We hope you’re one of the responsible homeowners who understand that roofs need care. But we also hope you’re reading this to decide if climbing to the roof and repairing it yourself is a good idea.
DIY roof repairs aren’t necessarily a bad idea. Yet you must know your limits. Or something from the list below might happen.
You Might Fall Off the Roof
There’s no need to sugarcoat things. Roofing is a dangerous job. If you aren’t a professional roofer, you shouldn’t do more than replace a missing shingle and clean gutters.
Some people forget that falling off the roof isn’t something that happens only in movies. Even pros sometimes take the wrong step and ruin their health. So if you don’t have to do it yourself, our advice is to call your roofer, especially if your insurance covers the damage.
You Might Pick Wrong Materials
Another mistake that happens during DIY roof repairs is using the wrong materials. People read stuff on forums without realizing that they live in a different climate. Or try to save money by using random shingles they find in their garages. Some homeowners put used shingles on their homes because it seemed like they’d work.
Don’t do that.
Even if you decide to replace a couple of shingles on your own, find the exact same model. Or call your roofer. It’s always best to pick someone local who has experience with North Carolina weather.
You Will Make Mistakes With Flashings
Everyone fears leaks. Yet some people approach flashing replacement like they aren’t a big deal. We’ve seen many poorly installed flashings in Dunn, NC. Most of them were DIY replacements, but it happens to some pros that they don’t seal everything properly.
So if you don’t have experience with flashings, please, don’t try to replace or repair them. There’s almost 100% that you won’t do a flawless job. And water finds its way under everything less than perfect.
You’ll Think You’re Nailing it; But Your Home Will Just Get Hammered
Replacing one or two missing shingles is a simple DIY roof repair, so we understand if you’re tempted to give yourself a go and nail those shingles to the roof.
However, the technique matters. You can’t just put 50 nails in a shingle; it’s not an old leather shoe. You can’t put 4 random nails either.
Your location determines the type of shingles your roofer recommends and the technique they use to install them. In Dunn, NC, rain and strong winds aren’t rare. So if you add new shingles without using the proper nails, technique, or nailing pattern – the repair will be for your eyes only (at best).
You Probably Postpone Problems, Not Resolve Them
Sorry for the pun(s) above.
For your eyes only means that your DIY roof repair might be simply masking the problem. Of course, if you have some experience, and the problem isn’t big, go ahead and bond with your kids or friends. But if you feel that reading blogs and watching roof repairs on YouTube isn’t enough, save yourself from trouble.
There are better ways to bond than replacing rusted flashings. Let us, the reliable local roofing experts from Dunn, NC take care of your roof. You’ll be sure it’s in perfect condition (and you’ll be sure you won’t fall from your roof).
