DIY Roof Repairs: Simple Ways to Keep Your Roof Protected

In today’s day and age, there’s an online video showing you how to fix anything. Many homeowners, in an effort to save themselves time and money, are turning to DIY solutions before calling in the professional. 

While we love getting handy, can every part of your house benefit from a DIY fix? When it comes to your roof, you may want to pause and consider before attempting a DIY roof repair. Today, we’ll help you understand the importance of a professional roofing inspection, what DIY repairs you can try while waiting for a roofing expert, and the benefits of letting a professional do the job from the beginning. 

3 Easy DIY Roof Repairs That Work in a Pinch

While you wait for a professional to inspect your home, you may be wondering how you can prevent your home from experiencing further damage. Here are three things you can do if you need to quickly repair your roof in a pinch. 

1. Missing Shingles on the Roof

If you have a shingle roof, you may notice some patches of shingles missing, especially after a storm. This is something that you’ll want repaired quickly, as a missing shingle exposes your roof to the elements and increases the likelihood of further damage to the roof or a leak. 

One of the best things you can do when you have missing shingles is to buy or have a tarp on hand. Tarps act as a temporary yet effective solution to missing shingles and can keep your home from experiencing water damage. We often recommend buying a tarp before hurricane season, as they are in high demand when storms begin to pick up. 

When you’re searching for solutions, you may come across some people recommending tar and plastic for the exposed areas of your roof. We highly recommend against this. Tar can come with dangerous fumes, and unless you’re a professional, you may not know how to handle it safely. Tarping is a much safer, straightforward answer that keeps you away from toxins and potentially damaging your roof further. 

2. Water Pooling on Roof/Gutters

Water pooling on your roof or in your gutters can seem alarming, but the fix for this is rather simple. First, you’ll want to clean out your gutters to ensure it’s not a blockage causing the pooling water. 

If you’re instead dealing with pooling water in your yard from your roof, you can purchase gutter extenders. These help to reroute the water, so it doesn’t pool as easily, especially in one spot in your yard.

3. Roofing Leaks 

Leaks are one of the most common roofing issues American homeowners face, impacting around 6 million homes in the USA. If you notice signs of a roof leak, your first instinct is to find the leak and repair it. However, roof leaks can be a complex problem, and often take a professional to repair them properly without the risk of them recurring. But while you wait for a professional, there are a couple of things you can do. 

First, clean out your gutters. Like water pooling, you’ll want to make sure that your gutters are not causing water damage to your roof by not flowing properly. Second, you can go into your attic and see if you can identify the source of the leak. If it’s an obvious opening, you could cover it temporarily with tape or another temporary solution to slow the drip while waiting for a repair. Common areas that may leak include: 

• Around chimneys
• Skylights
• Areas of missing shingles 
• Anywhere the roof meets (damaged flashing is often the cause. Flashing is a complex roofing component, so you’ll want to leave it fully to the professionals)

We do not recommend going onto the roof to fix the roof leak yourself. Not only is this dangerous, but most, if not all, DIY fixes only mask the problem. Over time, they can deteriorate and cause even more damage without a professional repair. 

The Risks of DIY Roof Repairs  

If you’re a handy person, it can seem easy to DIY repair your own roof. However, even with some of the solutions we offer, it may be safer and better for a professional to handle the job. Roofing is one of the most dangerous jobs, with injuries and deaths happening year after year. This risk is even higher for someone who is not a professional. 

When you experience a roofing issue, we recommend calling a professional immediately. You can do simple DIY maintenance things like inspecting your attic or your exterior roof from the ground or even cleaning your gutter, but getting on top of your roof is dangerous and should be avoided. Plus, DIY fixes can, at times, void your roof insurance, costing you more money down the line. 

Big D Roofing Repairs Your Roof Safely & Efficiently

When you need it most, Big D Roofing helps to repair your roof quickly and efficiently. Our Gainesville roofers will inspect your roof, find the source of the issue, and create a game plan with you to repair your roof. No need to worry about unexpected charges or getting more than you need. We value open communication, helping you to understand what needs to be done and why. 

Have a roofing concern you want to address? Get a free estimate of the repair from us!