Do it Yourself Roofing Tips

While do it yourself roofing can be time consuming and the labor intensive, it can certainly be cost effective considering the savings compared to paying a contractor or roofer to do the job. That is of course, as long as you do the job right! Making sure you know what type of job you’re getting yourself into ahead of time, and being prepared for its requirements, can ensure your diy roofing job doesn’t become a road to nowhere. Here are a few diy roofing tips that can help prepare and guide you in your work:

Check the Weather

Since you’re going to be up on a roof, possibly a steep one, you’ll want to make darn sure you have the weather on your side. Checking weather forecasts in advance can help you avoid excessively windy, rainy, or stormy days that can make your diy roofing job more difficult and dangerous.

Prepare a Checklist

Before you start ripping shingles off your roof, make sure you are prepared. Having a checklist can get you organized ahead of time and keep you on task once you’ve begun your do it yourself roofing job.

Materials

Having all your materials on site can avoid time consuming and aggravating trips back and forth to the home supply store.

Have Help

While initially, a diy roofing job might not seem a difficult task, if you’ve never done it before, you might want to have some help available. Not only can the extra labor help with moving large quantities of heavy shingles to hard to reach areas, but having someone to discuss and work through issues with is handy as well.

Proper Tools

Having the right tools is imperative to making sure your do it yourself roofing work goes smoothly. Items such as an extension ladder, hammer(s), utility knife, putty knife, roofing nails, and a pry bar can make the job much easier.

Unique Tools

If your roof is ceramic tile, slate, wood, or material other than the standard roofing shingle, you might need special tools to cut, shape, and attach/remove your roof’s surface. Ensuring you have these tools ahead of time can be a major saver.

Time Factor

Allowing yourself enough time to complete the job is important when you are attempting a do it yourself roofing job. Rushing the work can result in a poor product or having to go back and fix areas later.

Safety First

Tying in with the time factor, is safety. Allowing yourself enough time and not rushing your work will not only avoid costly and time consuming mistakes, but will make your work safer and easier too.

safety-image

Don’t Push It

If you are not comfortable with heights, you have a steep or oddly angled roofline, or are just not that handy, you might be taking on more work with a diy roofing job than you are prepared for. Don’t take on too much and don’t overdo it when it comes to your skills and abilities.

Resources

Utilizing guidebooks and home repair manuals can assist you in trouble shooting if you come to sticking points. It can also help in planning, preparation, step-by-step instructions, as well as providing tips for diy roofing jobs.

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