Why houses of this age

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024 1-year estimates) puts the median year built for housing in the City of Savannah at 1971. Of about 67,700 housing units, roughly 15,200 (about 22%) were built in the 1960s or 1970s, and about 24,900 (about 37%) before 1960.

A house from the 1970s is almost certainly not on its original roof. What matters is how many times it has been re-roofed, how, and what is under the shingles now.

When a repair makes sense

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) points out that asphalt shingle roofs are repairable. The repairs it lists as typical are flashing problems, shingles damaged by debris, shingles lifted by wind that need resealing, and fasteners that have backed out.

The damage is limited to one area and the rest of the roof is sound.
The deck under the damage is solid.
You can match the shingles. ARMA suggests keeping leftover bundles, or at least knowing the color name and the year the roof went on.

When replacement is likely

ARMA lists conditions where a full tear-off is likely rather than another layer:

There are already two layers of shingles. ARMA notes most building codes do not allow more than two coverings.
The roof sags, or the deck is rotted or warped, or has gaps wider than about a quarter inch.
The existing shingles are very uneven.
The roof is laminated (architectural) shingles. ARMA says most manufacturers do not recommend covering them with a new layer.

Things that come up on older Savannah houses

Hidden layers. Ask the roofer to check the edge and count layers before pricing.
Decking. Older plank or worn sheathing may need sections replaced once shingles are off. Ask how that is priced per sheet or per board before you sign.
Ventilation. ARMA recommends checking attic ventilation at every re-roof.
Permits. The City of Savannah's permit checklist says a full roof replacement, including underlayment, needs a building permit, though no plans are required. In a Historic District, see our reroof steps first.

Stop the water first

If it is leaking now, ARMA's advice is to control the water before anything else, with buckets inside or a tarp outside, and then have a qualified roofer make the repair.

How we price it

We tell you which way we would go and why, with photos. If a repair will do, we say so. Either way, you get a written price before work starts.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, tables B25034/B25035, Savannah city, GA (via Census Reporter API) · ARMA, Asphalt shingle roofs are repairable · ARMA, Reroofing: replacement vs. recover · City of Savannah, permit checklist (PDF) · checked 2026-11-01

Repair or replace? A roof decision for Savannah's 1970s houses