Patching an old site feels cheaper until the patches cost more than a rebuild. A few clear signs tell you when it is time.
The warning signs
Look for patterns rather than single faults.
- The site is hard to use on a phone
- Pages take many seconds to appear
- Updates break something else
- You cannot change content without a developer
- The design looks nothing like your business now
What a rebuild should keep
Good content and good addresses are worth keeping. A careful rebuild keeps URLs that already rank or redirects each old one to its new home.
How to decide
Ask for a quote to fix the problems and a quote to rebuild, then compare the cost over the next three years, including the time you lose.