It is usually not recommended for a homeowner to climb on his roof, let alone try to repair or replace it. If you are not sure what you are doing, you can cause serious damage to your roof and, most importantly, to yourself. Ultimately my answer is yes, you can repair or replace your own roof, but I rarely suggest you try it. There are too many ways to cause damage to the roof or to yourself if you don't take the proper precautions, and these can ultimately end up costing you far more than the money you saved by NOT hiring a qualified contractor in the first place.
That said, choose a contractor carefully and do some research, don't hire the first guy to stop in a van with a hammer. Make sure you are licensed and insured and have the right qualifications to do the job properly. DO NOT think that you will save money by hiring the cheapest guy, most of the time they will cost you much more in the long run. Check with the BBB to verify a contractor's credentials and how long they have been in business.
To repair leaks caused by metal flares around chimneys and dormers, simply reseal the joints with a caulking gun filled with roofing cement. If you notice damage to the joints previously sealed with a line of roofing cement, apply a new layer with a spatula. You may think you like heights, but going through the ceiling can be tricky, especially if it has a steep slope or several levels. Since 1990, Bill Ragan Roofing's team has repaired thousands of roofs for homeowners in Nashville and surrounding areas of Middle Tennessee.
So you could end up doing even more damage to your roof with no guarantee that it will stop the problem. Regardless of what type of roof repair you need, certain tools and materials are required to do the job correctly. DIY roof repairs are obviously very attractive to homeowners as it may mean you'll save some money because you won't pay a contractor. This metaphor breaks down in that if you make a bad milkshake you don't have to drink it, but if you do a bad job putting up a roof, you'll have to live with it all year round or spend extra money to get your house roofed again.
After that, we will look at the 4 things you need to know before deciding if a DIY ceiling repair is right for you. If an entire row of shingles needs to be replaced or if you find that the shingles come off the roof too easily, it may be time to call a professional roofer to inspect the situation. If you have T-lock shingles, you will have to replace the entire roof because they were suspended, but insurance will usually cover the cost of the new roof. If you absolutely need a new roof to lower your energy bills and keep water and wind out of your house, but you can't afford it, talk to a professional roofer.
You'll also need some specialized tools to make the job easier and faster, such as a roofing nailer, an air compressor, an air hose, a caulking gun, an extension ladder, and scissors, to name just a few. Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material for homes today, accounting for nearly 70 percent of domestic roofing installations, according to Tom Bollnow, senior director of technical services at the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Things to consider are ventilation, improper ventilation is one of the main causes of roof failure. Packs of shingles weigh approximately 80 pounds each and roofing is hard and hot work, it would be a shame to go through all those problems just to save your insurance company money.
To repair a burst of nails, you will break the seal of the tile, lift the tile, remove the nail and move it. The good news is that an asphalt shingle roof is probably the easiest type to repair, as curly shingles can be flattened and reattached, and old shingles can simply be replaced. .
