Repair or Replace? How to Tell What Your Roof Needs

Between spring hail, straight-line wind, and a winter of freeze-thaw cycles, Des Moines roofs rarely make it to the number printed on the shingle wrapper. Knowing where yours actually stands saves you from both premature replacement and from patching something that is finished.

Signs it is a repair

• A leak in one specific spot, especially near a chimney, vent boot, or valley
• A handful of shingles blown off after one storm, on an otherwise sound roof
• Flashing that has pulled away at a wall or a skylight

Most leaks are flashing failures, not shingle failures. A roof usually gives up at its details long before its field shingles wear out.

Signs it is a replacement

• Granules in the gutters in quantity — the shingle's UV protection is washing away
• Curling or cupping edges across whole slopes, not just one or two shingles
• Soft spots underfoot, which means the decking is wet or rotted
• Daylight visible in the attic at the roof deck
• Age past 20 years on a three-tab roof, especially one with poor ventilation

Before you file a hail claim

Get someone on the roof first. Hail damage is specific — bruised, dented impact marks with granule loss — and it is not the same thing as an old worn roof. Filing a claim on normal wear can cost you your deductible and get you nothing.

We will walk it and tell you honestly what we find, including when the answer is that your roof has five good years left and you should keep the deductible in your pocket.

Ventilation is the part everyone skips

A roof with inadequate intake and ridge ventilation cooks its own shingles from underneath and shortens its life by years. If you are replacing, fix the ventilation at the same time. It is inexpensive while the roof is open and expensive later.

Not sure where yours stands? Get a free quote or call (515) 423-6724 and we will take a look.