Common Roofing Repair Questions from Homeowners

Common Roofing Repair Questions from Homeowners

When a roof leak occurs and roof repairs are needed, homeowners have a lot of questions, and those questions are usually the same questions. Red Dirt Construction sees many of the same roof repair questions from residential owners and we have compiled a list of the short answers below. You can always contact us a Red Dirt Construction for custom questions or for a free quote.

How to Tell When Your Roof Has Problems and Needs Repairs

To the layman and homeowner, the first signs of roof wear and tear may not be that easy to spot. It is usually not until the problem gets bad enough to produce water stains on ceilings that homeowners call to get a quote on roofing repairs. That is why we highly recommend a roof inspection often — every 5 years or at the time of the purchase of a new home.

A home roof inspection can spot missing shingles or exposed points of the roof BEFORE they become a leak or cause further damage.

• Roof inspections can spot rotting wood, supports with water or weather damage, and damaged shingles.
• Roof inspections can find pipe collar cracks, gutter damage, or other plumbing and drainage defects that can lead to water damage and weather damage to a roof.
• Invisible leaks — a roof inspector can spot “invisible leaks,” or leaks in the roof that are not yet easily visible from the outside of the home or from interior. Roof attic leaks and damage to insulation can be severe before you even see the signs of it.

My Roof is Leaking Now, What Should I Do?

STEP 1: Immediately call a roofing contractor like Red Dirt Construction in Arizona and New Mexico for an emergency roof repair inspection. A roofing repair professional can get in there quickly and make immediate repairs to stop the spread of the damage.

STEP 2: Once the leak is stopped and damage is not spreading, comes the drying process, removing the water and humidity from the house before it allows any mold or other toxins to grow.

STEP 3: Get a Quote For Roofing Repairs — from a licensed and contracted roofing company like Red Dirt Construction. This initial quote will be a survey of the damage that you will use to file a claim with your insurance company. [PRO TIP: Use a roofing company that also works with roofing claims adjusters. These “Public Insurance Adjusters” are trained to give accurate quotes of the damage to insurance companies so that they have an accurate view of the scope of repairs and help speed-up accurate insurance payouts for roof repairs.]

How Much to Roofing Repairs Cost (In 2024)?

Cost of roof repair depends on your type of roof, the size, and the materials used.  In Arizona, a homeowner can expect to spend between $1,400 and $37,000 dollars for roof repairs. It should be noted that the higher averages come from metropolitan areas like Tucson and Phoenix due to the very expensive types of roofs and materials used. Slate tiles can cost anywhere from $6 – $18 per square foot, while asphalt and architectural shingles are less expensive (averaging: $2 – $8 per square foot).

In rural areas and older construction homes, you might expect to see more three-tab shingles or asphalt shingles used in roof design. These asphalt shingles are often cheaper than tile shingles, architectural shingles, or metal roofs. If you have solar panels, equipment or other solar attachments to the roof, this could increase the repair costs. Rooftop air conditioning or HVAC units may also change the expected costs.

Overall, in Arizona  — even with all the different types of roofs and materials — a homeowner can expect to pay an average of $8,000 for roof repairs.

If I Am Missing Shingles on My Roof, Do I Need To Replace The Whole Roof?

Your roof repair inspector will present you with all options for repair and replacement of residential roofs. However, if you have shingles that are already failing, it may be suggested to replace all of the shingles with a stronger shingle material. This will extend the life of the rest of the shingles and the overall roof. It will also help protect from any damage to the roof frame, wood and supports that are much more expensive to repair and replace.

Overall, replacing all of the shingles may be a better and less expensive long-term repair solution, but we will report our findings to the homeowner who ultimately holds the decision.

Arizona and New Mexico Roofing Repair and Replacement Services

Red Dirt Construction can handle all of your roofing needs in Arizona and New Mexico. Our offices are located in Eagar, Arizona and we can inspect and repair roofs on residential and commercial / industrial / agricultural properties in the White Mountains of Northern Arizona, Show Low, Flagstaff, Tucson, Phoenix and New Mexico.