What a handyman can reasonably do
- Replace a handful of blown-off shingles on a low-pitch, walkable roof.
- Clean gutters and re-secure a loose downspout.
- Swap a cracked plastic vent cap from a ladder.
When to call a roofer instead
- Leaks at chimneys, sidewalls, endwalls and valleys. These are flashing problems. Caulk is a temporary bandage that usually fails in a season.
- Soft spots or suspected rotten decking. The fix is cutting out and replacing sheathing, not patching on top.
- Standing seam metal roofs. Panels interlock; removing or replacing one takes the right tools and know-how, or you can damage the seams around it.
- Steep or high roofs. Falls are the real danger. Roofers bring the safety setup for it.
- Anything under warranty. Repairs by someone else can affect a manufacturer or installer warranty.
The metal roof difference
On metal roofs, details decide everything. For example, on homes with aluminum siding the flashing can’t go behind the siding the way it does with vinyl, so it has to be flashed in place. We explain exactly that in one of our job-site videos from Piqua. Getting it wrong means water runs behind the flashing instead of over it.
Not sure? Ask
We are happy to tell you if something is a simple fix. One Google reviewer called Isaac about a metal project another contractor was doing; he texted back, asked for photos, and gave them the questions to ask. Call (937) 423-9352.