One of the biggest decisions a homeowner will have to make it whether to restore their roof through repair work or completely replace their old roof. Perhaps you just bought a home and already knew the roof needed work or you’ve lived in your home for years but realize that your roof is missing some shingles or it’s looking dingy with algae and moss.

The decision of whether to have your roof restored or completely replaced isn’t one to be made in haste. For most homeowners it comes down to cost or ROI (Return on Investment).

A brand new roof is not an inexpensive home remodel, to say the least, and it isn’t uncommon to have to pull out a loan to have an entire roof replaced. On the other hand, a roof restoration is less money, but what is your roof will need to be replaced within the next 5 to 10 years anyways? The money you invested in the restoration would have been better spent towards a new roof that will be around for probably as long as you’ll live in the house.

If you’ve inspected your roof yourself and are now caught between the restore or repair conundrum, here is what you need to keep in mind.

• Can You Afford a Full Roof Replacement?

A full roof replacement can be quite expensive while a restoration may only a quarter to a third of the cost. If your roof is in need of repair but you simply can’t afford a full replacement, a restoration and repair job will buy you some time. On a bad roof a restoration isn’t a solution, but rather a way to keep the house safe from water or other damage while you figure out a means to save up the money or pull out a loan on a replacement.

• Are You Thinking About Selling Your Home Soon?

If you’re thinking about selling your home within the next 5 years or less, then sinking a significant amount of money into a new roof could be a bad move. This doesn’t mean you should simply cover up a bad roof in hopes of duping unsuspecting homebuyers, but rather that a restoration could be a smarter move if the roof is simply aged yet doesn’t have any serious damage. Depending on your area and the price of the roof, the ROI of a brand new roof simply might not be worth it if you plan on selling soon.

• Has the Roof Been Badly Neglected?

Sometimes roofs can hide just how damaged they really are. It is a good idea to get an idea of whether the roof has been neglected or not. If you’ve been living in the house for many years this comes down to whether you’ve had a professional inspector out annual or at least every couple years to ensure the roof is doing well or if you, yourself, have been keeping up on roof maintenance. If you just bought the house it isn’t a bad idea to ask the former owners what type of roof maintenance they did. A badly neglected, old roof may need to be completely replaced, but a newer roof that has been neglected could still be in fairly good shape.

• What Type of Damage Does the Roof Have?

The severity of any present roof damage is going to be one of the deciding factors in whether you need a restoration or a replacement. If you have whole patches of shingles missing, leaks inside the homes, or obvious water damage on the roof, chances are high that a full replacement is your only bet. If the roof is in fairly good shape but has a little moss growth, a couple random missing shingles, or simply aged shingles, then a restoration could be very possible.

• Have You Consulted a Professional?

Even if you’re fairly handy around the home and understand what to look for when inspecting your own roof, it is important that you do have a professional come out and inspect it for themselves. A professional eye of a roofer will spot problems or potential problems that you otherwise would have not noticed. If you’ve looked over your roof and already know something needs to be fixed, a consultation will help you figure out the severity of the situation and what you should do based on professional opinion.

Deciding between a restoration/repair job or a full roof replacement isn’t an easy choice. Your first step should be to consult a professional roofing company, like Karbella Construction in Willoughby, Ohio, that you can trust to guide you the right route.

Keep in mind that a full roof replacement may seem expensive, but it could very well be an excellent investment. Also, if your roof does have current damage, like missing shingles, you must have these repaired immediately, even if you aren’t sure about a full roof restoration or replacement yet. These weakened spots on the roof, if left ignored, could very well force you into a full replacement if water damage occurs.