Nobody wants to replace a roof with ten years left in it, or pay to patch one that's done. The difference is usually clear from the roof itself, and we'll tell you which one you're looking at.
Can a roof be repaired instead of replaced?
Yes, when the damage is in one place and the rest of the roof is sound. The repairs we do most: a failed pipe boot, a handful of wind-lifted shingles, chimney flashing that's pulled away from the brick, a leaking skylight, a soft spot in a flat-roof membrane. We've reflashed and re-bricked chimneys, set new skylights into existing roofs, patched EPDM, and taken emergency leak calls in January.
How do you know when it's time to replace your roof?
- Asphalt shingles past 20 years, or a second layer already on the roof.
- Granules in the gutters and bald, shiny patches on the sunny slope.
- Shingles curling at the edges or cupping in the middle.
- Leaks in more than one place, or the same leak back after a repair.
- Sagging between rafters, or sheathing that feels soft underfoot.
Two or more of these, and a repair is money thrown at a roof that needs to go.
Should I repair or replace? Our rule of thumb
Local problem, roof under about 15 years old: repair it. Roof near the end of its life: a repair buys months, not years. In between, we give you both numbers and tell you what we'd do on our own house. One reviewer hired us because we “didn't try to sell” her. We'd rather earn the replacement later than push it now.
Do roof repairs come with a guarantee?
Ours do. Every job, repair or replacement, carries our lifetime workmanship warranty. On a full GAF roof, the manufacturer's material warranty sits on top.
Can roof repairs be done in winter?
Yes. We took emergency leak calls and cleared snow and ice off roofs across central Connecticut in January and February 2026. Shingles need warmth to seal, so some winter work is a proper dry-in now and a finished repair once temperatures hold above 50°F, and we'll tell you which applies to yours.
What to expect from our crew
A small repair gets the same licensed crew and the same lifetime workmanship warranty as a full roof. We explain what failed and why, get to leaks quickly, do the repair right the first time, and price it as a repair instead of pitching a replacement. The site is clean when we leave.
Written by the crew at Pattison Construction, a family-owned general contractor in Wallingford, CT since 1991. GAF Certified Contractor, licensed Connecticut Home Improvement Contractor HIC.0672217. Free estimates, no pressure.