Is DIY Roof Repair a Suitable Practice for Most Homeowners?

diy roofing repair

Whether you just bought a new home, or you had one for a while and you’re thinking of doing some renovation work, you probably already thought about the option of engaging in DIY roof repair.

Doing the maintenance work for your roof and fixing it yourself might be considered something that should only be reserved to professionals and tech-savvy homeowners who know what they’re doing. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. If you call your local contractor, they too will tell you that most of the simpler roof repair issues can be resolved with some easy DIY work that, with the proper tools and knowledge, will take you less than a full Sunday afternoon to complete.

How Long Can You Put Off Your Repairs?

If you’re dreading DIY roof repair, and you don’t have the money to call in the pros, you might think that it’s all right to postpone a roof repair project indefinitely. This is definitely not the case!

Postponing your problem can often extend the damage to deeper areas of the roof, such as the decking and underlayment, and it may even lead to further damage to your walls and attic. Moreover, if you leave some problems untreated – especially ice dams and gutter-related concerns – the damage could even extend down to your basement and foundation, requiring thousands of dollars worth of repairs later on.

Checking for Roof Damage

The simplest DIY roofing job you can think of is a simple maintenance check and roof inspection. For that, you just need a sturdy ladder and some reliable safety gear – such as goggles, sturdy boots and a good pair of work gloves – as well as a harness for added stability and safety. The harness is not always considered necessary, but it can be a great asset when it comes to safety, and experts will recommend it as crucially important, if you never did any roofing work before.

To check for the actual damage, it’s important to take a close look at the roofing shingles, and make sure none of them are cracked, broken or missing. Also, check the flashing, since that’s usually where the source of most leaks will be. Finally, making sure your gutters are free of debris and inspecting the attic for subtler leaks and ventilation problems can be an important additional step.

DIY vs. Professional Roofing

DIY is naturally a cheaper avenue when it comes to roof repair. On the other hand, you also have to do a lot more work and ask for help from professional roofing experts, if the problem becomes too much or there are complications.

Most roofers will recommend that you at least ask for safety tips and inquire about specific roofing materials from local contractors, even if you’ll be the one installing them and taking care of the entire work.

All in all, DIY repair and maintenance gets a lot easier with time and experience. Whether you’re dealing with basic tasks and leaving the rest to a professional San Ramon roofer, or performing all DIY roof repair activities yourself, DIY roofing can be remarkably instructional even for homeowners who aren’t too experienced with home renovation and repair work.