It’s no secret that a new roof replacement can be a significant investment. Even if you skip getting Starbucks every day for a year, you’re still looking at a big chunk of change to improve your home. You may be staring at that price tag, wondering if you could simply replace half your roof right now to lower the costs.
Wondering if you can get a partial roof replacement is a fair question. But is it recommended? Let’s hear some helpful advice from the pros.
Is a Partial Roof Replacement Recommended?
The short answer to “Can I replace half my roof?” is: technically, yes.
There aren’t any laws against it, and ultimately, it’s your home, so you can choose to do what you want with it.
But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Most roofing professionals would never recommend a partial roof replacement. In fact, if you find a roofing contractor willing to perform one, that’s probably a big red flag signaling they aren’t reputable.
To be clear, you can absolutely schedule repairs and replace shingles in a small area that’s leaking. However, if you want to fully replace a larger section of your roof but not the others, then roofing experts agree that it’s not a wise choice.
4 Reasons Why Roofing Professionals Advise Against It
You may be wondering if roofing companies don’t recommend partial roof replacements because they simply want you to pay for a full roof replacement. While some shady contractors may be solely motivated by money, most trustworthy and experienced roofers care more about the integrity of their work and giving you a result that will keep you protected for years.
Doing a half roof replacement can result in a handful of issues that mean bad news for homeowners. Here are four of the main reasons professional roofing contractors don’t recommend partial roof replacements:
1) Inconsistent Lifespans on Your Roof
Different roofing materials have different lifespans. The most popular roofing material, asphalt shingles, typically last 15-25 years. Metal roofs can last up to 70 years, while clay tile roofs last closer to 100!
For the purposes of this article, we’ll be under the assumption of a standard shingle roof, since that’s what most homeowners have.
Doing a partial re-roofing is problematic when it comes to the lifespan of your roof because you’ll have inconsistencies throughout. Your shingles will be aging at different rates, meaning that you’ll be dealing with issues, leaks, and aesthetic defects on the older side quicker than on the newer side.
This cycle will just keep continuing until the entire roof is replaced. This ultimately causes a lot of headaches and stress for homeowners. With a completely new roof, you have much more peace of mind knowing the entire structure should hold up for years before problems arise.
2) Miss Out on Important Warranties
Typically, when you get a full roof replacement, it’ll come with at least one, if not two, roof warranties: Manufacturers and Workmanship.
- A manufacturer’s warranty is a warranty that protects you against defective shingles. If an issue arises that was the fault of defective materials, then you’re protected under warranty and don’t have to pay for the repairs.
- A workmanship warranty is offered by some roofing contractors on total roof replacements. It protects you from having to pay for damages that were the fault of the installation team for a set period of time. (Usually 10 years on average.)
If you only replace half your roof, then you won’t get any warranty protection because warranties typically only come with total roof replacements.
Not to mention, if your current roof is under warranty, you’ll actually void the warranty if you do a partial roof replacement. Any roofing contractor willing to perform a half re-roof is almost guaranteed not to provide a warranty that backs up their work.
At the end of the day, you want your roof to be protected so that you don’t have to pay for issues that weren’t your fault. Partial roof replacements won’t offer this security.
3) Higher Costs in the Long Run
With two sides of a roof that have different lifespans, you’ll end up paying for frequent repairs to keep your roof functioning. These repairs will add up, and you’ll still end up needing a total replacement down the line.
Every time you replace half your roof, you’ll need to cover costs for things like:
- Labor
- Materials
- Time
- The roofing company’s overhead costs
Getting a partial re-roof wouldn’t cost you that much less than a total replacement, and all the added hassle will cost you far more than if you just replace the whole roof at once.
4) Poor Aesthetic Appearances
Appearances aren’t everything, but they can be a huge factor in home value. Your roof is one of the first things people notice when they view your home, so whether you’re wanting to sell your home or just host people for dinner, a partial re-roof is unsightly.
Even if your shingle styles match on both sides of the roof, everyone will be able to tell a visible difference between the two sides. The older shingles will be lighter than the new shingles from their years of sun exposure.
This consideration is especially important if you want to put your house on the market. A total roof replacement will increase your curb appeal and home value, while a partial re-roof will do the opposite.
Opt for a Trusted Roofer With Affordable Prices
Ultimately, if money is your main concern, it’s important to keep in mind that a partial roof replacement will actually end up costing you more in the long run. If you’re nervous to make the investment in a full roof replacement, ease your worries by working with a trusted local roofing contractor who offers accessible financing options.
At Tidds, we offer competitive prices off the bat and financing options to help you take fantastic care of your home. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with a roof replacement!
