This is a homeowners guide to DIY roof leak repairs. Check out these 7 major considerations to help you decide whether to DIY or to enlist the professionals.

We all know about the damage our Idaho storms can cause to our roofs. Unfortunately, for Boise residents, it’s a fact of life that we may need emergency roof repairs after wind or hail damage.

Recently, we’ve seen some homeowners make the mistake of trying to carry out roof leak repairs themselves to get the work done right away and cut down on costs.

Desperate DIY-ers often call us to come out and fix the storm damage roof repairs they’ve tried to do themselves.

We understand. Many do-it-yourself projects are easy. As a result, you can save a lot of money and add unique, characterful touches to your home.

But even if you’re a skilled DIY-er, roof leak repair is a lot harder than it looks!  

Here are the top 7 reasons it pays to leave your shingle roof repair to the experts.

1.     There’s a high risk of accidents! 

According to the 2019-20 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics), roofing is the third most dangerous job in the USA. Slips, trips and falls cause the most common injuries – and it’s a horrifying fact that in 2020 over 800 people died by falling off a roof – and that includes 200 trained professionals as well as homeowners.

Even with the best safety equipment, it’s too easy to get injured on sloping surfaces, which may be slippery with rain or even morning dew. 

So is it worth risking your life to save a few dollars on a roof leak repair?

Strapline: Hornets, wasps, and bee stings cause over 60 deaths yearly. But on a roof, they’re more likely to cause falls.

Do you have all the safety gear you need, not to mention the training you need to handle the staple guns you’ll need for shingle repair and replacement? 

Safety always comes first – so never get on your roof (alone or with help) without the safety training and equipment necessary to avoid the inherent risks of falling or suffering life-changing injuries.

Bottom line – a roof is a dangerous place. Even though we have decades of experience carrying out storm damage roof repairs, we’re increasingly using drones to conduct inspections on steep or complex roofs. 

2. You won’t save money

There’s no getting away from it  – an emergency roof repair can be an unwelcome, unplanned expense.

As your first line of defense against snow, hail, and wind damage to your roof, you need to be confident that your storm damage roof repair will be strong enough to stand up to whatever our southwest Idaho weather wants to throw at it.

Hiring a professional to carry out the shingle repair or replacement will not only give you peace of mind, though. It’s also a wise financial decision. 

Reason #1: A professional repair by a trusted roofing repair company will be guaranteed to last.   You won’t be worrying about what each storm is going to cost you.

Reason #2: The cost of wind damage to your roof or a hail damage roof repair is likely to be covered by your homeowner’s insurance – but only if carried out by a licensed contractor.

Reason #3: You won’t benefit from the discounts on products that professional roofing repair companies can access, so expect the materials for your asphalt roof repair to cost you more.

Reason #4: You can’t buy asphalt shingles from top manufacturers at the local DIY store. At Home Depot Malarkey shingles and other  highly-rated products are simply not available – because they only supply professional contractors who they trust to install them correctly. Your local DIY store may seem more economical, but what you buy will be much lower quality – as you’ll find out when you check out the warranties they provide – so expect to replace them frequently.  

Reason #5:  Time is money. So if you’re still thinking DIY is cheaper, here’s a simple calculation to help you decide.

A) Number of hours you estimate you’ll need for the repair x 2 = minimum number of hours you’ll need
B) Minimum number of hours you’ll need x your typical earnings, per hour = actual cost of your time
C) Actual number of hours x your helper’s typical earnings per hour = actual cost of help
D) Actual cost of replacement shingles =
E) Actual cost of buying or hiring safety equipment =
F) Actual cost of buying or hiring tools =
G) Cost of your and your helper’s time clean-up =
H) Cost of disposal of discarded materials =
Then, total A + B + C + D + E + F + G = TOTAL COST OF DIY PROJECT

Then compare the total cost with the estimate you receive from a trusted local roofing company. You’ll be surprised.

Reason #6: A final yet significant consideration. DIY roof leak repairs can also reduce the value and sale ability of your home. Inspectors know how to spot an amateur shingle replacement or repair, and it may deter prospective buyers if your roof could need repairs. Thus, your home becomes harder to sell until you prove your roof will perform as required.  

To summarize, amateur roof leak repairs don’t save money.

In the long run, if you know you need roof repair assistance, the smart move is to seek quotes from a couple of local roofing repair companies and hire one you trust to provide a great value, top-quality repair.

Any reputable roofing contractor will have licenses, certifications, and specific insurance needed to work on roofs.  Roofing repair companies must follow specific codes for any roof they install to pass inspection.

They’ll also have the expertise to handle the tedious, complicated paperwork related to your homeowner’s insurance claim and any warranty claim, so that’s one headache less for you to worry about.

But, let’s say you were still determined to do a DIY roof leak repair, which resulted in further damage. Expect your insurance to deny any claim on the grounds of your negligence.

What’s more, if warranties cover your roof for workmanship and materials, these will be invalidated unless a licensed roofer completes your roof leak repairs, shingle repairs or any emergency roof repairs.  

A misguided attempt to save a few dollars could end up costing you thousands!

4. Make a mistake – get ready to pay 

There’s no doubt you’re a skilled and experienced DIY-er. But a roof leak repair is a high-stakes project. So you need to get it right the first time.

When mending a fence or painting a siding, mistakes are easy to correct. But repairing a storm damaged roof, and getting it wrong is different. The chances are that your roof will need bigger and more expensive repairs after the next storm. 

Worst case – you could expose the inside of your home to the elements or even end up needing to replace your entire roof. And, if you’ve tried to do the repairs yourself, good luck getting your insurer to cover the cost!

Roof leak repairs aren’t something you can do by instinct. Roofing repair companies use experts with years of experience to carry out the work to a high standard. They know how to tell whether shingle repair or replacement is needed. They can spot signs of wear and tear and advise on the best course of action.

5. You won’t know what to look for

Professionals who spend their working lives on roofs know how to spot the hidden signs of roof storm damage. These days, forward-thinking companies even use drones with thermal imaging technology to spot areas already vulnerable to storm damage.

Often, all that’s needed to get your roof back into great shape is a quick shingles replacement in a small area. But if underlying problems could result in severe damage, you need to know about them.

And professional roofing repair companies will also help you finance any repairs via a claim on your homeowner’s insurance.

6. It could look worse than when you started

Imagine that you’ve done your research, taken every precaution, and carried out your roof leak repair, just like it showed on YouTube. Congratulations!

Satisfied that your roof is once again waterproof, you climb down the ladder and take a few steps back to admire your handiwork – only to realize that your shingles repair is – horror – lopsided, and the color isn’t an exact match for the rest of your roof!

You’ve risked your life, wasted time and money, and only detracted from your home’s curb appeal. Fortunately, professional roofing repair companies don’t make these kinds of errors.

They know what’s needed and aim to get the job done as fast and efficiently as possible. The last thing they want is to be called back by an unhappy customer to fix mistakes.

Again, the moral of the story is clear. Get roof repair assistance from someone with years of experience, and you’ll avoid rookie mistakes. And save the money you’ll have to pay to put things right.

7. Don’t you have better things to do?

Do you want to spend your summer weekends sweating on your roof? After a hard week’s work, wouldn’t you instead enjoy your time with family and friends, relaxing on the beach, playing sports, or just chilling at home?

DIY projects are almost guaranteed to take longer than you expect. That quick patch-up that you think can’t take more than a couple of hours can quickly expand to take up days.  

If there are other things you’d rather be doing in your precious free time, leave your roof leak repair to roofing repair companies that know what they’re doing, and enjoy your summer to the max.

Conclusion 

Unlike many DIY projects, repairing a roof leak is complicated and dangerous. Hiring a trusted local roofing company will save time and money and prevent future problems. You’ll also eliminate worries about insurance claims and warranties, as most roofing repair companies have entire departments working to free you from all that hassle.

Perhaps most importantly, hiring a professional for your roof leak repair may save your life. So if you want to be around to enjoy your life, please, for the sake of your family, put that ladder back in the garage, and call the professionals for your roof leak repair.