• By Liam Ridings
• In Blog, Repairs
• Tags roof repairs

6 Factors That Determine the Cost of Roof Repairs

Asking about the cost of roof repair is a lot like asking how much a holiday will cost; the overall price will be largely dependent on your starting point and where you want to end up. Roof repairs are very common practice in Australia; however, no two repair jobs are going to be identical and the cost of roof repairs will always vary depending on the job.

Having your roof repaired can be a lengthy process depending on the roof damage that needs to be repaired. It’s important to have a roof repair contractor appropriately assess your roof prior to receiving a quote. This way, you can rest assured knowing you’re paying for a roof repair tailored to your roofing needs, rather than a standard low-quality patch-up job.

At Vertec Roofing Sydney, we take each roofing job very seriously. Whether it be a small repair or large replacement, we will always make the necessary assessments before proceeding further. There are a number of factors that we take into consideration when projecting roof repair costs. If you’d like to get an idea into how these costs and prices are influenced, here are the 6 main factors we take a look at:

1. Type of Roof

Roofing can come in a range of different shapes, sizes and materials. However, with each unique shape, comes unique repair methods. The cost of roof repairs will be largely influenced by the type of roof you have. Whether your roof is flat roof or a sloped roof, the amount of work needed to be put in will depend on how accessible and easy to work with your roof type is.

Flat roofing surfaces can be easy to work within some situations as it is more accessible and easier to navigate for roofing contractors. However, because of the shape of flat roofing, they tend to have shorter life spans and are prone to damage and wear from water and moisture build-up. This is because the roof lacks the same natural drainage a sloped roof has, and the water doesn’t always drain effectively after heavy rainfall.

Repairing a flat roof can be expensive as they are more prone to roof leaks and can be difficult to repair the source of the problem. In saying that, other roofing types also come with their share of repair disadvantages. Sloped roofing is difficult to access, clean and inspect. The sloping valleys and pitches can make it hard to make necessary repairs, which may increase repair costs. However, an advantage to sloped roofing is that water is drained effectively, so they are less prone to roof leaks that need extensive and expensive repairs.

It goes without saying that roof repair costs will likely increase on multistorey and very high roofs. The higher the roof, the more difficult it will be to access for roofing contractors to make inspections and repairs, and therefore, repair jobs will come at a higher price.

2. Roofing Material

Roofing material plays a large role in determining how much a roof repair job is going to cost. If your roof was made from less expensive roofing materials, like asphalt shingles, the repair will likely cost less. If your roof was constructed with more costly materials such as metal sheeting, roofing repairs will be more expensive. Roofing material costs vary greatly between roof types, and some will require more labour, materials, and products than others.

3. Scope of Roof Repairs

The scope of the roofing repairs required is the largest determining factor in the overall cost of roof repairs. Most roofing contractors will determine a quote by the square footage of the roof; meaning the larger the damaged area, the more expensive the repair will end up being.

Simple repairs and maintenance will obviously be cheaper than complex, more labour-intensive jobs. If you have a small leak that needs patching, you can expect a lower repair bill. However, if the leak has spread further to a larger part of your roof, then it may be more expensive to fix. The overall roof repair costs related to large jobs will be higher because they need more work hours and the number of materials needed will also be higher.

4. Existing Water Damage

Water and moisture build-up can quickly damage the structure and integrity of a house. This type of damage may not be obvious until the roofer removes the original roofing materials and inspects the underlay. Existing water damage can be a large contributing factor to the increased cost of the roof repairs, as they are more complex and can require large reconstructions. Repairing water damage can be costly and may inflate the cost of roof repairs. However, water damage is not something you should ignore as the problem can quickly grow from a pesky leak repair to a full-blown roof replacement in a short period of time.

Common house-hold signs of existing water damage include:

• Watermarks on interior ceilings and walls

• Mould growth

• Wood rotting

• Musty or mildew odour

• Peeled, cracked, bubbled plaster

• Peeling paint

• Exterior wall damage

5. Chimney & Skylights

Unique and large rooftop elements like chimneys and skylights will also influence the cost of roof repairs. Working around large roof objects makes the repairs much more labour intensive and may require specialised roofing materials. With each chimney, skylight or whirlybird installation repair, flashing needs to be placed around it. Without the proper flashing to seal the area, you are putting yourself and your home at risk for more leaks and water damage. The extra labour and product costs may influence the overall cost of roof repairs.

6. Quality of workmanship

High-quality workmanship will likely come with a slightly higher price tag. When it comes to roof repairs, the best course of action for your roof and your house is to hire a skilled and experienced roofing contractor. Sure, you could save some money by skimping out on quality workmanship, but in the end, your roof will suffer. Hiring a professional roofer may inflate your costs as opposed to hiring a general handyman, however, the advantages of relying on a professional outweigh the benefits of saving a few cents.

With more than 10 years of experience, Vertec Roofing is the trusted choice for Roof Repairs in Sydney. Here at Vertec, we pride ourselves on being a professional, honest, and reliable roofing company. We understand that each property is entirely different, and so is the roof repair solution.

The team at Vertec can guarantee every roofing repair is executed to the highest quality of workmanship to ensure safety for your home. We take the time to understand the unique set of circumstances for your roofing project so that we can find the most reliable and cost-effective solution for you. Whether you’re after commercial, industrial, or residential roof repairs, you can rest assured that your roofing project is in safe hands with Vertec Roofing.