The 5 Reasons Why You Should Never DIY Your Roof Repairs

DIY projects can be fun and rewarding when done correctly, but they can become catastrophic and expensive if not. If you’re asking yourself “can I do my own roof repair?” you should consider the following 5 things:

1. You might miss something. If your roof is leaking, you might not identify the source correctly. Roof leaks can be difficult to spot, especially for the inexperienced DIYer. Water can work its way underneath roofing shingles and around metal flashings so the source of a leak is not always clear. Roofing professionals are specifically trained to correctly identify and stop the cause of roofing leaks. The sooner your home is watertight again, the better. Roofing leaks often cause interior damage and can lead to mold buildup. A skilled professional can often locate and repair the source of a roof leak within a short amount of time.
2. Your DIY roof might not be up to code. For example, in El Paso County, your roof must pass an inspection from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. This is to verify that your roof is in sound condition and meets the regional building department requirements. The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department follows international building codes for roofing. Most homeowners are not aware of these code requirements and how to meet them.  Additionally, if you plan to sell your home in the future, it’s best to hire a professional. This will prevent your home buyer from questioning the integrity of the roof before it’s time to close. 
3. You can cause additional roofing damage.  This one should go without saying. Many things can go awry when it comes to DIY roofing. For example, it can be easy to break roofing tiles on a tile roof if you do not know how to walk over it properly. You may “repair” the wrong area or you could damage other areas of the roof during the repair.
4. DIY roofing is dangerous. It’s never worth it to hurt yourself. Most homeowners do not own the correct equipment to complete a roof repair. This can include proper footwear, safety equipment, and sturdy ladders. Regardless of the roofing material, roofs become slippery when wet or frosty. Your roof might also be steep enough to require a safety harness to stop falls that can cause serious injuries.
5. It’s not likely to look professional and you could use the wrong materials. There are many roofing products out there that are easily accessible to the average homeowner. However, some of these roofing products don’t hold up well over time. It is easy to select the wrong product for the job. Roofing professionals have specific training to choose the right products for the task at hand. They also know how to work with a variety of roofing materials to make a roof repair appear seamless.  No one wants to have their roof noticed because everyone can point out exactly where the repair was completed.

Before you decide to do a repair yourself, it is essential to understand just how complex a roofing system is. Each component of a roofing system is carefully placed to protect your home from the elements. Roof repair projects can be difficult and dangerous. Not only that, but a DIY roof might not look as aesthetically pleasing or your roof might meet not your regional building department code requirements. All in all, it’s best to give the repair to a trusted expert who can do the job right and make your home secure and tight.