Your roof is a vital part of your home. And like other parts of your home, it requires maintenance and occasional repairs to keep it in the best possible shape. Of course, the roof is also an expensive part of your home, and if you’re like many homeowners, you look for opportunities to do some of your own home repairs and maintenance when you can, in order to save money. But what should a homeowner do when it comes to roofing maintenance and repair ? Many roofing projects are complicated or dangerous and should be left to professionals, not tackled by homeowners. Take a look at what you need to know about when you can do a DIY roofing project and when you should leave it to the pros.

DIY: Visually Inspect for Missing Shingles or Damage

During high winds or heavy storms, which are not uncommon in Tampa, your roof may sustain damage that’s not necessarily noticeable from inside the house. After the storm clears and the sun comes out, take some time to walk around the outside of the house and look for signs of damage. A pair of binoculars can be useful for this task. Look for spots on the roof where shingles are missing, cracked, or curling up at the sides. You may also notice missing granule, nails, or roof bolts or peeling flashing.

Don’t climb up on the roof to get a closer look. Climbing onto a roof can be dangerous at the best of times, and after a storm – especially when there’s damage that you can see from the ground – there may be even more hazards, like pooling water or wet, mushy spots in the roof. You could get hurt or cause more damage to the roof. Stick to a visual inspection, and if you see signs that the roof has been damaged, call a roofing service for a closer inspection.

Leave it to the Pros: Replacing Lost Shingles

Replacing missing or damaged shingles is not a do-it-yourself task. It requires skill and safety precautions. What’s more, if you have missing shingles, you may also have other problems that need to be fixed, like roof hardware that needs to be tightened or flashing that needs to be repaired or replaced. Professional roofers not only know how to safely replace your shingles, but they also know what to look for that might signal additional problems. Hiring professional roofers to handle seemingly small repairs could prevent you from having to pay for larger repairs later.

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DIY: Look for Leaks

Many signs of a roof problem show up within the home. When your roof is leaking, you’re likely to end up with water inside the home somewhere. You may find water stains on the ceiling, bulging or mushy patches on interior walls, or musty odors in one or more rooms. You may also notice unsightly spots on exterior walls.

Finding water means that you’ve found evidence of a leak, but not necessarily that you’ve found the source of the leak. Water doesn’t always leak straight down from above. Water can travel along beams or pipes and wind up pooling and leaking far from where the original leak occurred in the roof. When you find evidence of a leak, that’s a sign to call a roofer for an inspection. They’ll be able to trace the water back to the source of the leak to find the spot on the roof that needs to be fixed.

Leave it to the Pros: Roof Replacement

If it’s time for a new roof, then you definitely want to work with a professional roofing contractor like Dynasty Building Solutions to determine what kind of roof will best suit your needs and make sure that it’s installed professionally. Installing a roof is not the kind of job that can be done by a determined homeowner over a weekend, no matter how good your DIY skills are. A new roofis a big investment that will last a few decades, at least, so your best bet is to hire a professional roofing company that will do the work correctly and provide you with a warranty.

DIY: Keep Your Gutters Clean

The purpose of a gutter system is to divert the water away from your house. When your gutters become clogged, the water can pool in the gutter system, which can cause water damage to the roof. When water and other debris collect in the gutters, they can also become heavy and pull on the roof, which can cause even more damage.

Cleaning the gutters is a project that can often be tackled by homeowners who are able and interested in home DIY projects. Gutters should be cleaned before and after the rainy season (so in May and October) for the best results, but you should also keep an eye out for signs that water isn’t flowing freely through your gutters and do additional cleaning as needed.

Note that if you prefer to leave this job to the pros, Dynasty Building Solutions has a gutter-cleaning special that includes a free roof inspection. Call to find out more.

Leave it to the Pros: Roof Inspection

Visually inspecting your home for signs of roofing damage after a storm is helpful, but it’s not a replacement for an annual roof inspection by a roofing professional. During a roof inspection, the inspector looks for signs of trouble that homeowners might miss, or that might not be visible from the ground.

Regular roof inspections are an important part of good roof maintenance. They may also be required by your home insurance company – if you need to make a claim at some point, your insurer will want to see that you’ve been doing the necessary tasks to maintain the roof, including regular inspections. If you have a new roof installed, failing to have regular inspections and routine maintenance done may also void your warranty, so keeping up with your regular roof inspections is important for that reason as well.

Knowing when you can handle a project yourself and when to bring in the professionals is an important aspect of maintaining a well-cared for home. When it comes to your roof, if you have any doubts, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and leave it to the pros. Contact Dynasty Building Solutions today to schedule your roof inspection or consultation.