I get wanting to save a few bucks, but I’ve seen a lot of DIY jobs go sideways—especially on older roofs. Even with a gentle rinse, it’s easy to loosen granules or miss early signs of damage. I’ve been called out more than once after someone tried to clean their own shingles and ended up with leaks a few months later. Not saying it never works, but sometimes the “cheap” route costs more down the line. If you’re not up for regular inspections or don’t know what to look for, hiring out can be worth it just for peace of mind.
- Just went through this with our place (asphalt shingles, about 15 years old, Midwest weather).
- Looked up a bunch of YouTube vids and figured I could handle it—turns out, not as easy as it looks.
- Ended up knocking a few granules loose and noticed some shingles felt soft after.
- Didn’t see any leaks yet, but now I’m paranoid I missed something.
- Next time, probably calling someone in... peace of mind seems worth the extra cash.
- I get the peace of mind angle, but honestly, sometimes the pros just charge you for stuff you could totally handle.
- Midwest weather is brutal, but 15-year-old shingles are gonna be soft no matter who’s up there—DIY or pro.
- Knocked off some granules? Welcome to the club. That happens even when you sneeze too hard on those old roofs.
- If you didn’t spot leaks after, you probably did better than you think. Most leaks show up pretty quick, especially after a good rain.
- I’ve seen “pros” miss stuff too—one guy left half a squirrel nest behind my vent.
- If you’re comfortable on a ladder and don’t mind a little mess, DIY’s not the worst, especially for minor cleanup.
- That said, if you’re losing sleep over it, the extra cash might be worth it... or just wait for the next hailstorm and let insurance handle it.
- Either way, your roof’s probably seen worse than a YouTube-inspired cleanup.
I hear you on the “pros” missing stuff—last year I paid for a full roof clean and still found a bunch of pine needles clogging my gutters a week later. Ended up up there myself anyway, so now I just do it unless it’s something major. Midwest winters really chew up older shingles, no matter who’s doing the work. As long as you’re steady on a ladder and don’t mind getting dirty, minor cleanup is totally doable. I only call in help if there’s actual damage or if I spot something sketchy around the flashing.
As long as you’re steady on a ladder and don’t mind getting dirty, minor cleanup is totally doable.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve paid for “professional” cleanings before and still ended up with enough debris in my gutters to start a compost pile. At this point, I just throw on some gloves and get up there myself—at least then I know what’s actually been done.
Midwest winters are brutal on shingles, for sure. Mine are asphalt and after a couple freeze-thaw cycles, they look like they’ve been through a cheese grater. I will say, if you ever switch to something like metal or even recycled rubber shingles, the cleanup gets way easier—stuff just slides right off. But yeah, as long as you’re not dealing with steep slopes or sketchy heights, DIY is usually fine for the small stuff.
Only time I call in the pros is if I see daylight where there shouldn’t be any, or if the flashing looks like it’s trying to escape. Otherwise, it’s just me, a broom, and a podcast.
