Roofing Work You Can Do on Your Own
Okay, we’re going to contradict ourselves a little bit, because in an earlier blog post, we advised against the DIY roofing approach.
In fact, we titled the blog 5 Reasons Why DIY Roof Repair is a Recipe for Disaster. We’re not walking that back—ultimately, it’s always safest and most economical to hire a professional—but we also didn’t want to turn off our weekend warrior do-it-yourselfer audience.
Is there any roofing work you can do on your own? Yes, but not that much. There are some roofing tasks that don’t take too many tools or too much specialized knowledge to pull off.
Homeowners who are already confident DIYers around the house may take on these roofing challenges. But remember that any roofing work you do on your own can impact your insurance coverage. We don’t recommend you perform repairs on installation on your home by yourself.
That said, here are some roofing tasks you can do.
Roofing Your Shed
Your home’s roof may not be the only one you have on the property. If you have a small shed, you could take on the task of roofing it yourself. Keep in mind that you may not have insurance on your work, so if you keep lots of valuables in the shed, it may not be the best idea. But, if your shed just contains some basic gardening supplies, you could add the roof yourself.
One common mistake is to neglect the edge materials for the roof, causing that sagging shed look. Others forget to add an underlayment (which should include a felt as well as an ice and water protector product) so make sure you understand the installation process before you start.
Cleaning Your Gutters
Every fall, your gutters are likely to get full of fallen leaves and other debris. You can get a professional to clean out this stuff, or you can do it yourself. When you do, there are a few basic things you should know:
- Leaning a ladder against the gutters themselves can damage them.
- You should have another person with you to brace your ladder and increase safety.
- You can use tools to clean out the gutters, but do not scrape, pressure wash, or otherwise contact the shingles.
- Do not stand on the shingles, you can damage them by walking improperly.
Debris Cleaning
For some homeowners, cleaning the gutters isn’t enough. If you have large trees that overhang your roof, then you may get other kinds of debris on it, like dropped fruits and nuts, pine needles, and more. It is wise to regularly sweep off this debris to prevent damage to the roof and also prevent things like acorns from attracting pests. You can try to clean your rooftop, but you should keep these tips in mind:
- It is not safe for you to be on the roof without a personal fall arrest system (PFAS.) So either stick to the ladder or purchase and properly use a PFAS.
- You should not use abrasive techniques on the roof. Gentle sweeping and running a gentle stream of water over the shingles should be enough to clean them. If not, you need professional help.
Why Hire a Professional?
It is safest and most cost-effective to hire a professional roofer to perform all of the roofing work you need to be completed.
The Len Roofing & Remodeling Difference
When we say that we’re a top-quality home remodeling and roofing company that serves the North Shore and surrounding Chicagoland area, we back it up. We do more than simply cover the basics: we show up on time and nail it. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 847-768-6000 or visit our contact page.
