Roofs can be costly to replace, but how much do they cost to repair? As weather beats on the roof and time ages it, leaks, missing shingles, and more can all happen, causing a need for repairs. Figuring roof repair costs requires calculating several different factors, from the type of repair to the materials you need, but there are some good ballpark numbers to know.

How Much Does a Typical Roof Repair Cost?

In America, the national average cost to repair a roof is $884. Most homeowners spend between $353 and $1,432 to repair their roof. A small roof repair may cost as little as $150, while a large roof repair can cost a couple of thousand dollars. If you are hiring a professional, their labor will typically cost between $45 and $75 per hour. These numbers are very general estimated averages, but the cost of your roof repair will depend on the details of your project.

Common Roof Repairs

Roofs have several common repairs depending on your location and style of roof. If you live in areas with high wind, shingles can lift and blow off the roof. Leaks are extremely common, especially in weak areas of the roof such as flashing, roof valleys, or chimneys. Larger common repairs include a sagging roof caused by weight, rot, and normal wear. An inadequate roof pitch is also a cause for concern.

Common Areas That Need Repair

If your roof is leaking or needing repairs, there are a few places to check first. These places are weak points in your roof that are more prone to damage.

Flashing

Flashing is the metal around the objects, edges, and other sections of your roof where there are punctures or angles in the roofing. Flashing can be wrapped around chimneys and skylights but is also in the valleys, sides, and edges of any roof slopes and intersections. As the metal ages, it can bend, crack, and corrode. These can deteriorate in just 10 years.

Skylight

Skylights are glass or plastic windows in your roof that bring sunlight through your ceiling. Over time, water runs down the slope of a roof and hits the flat edge of your skylight, becoming trapped and creating corrosion. Your sunlight itself can also become cracked, letting water inside.

Valleys

The valleys in between two sloping roofs are another weak point on your roof. Not only can the flashing inside the valley wear down, but the shingles for each valley must be specially cut to fit. Poorly-cut valleys are filled with gaps that allow water to leak under your roof.

Chimneys

If your roof is relatively new, but you are still having leaks, you may look into fixing your chimney. Chimneys can have cracked or corroded flashing at the base that lets in water. Old caulking can also be cracked from age, breaking the water-tight seals. If the chimney is very old, the chimney may have cracks inside of it, allowing water inside and underneath the flashing.

How Much Do Common Repairs Cost?

Most flashing repairs cost around $20 in materials, though replacing skylight flashing may cost up to $80. Caulk for your chimney, flashing sealant, or sealant for your skylight will cost about $5 each. Broken or missing shingles may cost $30 or more. Fixing ice dams will cost between $50 to $120. You may also experience leaking because of clogged gutters. If you clean out your gutters yourself, there is no cost to that one.

How Does Cost Vary Between Roof Materials?

Roof repair cost varies greatly between the different materials. Composite roofs are the cheapest to repair, while slate roofs are typically the most expensive to repair.

Asphalt Shingles

On average, roof repair costs are about $710 for an asphalt shingle roof. Most repair work is done due to shingles flying off in high winds. While asphalt shingles are now made to withstand 110 mph wind, a poorly attached shingle will come off even in low winds. Strong winds can lift shingles, causing nails to loosen or tear the shingles. Asphalt shingles can also wear down over time and become more prone to wind damage.

Metal

Metal roofs typically do not need repairs if they have been properly installed. The main issues with metal roofs are breaks in the sealants on the fasteners or locks. Occasionally, fasteners can work loose with time when the roof goes through intensive expansion and contraction. Broken seals, loose seams, and gaps between panel fasteners can let in water in, and the average repair costs here are just over $1,000. However, when you work with quality installers and material providers, a metal roof shouldn't need anything other than the occasional coat of paint.

Wood Shake

To repair a wood shake roof costs an average of $750. Wood shake roofs have different needs. Wood shake roofs are prone to moss buildup and insects if not properly maintained, though cedar shakes are more naturally insect repellant. They can also receive UV damage from the sun and wear out quickly.

Composite

Composite roofs are similar to asphalt roofs except much lighter. Because of this, they only cost an average of $450 to repair. However, they are more susceptible to high-wind damage. Strong winds can lift sections and blow rain underneath. While asphalt roofs may only lose a few shingles, strong winds may blow off entire sections of composite roofs.

Slate

Slate is the most expensive roof to repair, averaging about $1,350 for the roof repair cost. Slate can stick up, causing leakage issues, if the slate is nailed down too tightly. Ice dams also form in slate roofs more often, meaning ice builds up under the slate before leaking onto your ceiling.

Are There Additional Cost Factors?

Certain factors can make roof repair more expensive. When calculating the cost of your roof repair, you should keep these in mind.

Garage Roof

Unattached garage roofs have a different repair scale. They are typically cheaper than repairing the roof on your home. Replacing a whole garage roof will average about $1,500. An attached garage roof may increase the cost of roof repair to your home. Any extra slopes or valleys due to your garage roof will also increase the cost of materials and labor.

Soffit and Fascia

Soffit and fascia are the underneath and edging of your roof respectively. Fascia is the vertical trim around your trusses, while soffit is the under area along the edges of your roof. Both the soffit and fascia protect the frame and trusses of your roof from the elements. Deterioration can happen from age, insects, and small animals. The average cost to replace all this is about $3,300. If you see deterioration, replace it right away before it causes any issues with your rain gutters.

Rain Gutters

The gutters along your roof protect your roof and house from water damage. They direct rain and melting snow away from your trusses and home. If not properly cleaned or cared for, they can build up water, deteriorating the soffit, fascia, and trusses. They can even fall away from the house.

If your gutters only have small holes, you can fix them with a tube of roofing cement and a patch made of the same material as the gutter. This can cost as little as $4. If the damage is more extensive, you may need to replace whole sections of the gutter. This may cost between $10 to $100 depending on how much gutter needs replaced.

Roof Trusses

Roof trusses are the main supports of your roof. If your roof is leaking, water will run along the trusses before leaking through your ceiling. This means your trusses can develop water damage or rot and need replacing. It costs about $3.50 to $4.50 per square foot to replace roof trusses. If you have extensive damage, this can rack up into the thousands of dollars to replace.

When Should You Replace Your Roof Rather than Repair It?

Roof repair is important for small leaks, but repairs can often hide larger problems rather than fix them. There are important factors to consider when deciding whether you should replace your roof rather than repair it. The age of the roof is a big one. As roofs age, they will need more and more repairs. If you are noticing a sudden uptick in the number of repairs your roof needs, you should consider its age. You will save money in the long run if you replace an old roof.

The amount of damage is also important to factor in. If you have extensive damage to your roof, trusses, fascia, or soffit, you should consider replacing your whole roof to save time and money. When replacing your roof, you should consider what type of roof will need the least amount of repairs and have the best ROI. Metal roofs can last for several decades and seldom need repairs.

Roof repair costs are typically between a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, depending on the issue and materials. If your roof needs extensive repair, consider replacing it with a metal roof, since metal roofs last for decades and need few repairs. Contact Austin Roofing and Construction  for all your metal roofing needs.