When to repair a website and when to rebuild it

Not every problematic website needs to be rebuilt. Sometimes a focused fix is enough. In other cases, adding more patches only increases technical debt.

Repair makes sense when

• The site loads and the main structure works.
• The issue is concentrated in forms, buttons, copy, images or mobile layout.
• The design is acceptable but public details look neglected.
• The client needs to solve something quickly without a full redesign.

Rebuild makes sense when

• The technical base is broken or hard to maintain.
• The main theme, builder or plugins are abandoned.
• The website remains slow after basic optimizations.
• The design no longer represents the business or supports growth.

Decision criteria

Diagnosis first

Before quoting a rebuild, a review is useful. Diagnosis avoids overselling and also avoids patching something that no longer has a healthy base.