Spring roof check: what winter left behind, repair or replace, and booking before the rush
A spring roof check you can do from the ground, what winter and early storms do to a roof, when a repair is enough and what a partial reroof costs against a full one, and why to book before the season fills.
Spring is when winter's damage shows — a stain on the ceiling, granules in the downspout, a shingle in the yard — and when the roofing season starts filling up. Here is what to check, when a repair is enough, what replacing part of a roof costs against the whole, and why to book early.
A spring check from the ground
- Missing, lifted or curled shingles — binoculars help.
- Granules collecting at downspout outlets or in the gutters.
- Gutters that sag, pulled away from the fascia, or were dented by ice or hail.
- Flashing around chimneys, vents and skylights that has lifted or rusted.
- Inside: ceiling stains, and in the attic, daylight through the deck or damp insulation.
Do not climb on the roof. If you find any of these, have a roofer inspect it.
Repair or replace?
Repair isolated damage on a roof with years left in it. Replace when the damage is spread across the roof, the roof is near the end of its life, or the same areas keep failing. What surprises people is the price of the middle option: on our engine, redoing one slope — a quarter of a typical roof — is $4,846, against $17,807 for the whole roof. That is 9% more per square foot, because the fixed costs of a job — getting the crew, the dumpster and the setup to the house — do not shrink with the roof.
Book before the rush
Spring is the start of the season everywhere, and in hail country it is the storm season — around Austin, every NOAA hail report of an inch or more in the last two years fell between March and June. Once a storm hits, crews book out for months. Getting quotes in late winter or early spring means choosing your roofer instead of taking who is free. Read hail season in Central Texas if you live there.
Common questions
What should I check on my roof in spring?
Shingles, granules at the downspouts, gutters, flashing, and ceiling or attic stains — from the ground.
Should I repair or replace my roof?
Repair isolated damage; replace widespread or repeat failures. One slope alone is $4,846 here, about 9% more per square foot than the full roof.
When is the best time to book a spring roof job?
Late winter or the first weeks of spring, before storms fill the calendars.
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