Guide
Repair or replace your roof?
Not every leak calls for a new roof, and not every repair is worth paying for. How to tell which way your roof is heading.
Signs on the roof
Usually repairable
- A leak traced to one source: a vent boot, a nail pop, flashing at a chimney or wall
- A few broken or missing slates on a slate roof whose nails are still holding
- Wind damage to one area of an otherwise sound roof
- Clogged gutters or valleys backing water up
Usually time to replace
- Granule loss, curling and cracking all over a shingle roof
- The same leak coming back after repairs, or new leaks in new places
- Soft or sagging decking, or daylight visible from the attic
- Slate failing across the roof because the fasteners are gone
- A low-slope membrane that is blistered, split and holding water
Age, layers and old houses
Age is a clue, not a verdict. Shingle roofs that have already been re-covered once are a common sight on older Lehigh Valley houses, and when the top layer wears out, a tear-off of both is the usual answer, since a third layer is rarely a good idea.
Slate is the exception to most rules of thumb. The slates can outlast the nails, flashing and wood under them by decades, so a careful repair can be the right call. The city's design guidelines for both the central historic district and the South Side encourage maintenance and repair of slate first (HARB guidelines, South Side guidelines).
On the call
Questions to ask the contractor
- What exactly is failing, and can you show me photos?
- How many more years does the roof have if it is repaired?
- What would a repair cost, and what would a replacement cost?
- Is ice damming part of the problem, and how would each option deal with it?
- Does my house sit in a historic or conservation district?
Questions
Repair or replace: common questions
Is a 20-year-old shingle roof worth repairing?
It depends on its condition more than its age. A sound roof with one problem area may be worth a repair. A roof worn all over usually is not, and money spent patching it is money not spent on the replacement.
Can I patch now and replace next year?
Often, as long as the patch is a real repair and not hiding a wider problem. It is fair to ask for a repair price and a replacement price at the same visit.
What about my slate roof?
Slate is a special case: the slates can outlive the nails and flashing, so targeted repair can buy many years. The historic district guidelines in Bethlehem and Easton encourage it. Replace when failures are spread across the whole roof.
Leaning towards a new roof?
Talk to a roofing contractor who works in Bethlehem
One call connects you with an independent roofing contractor serving Bethlehem, Easton, Bethlehem Township, Hellertown and Lower Saucon. Ask for an inspection and a written price for the new roof.
Replacing the roof? Talk it through with a local contractor.
Your call goes to an independent roofing contractor that takes replacement work in the Bethlehem area.
Call (855) 365-0164Calls answered Mon–Fri 8:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–4pm (Eastern)
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