Repair is smart when the roof is young-to-mid-life and the issue is local: a cracked pipe boot, a few blown-off shingles, a leaky skylight curb, or a small puncture on a flat roof. Signs you can still repair: most shingles are flat with good granules, flashing is sound, the deck feels firm, and leaks are tied to one feature. Replacement moves to the front when the roof is near end of life, leaks keep popping up, 25–30%+ of the surface is compromised, shingles are curled/bald, the deck feels soft, or the system was installed wrong. Also consider code rules on layers—many areas cap you at two layers, so a third means tear-off anyway.
Ask contractors to price both options with photos: “What’s the root cause? Will the repair extend life, and by how long?” If replacement, confirm what’s included: deck fixes, underlayment, ventilation, flashings, and disposal. A good middle path is “repair now, plan replacement” with a timeline (e.g., 12–24 months) and a budget. Avoid sinking money into a roof that’s already failing; but don’t replace a healthy system for a small, fixable leak. Clear photos and side-by-side quotes make the call easy.