Whether you’re motivated more by saving some cash or by the pride and fulfilment of completing home repair tasks by yourself, many homeowners eventually wonder whether some of the roof repair and maintenance that their home needs could be a DIY job. And yes, there are some roof related jobs that a motivated homeowner can tackle on their own (although we’re always happy to help with even the most routine roof maintenance tasks if you’d rather not get up on the ladder yourself).
Can DIY:
Check and clean your gutters
Yes, cleaning your gutters counts as roof maintenance, and you can absolutely do this yourself if you feel comfortable climbing up on a ladder. Blocked up gutters can cause water and ice to back up underneath your roof, causing leaks and potentially serious roof damage. So, cleaning your gutters is the first line of defense in roof maintenance. (Just as a note for ALL of the DIY tasks listed here — don’t get up on your roof, or up on a ladder, if you’re alone or if you don’t feel comfortable up there.)
Take note of missing shingles/tiles
Taking the time to look at your roof and see if you can notice any missing or obviously loose shingles or tiles is a perfectly reasonable DIY roofing task (and it’s more important than you might realize). Ask anyone who ever had to deal with a leaky roof whether they wish they had noticed there was a problem before the outside started coming inside, and you can bet they’ll all say, “Yes!” If you notice the shingles or tiles on your roof are starting to come loose more frequently, or you’re finding more of them in your yard, it’s the perfect time to call us out for a more detailed roof inspection. This is the perfect way to handle a small problem before it becomes a big problem.
Inspect the flashing
In the same way that inspecting your shingles and noticing a problem is an important (and often overlooked) DIY roofing task, so is inspecting the flashing around your chimney and around your roof’s edges. Loose, missing, or damaged flashing can allow water underneath your roof and into the roof deck, and this is a precursor to mold and leaks. Letting your local roofing company know when you see a problem with your flashing is a great way to save yourself money and headaches later.
Cleaning off your roof
This is an underrated and really important DIY roof maintenance task: clearing off your roof. This does not mean “take a pressure washer to your roof” (which should never be done) but it does mean “getting up there and removing collected leaves or other debris”. Moisture can collect under piles of leaves, which can lead to mold development, and damage can be hidden by tree branches or larger debris. Your roof shouldn’t have to play host to piles of leaves or anything else for more than a little while, so getting up there to clear everything off is a manageable and helpful DIY task.
Replace the occasional loose or missing shingle
If you’re a true DIY-er, and the prospect of climbing up on your roof feels satisfying rather than terrifying, you can tackle a replacement of a shingle here and there. Even robust, well-constructed roofs will lose the occasional shingle and replacing them is not a super technical task. When it’s more than just occasionally, or if several are missing from the same area, it’s a better idea to get an expert opinion on what might be causing the shingles to fall in the first place.
Apply roofing sealant
This is another task for only the really committed DIY roof repair homeowners. If you’re so inclined, and you’ve been shown how to do this properly, you can add the occasional bit of roofing sealant to your roof. This takes a bit of experience and know-how, but it isn’t an “expert only” task, so you can take this on if you’re really an enthusiast.
Don’t DIY:
Fix a leak
There are some “DIY roof repair guides” online that say that it’s ok to get up there and fix a minor roof leak but PLEASE DON’T. This is not a task for an amateur, in part because a minor roof leak almost never stays minor, and in part because the potential damage due to an incomplete or incorrect repair can be catastrophic. If your roof is leaking ANY amount, please call in a pro for an inspection and a professional repair. It may be the only way to save your roof from a complete replacement.
Fix flashing
This falls into the same category as fixing a roof leak — just because you CAN, doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Anytime there’s evidence that there is even a possibility that water is already entering your roof surface or your home, you need to get a professional assessment of the current damage and the best path forward. If you see damaged or missing flashing, you should get an expert out to take a look at it before attempting anything other than a temporary repair.
Install a skylight
This is a great thing to do … if you like paying large roofing bills. Adding a skylight into an existing roof is a complex task, even for a roofing professional. And yes, that means skylight installation is expensive. But you know what’s more expensive? Installing that skylight incorrectly and ruining your roof. Don’t do this. Seriously.
Install solar panels
This is slightly less risky than trying to install your own skylights, and there have been many successful amateur attempts at solar panel installation. But there is a potential for significant damage to your roof when installing rooftop solar panels. This is best left to the pros for your peace of mind.
Dealing with mold or rot
If you have discovered the existence of mold, rot, or any other type of water damage, this warrants an immediate call to a roofing professional. This is not a “wait and see” situation, and it is not a DIY situation. At this point, we are trying to save your roof and protect your home, and we need to get started ASAP, NOT after you’ve given it a try on your own.
Replace your roof
Given the other things we’ve written here, this won’t be a surprise: don’t try to replace or install your own roof. We can pretty much guarantee this will be a disaster, and we would be so happy to help you from the beginning, rather than getting an emergency call about a failing roof.
For the motivated DIY-er, there are definitely ways to participate in caring for your roof, but there’s never any shame in calling in a pro for even the simplest of tasks (especially if you feel uncertain or unsafe getting up on a ladder). We’re happy to help with all of your roof care needs in the Cincinnati area, from the simplest to the complex — and please definitely call us for the complex tasks!