Should I Repair or Replace My Shingle Roof?
Answer five quick questions about your roof's age, damage and repair history, and this checker applies the same rules roofers use — including GAF's 30% cost rule — to say whether repair or replacement is usually better value in Bellevue, WA. It is a guide, not a quote.
Check repair or replace in under a minute
Five quick questions. Nothing is saved.
GUIDE ONLY — AN INSPECTION DECIDES
GAF's rule: if the estimated cost of repairs exceeds 30% of the price of a new roof, replacement usually makes more sense. Read the full guide in our roof repair vs roof replacement post.
How the repair or replace checker works
The checker applies the same rules of thumb that GAF, the shingle manufacturer, publishes for deciding between repair and replacement. It looks at four things: how much of the roof is damaged, how old the roof is, how many times it has already been repaired, and how many separate leaks there are. Two or more replacement signals means replacement is usually better value. One signal means it is borderline and an inspection will decide. No signals means a repair is usually the better call.
Flowchart: count the replacement signals — damage, age, repeat repairs and separate leaks — to see whether repair or replacement is usually better value. Original diagram, not a photo of a completed job.
GAF's repair vs replace rules — the full table
GAF lists these rules of thumb for when replacement may make better sense than repair. The checker above applies the four you can answer yourself; the table shows the full set.
| Repair usually makes sense when… | Replacement usually makes more sense when… |
|---|---|
| The roof is 10 years old or less, with minor damage to shingles or flashing | The estimated cost of repairs exceeds 30% of the price of a new roof |
| The leak is minor, easily traced, and there are no structural issues | The roof is more than 15 years old |
| The damage is local — a few missing, cracked or wind-lifted shingles | The roof has been repaired several times already |
| The rest of the roof is sound, with no widespread wear | There are repeated leaks, or you plan to stay in the home for many more years |
| — | Your homeowner's insurance requires a new roof |
Source: GAF, “How Often Should You Replace Your Roof?”, GAF Roof Views Blog, 24 August 2026. Rules of thumb, not a verdict on any single roof.
Need shingle repair in Bellevue? Call now for a free inspection and a written quote.
What an inspection adds that a checker cannot
A checker works from what you can see from the ground. An inspection walks the roof: it checks the decking for soft spots, lifts shingle edges to look at the underlayment, checks the flashing at chimneys, valleys and vents, and looks at the attic for damp insulation and daylight through the boards. That is what decides whether a repair will hold. If you are on the borderline, book the free inspection — we photograph everything, explain it in plain language, and give you a written quote before any work starts. Read more in our roof repair vs roof replacement guide and the shingle roof repair service page, or check the price first with the shingle repair cost estimator.
Repair or replace FAQs — Bellevue, WA
Is the checker's answer final?
No. The checker is a guide based on GAF's published rules of thumb, not a verdict on your roof. Only an inspection can say whether the decking is sound, how much of the roof is truly damaged, and whether a repair will hold. We inspect the roof, photograph the damage, and give you a written quote before any work starts, so you decide with real evidence.
What is GAF's 30% rule?
GAF, the shingle manufacturer, says that if the estimated cost of repairs exceeds 30% of the price of a new roof, replacement usually makes more sense. GAF lists it as one of several rules of thumb for replacement, alongside the roof being more than 15 years old, repeated repairs, and repeated leaks. Our repair-versus-replacement guide explains the rule in full.
My roof is 16 years old but the damage is small — repair or replace?
Age alone does not decide it. If the damage is isolated and the rest of the roof is still sound, a repair can buy several more years and stop a small problem from becoming a replacement. If the roof is 15 to 20 years old with widespread damage, granule loss, curling shingles or leaks in several places, replacement usually makes more sense. An inspection gives you the honest answer.
Does my insurance affect the repair or replace decision?
It can. GAF lists a homeowner's insurance policy requiring a new roof as one of the signals for replacement. We do not advise on insurance claims or paperwork — that is between you and your insurer. What we can do is inspect the roof and give you photos and a written report on its condition, which is what an insurer usually asks to see.
Still on the fence? Call (425) 738-3670 — the inspection is free, and you get photos and a written quote before you decide anything.