Roof Repair or Roof Replacement? How Tacoma Homeowners Can Decide

Age is the first thing to consider. Asphalt shingle roofs wear out over time, and in the Pacific Northwest, constant moisture, moss and wind add to that wear.

If your roof is fairly young and the problem is in one spot, a repair usually makes sense. If the roof is older and showing wear across many areas, spending money on repairs may only delay a replacement you will need soon anyway.

If you do not know how old your roof is, check your home purchase paperwork, ask neighbors when similar homes were reroofed, or have a roofer take a look.

Repairs work well for problems in a limited area: a few blown-off shingles, a cracked pipe boot, failed flashing around a chimney or vent, or one slope damaged by a fallen branch.

When damage is spread across several slopes, or the decking underneath is soft or rotted in many places, a full replacement is often the more reliable fix.

Our climate is hard on roofs in its own way. Long rainy seasons keep shingles damp for months, which encourages moss. Moss holds water against the roof and can lift shingle edges.

Winter windstorms lift and tear shingles, especially on roofs where the sealant strips have aged. Fir needles and leaves clog gutters and valleys, so water backs up under the roof edge.

A roof that has a lot of moss damage, many lifted shingles and repeated storm repairs is often telling you it is time to replace.

Curling, cupping and cracking shingles are common signs of an aging roof. A few damaged shingles can be replaced. When curling shows up across large areas, the shingles have lost their flexibility and will keep failing.

Other signs of widespread wear include lots of granules in the gutters, bald patches on shingles, and sagging areas of the roof.

For most homes, a full asphalt shingle roof replacement in Tacoma runs roughly $7.00 to $10.50 per square foot of roof surface, which puts a typical South Sound house somewhere between about $9,500 and $22,000. Standing-seam metal typically costs about 1.8 to 2.5 times an asphalt roof.

A repair costs a fraction of that, which is why repair is usually the right first step when the roof is in good overall shape. The question is whether you will be paying for more repairs soon. When repair bills keep adding up on an aging roof, that money is often better put toward a new roof.

Our free instant quote measures your roof by satellite and shows a real price range in about 60 seconds, so you can compare options with actual numbers for your home.

If you are unsure, an inspection is the easiest way to decide. DHT Construction & Roofing offers a free roof inspection with photo documentation and an honest recommendation — including telling you when a repair is all you need.

It is a good idea to have your roof checked after a major windstorm, before you buy or sell a home, and in the fall before winter storms arrive.

Repair is usually the right call when the roof is relatively young, the damage is in one area, and the rest of the roof is in good shape.

Replacement usually makes more sense when the roof is older, you have multiple leaks, shingles are curling across large areas, moss damage is widespread, or repairs keep adding up.

If you are still on the fence, start with the free instant quote to see a real price range for a new roof, then book a free inspection so we can confirm what your roof actually needs.

Either way, every DHT roof replacement includes the manufacturer's material warranty plus our own 10-year workmanship warranty.