Living in Windsor-Essex County means your roof takes a beating all year long. Our unique Great Lakes climate shortens roof lifespans by up to 20% compared to milder parts of Ontario. But here’s the good news: knowing when to repair, rejuvenate, or replace can save you thousands of dollars and years of headaches.
Your Three Smart Options
When your roof starts showing its age, you have three paths forward – each with different costs and benefits
Why Windsor-Essex County is Tough on Roofs
Your roof faces a perfect storm of weather challenges that most Canadian homes don’t deal with:
Winter Punishment
- Temperatures dropping to -20°C or colder
- Over 200cm of snow annually
- Ice dams forming when warm attics melt snow that refreezes at cold eaves
- 50+ days of snow cover putting constant weight stress
Summer Stress
- Heat waves reaching 35°C that make shingles soft and vulnerable
- Severe thunderstorms with 100+ km/h winds
- Hail storms that can punch holes right through aging shingles
The Freeze-Thaw Killer
This is the big one. When water gets into tiny cracks and freezes, it expands 9% and pushes those cracks wider. Do this 30-50 times a winter, and small problems become big ones fast.
When Simple Repairs Make Sense
Go with repairs when your roof is under 10 years old and you’re dealing with specific, isolated problems. Think of it like fixing a small dent in your car instead of buying a new one.
Perfect repair situations:
- A few missing shingles after a storm
- One small leak you can pinpoint
- Damaged flashing around your chimney or vents
- Less than 10% of your roof showing problems
What to expect: Most repairs take 1-2 days and cost $500-$1,200. Cleroux Roofing offers emergency services and responds within 2 hours for urgent issues. All repairs come with their 10-year warranty.
Timing tip: Fall is your best bet for non-emergency repairs. You’ll get better pricing and weather conditions than summer’s peak season.
The Roof Rejuvenation Sweet Spot
Here’s where you can make really smart money decisions. Roof rejuvenation works like anti-aging cream for your roof – it restores flexibility to aging shingles and can add 5-15 years of life for a fraction of replacement cost.
Perfect candidates for rejuvenation:
- Your roof is 8-15 years old
- Shingles look tired but aren’t falling apart
- You’re not ready for the big expense of replacement
- You want to squeeze more years out of your current roof
The process is surprisingly simple: we spray a plant-based treatment (mostly made from soybeans!) that soaks into your shingles and replaces the oils they’ve lost over time. Your shingles become flexible again, granules stick better, and you get much better protection against our harsh Windsor weather.
Cleroux Roofing is the only company in Windsor-Essex County with exclusive access to this proven technology. The whole process takes just 3-4 hours, and your roof reaches full effectiveness within 72 hours.
To learn more about how this technology works and why it’s such a game-changer, check out our complete roof rejuvenation analysis.
When It’s Time for a Fresh Start
Sometimes you need to bite the bullet and replace the whole roof. This usually happens when your roof is over 20 years old, has multiple problems, or your insurance company is getting nervous about coverage.
Clear signs you need replacement:
- Your roof is 20+ years old (15+ in our harsh climate)
- Multiple leaks in different areas
- Widespread shingle damage affecting more than 30% of your roof
- Your insurance company is threatening to drop you or won’t renew
- Repair costs are adding up to more than 25% of replacement cost
What replacement costs in Windsor-Essex County:
Basic asphalt shingles: $10,000-$14,000 for a typical home. These work fine and you’ll get 20-25 years of life.
Premium asphalt shingles: $18,000-$24,000. Better looking, longer lasting, and often come with better warranties.
Metal roofing: $14,000-$60,000 depending on material. Costs more upfront but can last 40-70 years and handles our weather beautifully.
The good news? Windsor-Essex pricing runs 10-20% below Toronto area costs while still getting quality materials and installation.
The Insurance Reality Check
Here’s something many homeowners don’t realize: your roof’s age dramatically affects your home insurance. It’s not just about claims – it’s about whether you can even get coverage.
The timeline that matters:
- Under 10 years: Full coverage, no age penalties
- 10-15 years: Small premium increases start
- 15-20 years: Steeper premium increases, some companies require inspections
- Over 20 years: Many companies won’t write new policies
Pro tip: If you’re planning to sell your home, a roof over 15 years old can scare away buyers or kill deals during home inspections.
Timing is Everything in Windsor-Essex
Fall is your golden window for any major roof work. September through October gives you:
- Perfect weather conditions
- Moderate contractor demand (better pricing)
- Time to complete before winter hits
Spring is your second choice (March through May), but expect:
- Higher demand as everyone wants work done
- Possible rain delays
- Need to book 2-3 months ahead
Summer and winter? Summer means peak pricing and extreme heat, while winter adds 15-25% to costs and limits what can be done safely.
Your Decision-Making Checklist
Choose REPAIR when:
- ✅ Your roof is under 10 years old
- ✅ You have specific, isolated damage
- ✅ Less than 10% of your roof is affected
- ✅ Your insurance coverage is still solid
Choose REJUVENATION when:
- ✅ Your roof is 8-15 years old
- ✅ It looks tired but isn’t falling apart
- ✅ You want to delay major expense
- ✅ You plan to stay in your home 5+ more years
Choose REPLACEMENT when:
- ✅ Your roof is over 20 years old
- ✅ You have multiple recurring problems
- ✅ Insurance is becoming an issue
- ✅ You’re planning to sell within 2-3 years
Why Choose Cleroux Roofing for Any Option?
Whether you need a quick repair, roof rejuvenation, or complete replacement, Cleroux Roofing brings 30 years of Windsor-Essex County experience to every project.
What makes them different:
- Only company in the region offering proven roof rejuvenation technology
- A+ BBB rating maintained since 2014
- 10-year warranty on all work, from small repairs to full replacements
- 2-hour response time for urgent issues
- Family-owned and operated – they live and work in your community
