Decision comparison

DIY vs roofer

For each common Brisbane roof job: who should do it, and what the alternative actually costs.

Quick verdict: The clean line is whether the job requires you on the roof itself and whether it affects the waterproof seal. Two yeses means call a roofer. Two nos means DIY is fine. The cost savings on a botched DIY (especially flashings and ridge caps) are tiny next to the cost of the failure, and most home insurance policies have clauses that void cover for DIY work that causes damage.
Job DIY Roofer Verdict
Gutter cleaning Yes, with stable ladder + spotter If two-storey, steep, or you lack gear DIY (single-storey)
Ground-level visual inspection Yes, with binoculars Free if there is real follow-on work DIY
Damage photos for insurance Yes, phone at ground level Adds drone/close-up shots later DIY first, roofer adds detail
Clearing downpipe inlet Yes, simple Overkill DIY
Replacing a single tile No, breaks 3+ surrounding tiles $200 to $400 done right Roofer
Resealing a flashing No, wrong sealant fails in 6 months $200 to $600, lasts 15+ years Roofer
Re-bedding a ridge cap No, structural seal $800 to $2,500 Roofer
Anything on a wet/steep/two-storey roof No, fall risk With proper fall-arrest gear Roofer (safety)
Inspecting under a tile or sheet No, damage propagates Yes, knows what to look for Roofer
## The insurance angle Most Brisbane home insurance policies have a clause excluding damage caused by faulty workmanship or unlicensed work by the homeowner. If you reseal a flashing and it leaks two months later, the insurer can decline a $5K to $12K ceiling damage claim. This doesn't apply to gutter cleaning or visual inspection (which are "maintenance"), but it does apply to any work that affects the waterproof seal. ## Where DIY genuinely saves money Gutter cleaning if you have the ladder and a spotter. Visual inspections instead of paying for one. Photographing damage for an insurance claim. Clearing downpipe inlets. Everything else is borderline between "saves $300" and "costs $5,000 plus your weekend". ## Where a roofer is always cheaper long-term Anything involving flashings, ridge caps, or being physically on the roof. Even a "simple" tile replacement breaks three to four surrounding tiles in untrained hands. See the [DIY playbook](/blog/diy-roof-repairs-brisbane) for the full breakdown of what's safe and what isn't.