Seen a broken shingle? Roof looking a bit tired? DIY roofing may seem like a tempting option and comes with plenty of rewards, but it can sometimes be more trouble than it’s worth. Before diving into a huge DIY roofing project, it’s good to know what you’re up against – and avoid making a bigger mess for yourself than you started with.
Can I Repair My Own Roof?
Calling out professional roofers when you’re looking at a large-scale project, like a roof replacement, is common. But what about the smaller roofing issue?
Simpler DIY roof repairs and installations, such as new gutters or a rainwater tank, can seem like a good way to save money and feel highly rewarding. But no matter how seemingly small the job, it’s important you consider your safety to avoid serious injury to yourself and doing significant damage to your house.
Pros and Cons of DIY Roof Repairs
Before putting on your hard hat and looking up a DIY roof installation tutorial, consider the pros and cons of DIY roofing.
Pros of DIY Roof Repair
There are plenty of benefits to DIY projects.
Cost Savings
It goes without saying that calling in professional roofers can cost more than DIY roofing. If you’re on a strict budget or just want to save a few dollars, DIY roofing can be a tempting idea.
A professional roofer might charge anywhere between $50-100 an hour, and that’s not even including the price of roofing materials. If your roofing work is minor, you could save yourself a lot of money by picking up a hammer and roofing nails yourself.
Time-Saving
Climbing up the ladder yourself is a lot quicker than contacting a roofing professional and waiting for them to come over. You’ll have finished the job sooner than you think with the right roofing materials and a little know-how, saving yourself time – and learning some new skills along the way.
Easier
Depending on the project, DIY roofing is easier than it sounds. If you’re a handy person with a few DIY projects behind you, fixing your own roof may be the easiest option. There are plenty of online tutorials to help homeowners fix their roofs, too.
Plus, you’ll feel a huge sense of reward when you finish.
Control and Flexibility
When you get someone else in to do the job, you lose a little control over how things are done. Of course, professional roofers are professionals, and you shouldn’t ignore their expert opinions.
However, doing it yourself means greater control over your roofing project. You get to pick which roofing materials you use and have greater options than buying everything through your contractor – which could save money.
Cons of DIY Roof Repair
While DIY roofing is highly rewarding, it does have some disadvantages. You’ll want to know the drawbacks of DIY roofing before you start climbing up the scaffolding.
Experience
There’s a reason professional roofers charge money. It’s not just for their time and effort but for their expertise and experience. While there are plenty of online guides to DIY roofing, it can’t replace years of hands-on experience.
Unless you’re prepared to do your research and learn DIY roofing properly, it could cost you a big mistake. And significant mistakes can be the difference between leaks in your roof and a dry home.
You don’t want to dive into a DIY project to then make the problem worse and call in a contractor to install a new roof anyway.
Lack of Materials
Finding everything you need – from roofing cement and a pry bar to safety equipment – might be harder than you think. If you live near a big city, you should be able to find the right materials. However, if you live rurally, it could be more difficult.
Of course, it’s easy to order equipment online, but you’ll have to wait for it to arrive and pay the shipping costs. Whereas a professional roofer will have everything they need to fix your roof straight away.
Safety
Your health and safety should always be a top priority. Repairs or roof replacement might mean climbing up a ladder or scaffolding to reach the damaged section. Although it might seem simple, without the proper training, you risk a fall and causing serious injury.
Check the weather conditions before performing any DIY. Avoid walking on your roof in wet or windy conditions.
Quality Control
Your roof is the most important part of your house. A poor DIY job could leave your roof worse for wear and susceptible to water damage and degradation – costing you more in the long run.
While repairing or replacing a few asphalt shingles might seem easy, you could do more harm than good and end up having to call in professional roofers anyway to rectify your mistakes. In this case, it would be cheaper to hire a contractor in the first place.
Could DIY Void Your Insurance?
You may not consider it when you’re clearing out your gutters and looking to take on a slightly bigger roofing project, but DIY work could void your insurance.
Many home insurance policies don’t cover damage from unlicensed work. If your DIY roofing project does damage to your roof, your home may not be covered under your insurance.
On top of this, health insurance may not cover DIY injuries.
Tips for DIY Roofing Repairs
Preventing problems is the best plan when it comes to looking after your roof. Besides repairs, here are a few DIY maintenance projects:
- Regularly inspect your roof and look for loose or missing shingles, damaged flashing, and signs of wear.
- Clean debris, like leaves and sticks from your gutters, saving you from potential water damage.
- Trim any overhanging branches that could fall onto your roof and cause significant damage.
- Use moss killer to clean moss and algae from your roof – particularly if you live in a humid climate.
- Check for termites regularly to avoid any damage to your roof’s structure.
- Make sure your attic has suitable ventilation to prolong the life of your roof.
Should You DIY or Call a Professional Roofer?
Depending on the scale of the project and your own experience, DIY roofing repairs can be a cost-effective and rewarding solution. However, bigger ticket problems might require a professional roofer.
FAQs
What Is the Easiest Roof to DIY?
Asphalt shingles are one of the easiest roofing materials to install. They’re very affordable and widely used in Australia, so you’ll find plenty of help online.
What Is the Cheapest Form of Roofing?
Asphalt is generally considered the cheapest form of roofing. However, metal or roofing cement tiles are also affordable options.