Homeowner Answers
Straight answers for owning, repairing and improving your home.
Plain-language answers to the questions homeowners actually ask, written and reviewed by Owners & Homes.
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Repairs and Maintenance
When should a roof be repaired instead of replaced?
Repair makes sense when the roof is in the first two-thirds of its expected life, the damage is localized, and the decking underneath is sound — a wind-lifted section or a failed flashing detail, for example. Replace when the roof is near the end of its service life, when granule loss and curling are widespread, when there are multiple leaks in different areas, or when the deck is soft. Patching an old roof repeatedly usually costs more over five years than replacing it once.
Reviewed September 2026
Repairs and Maintenance
What home repairs should I complete first?
Work outside in and top down: anything letting water into the house comes first, then safety items, then structure, then systems, and only then cosmetics. Water is the most destructive force in a house, and a $600 flashing repair deferred for two years can become a $15,000 framing and drywall project. Cosmetic work done before the envelope is sound is money you will spend twice.
Reviewed September 2026
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