair jobs that do not last for too long, it most probably needs to be replaced with a higher quality one.