Is it Time for a Roofing Repair or Replacement?

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Oct 8, 2022 8:30:00 AM
Brett McCutcheon

Roofing Repairs Metal

Roofing work is not only hard and complicated, but it's also expensive, especially when it comes to a full roof replacement. Therefore, you need to keep honest, practical needs in mind by letting clients know whether they only need repairs or a true replacement. This frank assessment will not only help your reputation as a contractor, but it will also save you needless effort.

Just as importantly, for repair or replacement, having the best tools for the job is also a vital part of a good workflow. The SCRAIL® ROOFLOC® System, for metal roofing and façade, is a great choice—not only will it ensure your work will last long, but you can later unscrew the SCRAIL® fasteners easily for any future repair work.

But before you get out your tools, there are a few signs to look for in determining if something needs to be repaired or replaced.

Aesthetic Considerations

In some cases, you might be faced with a roof that's capable of lasting for years longer, but the client simply wants a new look for their house. In this scenario, simply explain possible repairs so they clearly understand that replacement isn't strictly needed.

Aesthetics are an important consideration for roof replacement vs. repair. Some roof materials such as wood, tile, shingle, or metal might have permanently lost the luster of a clean look but remain structurally sound. In these cases, if a client wants something that looks fresh, replacement is a reasonable option. The same might apply to matching new shingles or tiles for the repair area with the old ones. If there's no way to do this without creating a visible patchwork effect, roof replacement might be better.

Installation and Structural Problems

If a roof or major parts of it have been badly installed or have simply deteriorated with time, repair might still be possible—but only if the damage you need to fix is limited. Widespread rot or deterioration of supporting areas and roofing layers is usually a good motive for replacement.

The same applies for shoddy installation: If the previous contractor had built the whole roof so badly that numerous parts of their work are falling apart or are weak and prone to future problems, your best bet is probably a full roof replacement.

Sometimes you might also find yourself dealing with a roof that was made with cheap materials, or because the fastening system used lacked the durability of systems like SCRAIL® ROOFLOC®. Or it might be because of an internal problem with attic ventilation. In all these cases, full replacement with new materials and fastening tools is probably better.

Roof Age

An old roof isn't necessarily a bad roof, so age shouldn't be an automatic factor to replace it. However, this is a key question that you should ask your client as you assess the structure. Knowing a roof's age will help you decide where to examine it and how carefully to check key structural elements. It can also be helpful in assessing if it might be a health hazard.

Also, remember that roofing material availability can change over time. This means that if you're considering only a repair job for a moderately damaged old roof, you should first check to make sure you can find replacement material that fit the profile of the what’s already in place. If they don't, you might need to replace them all.

Installing and Fastening a Roof That Lasts

Whether you're just repairing parts of a damaged roof or replacing it completely, ensure that the work you deliver is solidly installed and built to last. This means selecting high-quality materials that are designed for local weather extremes and building the roof to handle it well. It also means using a fastening system that not only lasts a very long time but is also quick, easy to use, and will ensure a job well done.

The SCRAIL® ROOFLOC® System provides both benefits. The stainless-steel fasteners are designed to handle wood roofing materials and sheet metal-to-wood installations firmly enough for decades of use. They're particularly strong for working with trapezoidal sheet metal roofs and facades to which they can be pneumatically driven in such a way that is eight times faster than bulk screws and two times faster than collated screws. Pair it with the FASCO® (a BECK member) pneumatic installation tool and you have a system with the resulting increase in performance of around 100%!

Watch the Video: SCRAIL RoofLoc - Because Quality Matters

Topics: Metal Roofing Fasteners, RoofLoc®, Roofing, Roofs

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SCRAIL®, Fast like a Nail, Strong like a Screw, are incredibly versatile collated fasteners that can be driven with a pneumatic nailer at a rate twice as fast as collated screws and eight times faster than bulk screws. You can rely upon SCRAIL® fasteners to hold strong, without callbacks to fix a squeak or a nail pop.

Give SCRAIL® a try, and enjoy 10% off your first order.

  • Use SCRAIL® almost anywhere ordinary screws are used
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  • Twice as fast as collated screws, eight times faster than bulk screws
  • Easily adjusted, quickly removed
  • Dramatically increased holding power vs. nails
  • Making projects easier since 1998

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