Repair or replace? Get smart guidance first.
Answer a few guided questions about age, severity, and your goals. We'll give you a clear, checklist-based recommendation you can read line by line.
Step 1 of 3
SystemHow the recommendation works
The tool applies a rule-based framework to the answers you provide. Each factor — roof age relative to expected lifespan, leak severity, number of affected areas, history of prior repairs, and your budget range — contributes to a weighted outcome. The result is one of three recommendations: repair, replace, or get an inspection before deciding.
The reasoning is shown alongside the recommendation so you can see exactly which factors drove the result. If you disagree with a factor — for example, if you know your roof was partially replaced recently — you can adjust your answers and rerun. There is no black box.
Roofing repair vs. replacement
Age matters most. Asphalt shingle roofs in California typically last 20 to 30 years depending on climate, slope, ventilation, and material grade. A 10-year-old roof with a single leak is almost always a repair situation. A 25-year-old roof with the same leak is often a signal that replacement is overdue.
Leak pattern reveals more than leak count. A single leak at a flashing transition (chimney, skylight, valley) is usually repairable. Leaks appearing in multiple, unrelated areas suggest the membrane or shingles have broadly failed and replacement is more cost-effective than patching each spot.
Layers and decking condition affect your options. California code limits most residential roofs to two layers of asphalt shingles. If your current roof already has two layers, any replacement requires a full tear-off first. Rotten or soft decking discovered during tear-off adds cost that repair estimates rarely account for.
Insurance and energy considerations sometimes tip the scale. Some California insurers will not renew policies on roofs past a certain age. A new roof may also qualify for lower premiums, and modern cool-roof materials reduce attic temperatures in inland climates. These factors sometimes make replacement the financially better choice even when the existing roof could last a few more years.
Other categories coming soon
The repair-or-replace tool currently covers roofing. We are developing the same rule-based guidance framework for HVAC systems, windows, plumbing, and garage doors. If you have a project in one of those categories, post it privately and we will follow up when coverage is available.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a contractor's opinion?
No. The repair-or-replace tool is a rule-based decision assistant, not advice from a contractor or inspector. It applies a transparent set of criteria — age, severity, leak pattern, prior repairs, and budget — and shows its reasoning so you can evaluate the result yourself.
Should I still get an inspection?
Yes. The tool helps you frame the question before you spend money on professional opinions. An independent licensed inspector can assess things no questionnaire can, especially hidden structural damage, rotten decking, or failing underlayment.
When is repair usually enough?
Repair tends to be appropriate when the roof is less than halfway through its expected lifespan, the damage is isolated to one area (a single leak, a few missing shingles), no prior attempts to patch the same area have failed, and the repair estimate is well under half the cost of full replacement.
When does replacement make more sense?
Replacement is usually the better value when the roof is within a few years of end of life, leaks are appearing in multiple locations, the deck or structure is compromised, your homeowner's insurance requires it, or multiple repair estimates have come back near or above 50% of replacement cost.
What do I do once I have a recommendation?
Use the recommendation to sharpen your conversation with contractors. If the tool suggests replacement, ask roofing contractors to quote full replacement and use the HomeGoSmart Quote Check to review those quotes. If it suggests repair, ask for a scoped repair quote with warranty terms.