Repair or Replace? A Roof Quiz for Cleveland, OH
Can't tell if the roof wants a small fix or a full replacement? Answer five short questions about its age, material, visible wear, recent storms and past repairs. The quiz is built for houses in Cleveland, OH and around Cuyahoga County, where freeze-thaw cycles, heavy snow and gusty lake winds wear roofs down over time.
Before You Start
Take a look from the ground, the yard or a window before you begin, and never climb onto the roof yourself. Binoculars help with the upper slopes of a tall house. Glance at the gutters for loose granules and check the attic or top-floor ceilings for stains.
The quiz weighs roof age, the warning signs you pick, recent storms and how often the roof has been patched. It then lands on one of three results. Any answer that mentions a sagging roofline always points to at least a prompt look by a roofer, since sagging can mean trouble underneath.
With only 41.7 percent of Cleveland homes owner-occupied, according to the Census, plenty of people taking this quiz own a double or a small rental. On a two-family house, think about both units' roof sections and gutters as you answer.
What to Do With the Result
Whatever result you got, the next step is the same: have a roofer see the roof and put the findings in writing. A written estimate lets you compare a repair against a replacement with real numbers.