Two things determine this: age and damage. If your roof is leaking or the roofing system has failed, repair is no longer an option and replacement is needed.

Age matters too. The insurance industry generally considers a roof to be at the end of its useful life around 20 years old, even though many shingle warranties are rated for up to 50 years. Minnesota's weather, including sun, wind, hail, rain, and snow, wears roofs down faster than the warranty number suggests.

The most reliable way to know is a professional inspection. A Keyprime inspector will document the roof's condition with photos and give you a clear answer on repair versus replacement.

Cost depends on size, roof complexity, and materials. As a general range: standard homes typically start around $14,000 to $18,000. Mid-range homes fall between $15,000 and $20,000. Larger or more complex roofs, including steeper pitches and roofs with more components, run $20,000 and up.

An exact price requires a full measurement and inspection of your roof.

Around 25 years on average. Most Minnesota roofs don't reach old age before a storm event, such as hail, wind, or ice dams, forces a replacement sooner.

Impact-resistant materials perform best, specifically Class 4 impact-resistant shingles. This rating applies across material types, including asphalt, metal, clay, and tile, and is built to withstand hail and severe weather better than standard-grade materials.

Timing depends on the size and complexity of the job. Smaller residential roof replacements can wrap up in less than a day. Larger or more complex projects, including bigger homes, steeper or more detailed roofs, or commercial buildings, take longer and can run out to a couple of months for large-scale work.

Once we've inspected your roof and scoped the project, we'll give you a specific timeline before work begins.

First, contain the damage. Place buckets under the leak and move or cover anything nearby that water could damage, including floors, walls, and furniture.

Second, call for emergency service. Keyprime dispatches a technician to locate and stop the leak right away, similar to how an emergency room stabilizes a patient before the full treatment plan. Once the leak is stopped, we schedule the permanent repair.

Yes. Minnesota cities require a permit for roof work, whether it's a repair or a full replacement. A licensed contractor is required to pull a permit, though homeowners also have the option to pull their own permit if they choose to.

Not on a fixed schedule. Frequent inspections without a reason just mean more foot traffic on your roof, which can cause its own wear and damage.

The right time to get your roof inspected is after a storm, to check for damage that isn't visible from the ground. If your roof is approaching 20 years old with no storm history, a one-time inspection is worth scheduling to confirm how much life it has left.