Have you got a damaged, broken or leaking roof? Maybe half of your roof has seen better days, but the other half is in a good condition? Roof repairs and especially replacements can be expensive, you probably know this already.
That’s why you might be wondering whether can you replace only half a roof. After all, it makes sense if the other half is in a good condition, and doing so might save you money on repairs. But is it possible? The reality is, replacing half a roof can be difficult.
It’s sometimes possible, but this depends on a lot of factors like the sort of roof you have and a number of other variables. So while you CAN replace half a roof, it isn’t a definitive “YES” in all situations.
We need to dig a bit deeper to give you a more definitive answer. So if you want to know a bit more about replacing only half a roof, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re going to look at a number of factors associated with only replacing half a roof so that you can make the right choice.
Can you replace only half a roof?
While you can replace half a roof, and some roofers will do this many experts actually agree that this is generally a bad idea for your home. It might seem like a good choice, especially if half of your roof is in great condition while the other isn’t.
Many people like the idea of replacing half a roof as they think it’s going to save them money, and if you can find a roofer who’ll do it—it will. But it isn’t always the best idea. Why? Let’s have a look…
Why might you want to replace half a roof?
If a tree or something has fallen on part of a roof, you might see a lot of damage. But this might not be on ALL of your roof. That can lead many homeowners with the idea of only replacing a bit of it. That might even be why you found this article.
One reason many people want to replace half their roof is because their insurer won’t pay out the full amount of an entire roof repair or replacement. This is a big problem, and insurers often look for reasons not to pay.
Make sure you always check the small print of your home or roof insurance plan. Get the best coverage you can to make sure that any eventuality to your roof will be covered AND the whole cost will, as many roofers agree that replacing half a roof isn’t always the best idea.
If you’ve got a leak or other small damage, the good news is that you probably won’t have to replace half a roof and can just get by with partial repairs.
When can you replace or repair part of a roof?
If you’re just looking to overlay rather than tear off and replace half a roof, this might be slightly easier. Other smaller spot fixes on partial parts of a roof can be possible and more recommended as well, for smaller issues like leaks and missing shingles.
If there was a storm or periods of heavy wind and you lost some shingles, a large-scale roof repair or replacement probably isn’t necessary. That means you can get by with regular roof repairs and have new shingles put in place.
Make sure you get a qualified expert roofer to come and half a look as soon as possible so that they can advise you what to do next.
If not much damage was done to the structure or underlayment of the roof, then you might only need partial spot fixes which can be easy for your roofer to do and not too expensive for you. However, you should be aware that new shingles might not match the color of your existing roof. This is only a minor cosmetic issue rather than a structural one, though.
Other smaller damaged areas of your roof can also be patched. If a massive area on your roof, like up to half of it, is damaged, this can have further complications and mean that partial patching and re-shingling isn’t possible. In these instances, you might want to replace half a roof, but this isn’t always a good idea.
Why is replacing half a roof a bad idea?
The first reason is that the slopes of your roof will be different ages. Shingles can last from between 25 to 50 years. If you only replace half the roof, one entire slope can be a different age to the other.
While a few newer shingles is acceptable from minor repairs, having half your roof a completely different age isn’t always a great option. It’ll mean that you’ll have to replace one half of the roof much earlier.
Many roofing companies won’t actually do half roof repairs, so it could also be harder to find someone to do it. What if you can find someone now, but not when you need the other half replaced later?
A half new roof won’t look right either. While a few unmatching shingles can blend in at a distance, if you’ve got an entire half of a roof the wrong color, this can look wrong. Kind of like those cars that have a door or hood with a different paint job. This is probably something you want to avoid.
Some roofs will simply be too old or brittle to be able to withstand a partial repair. It might not even be possible for your roof design or type. Trying to fix half the roof could cause major issues to the rest of your roof.
That’s why fixing half a roof isn’t always the best idea. Make sure you consult a trusted and reliable roofer to get the best advice for your roof and situation. Always seek the advice of a professional and get multiple quotes before you start paying for costly repairs.
