Should I repair or replace my roof?

The rule of thumb that holds up: if the roof is under about fifteen years old and the damage is in one place, repair it. If it is over twenty in this climate, or the damage is across several slopes, replace it. Between fifteen and twenty is the judgement call, and it turns on the condition of the shingles that were not damaged.

The tell is the rest of the roof. If the undamaged shingles are still flexible and holding their granules, a repair will match and last. If they are brittle, bald and curling, the repair is sound but everything around it is on borrowed time, and you will be paying for a second repair next spring. A contractor who walks the roof can tell you which it is in a short visit.

Two other things tip it. A second layer of shingles under the first means any replacement is a double tear-off and gets more expensive the longer you wait. And if you are planning to sell within a few years, a new roof is one of the few home improvements buyers actually pay for, while a patched one is something the inspector will flag.