The short answer is yes.

You can repair your own roof if you know how to identify the source of the leak and choose the correct material to use for the repair.

However, it is always best to leave it to the professionals to avoid causing more damage to the roof or even the risk of harming yourself.

Depending on the roof type that you have, you can temporarily patch it accordingly.

You can replace the shingles with a new one or use a caulk gun to seal the leak with a sealant to fill in the crack or hole.

There’s also roofing cement that you can apply with a putty knife or even gorilla tape that can patch the leak source.

Fixing a leaking roof is much cheaper than replacing it.

In most cases, fixing the roof as soon as you detect a fault or damage on your roof shingles would help your roof last for several more years.

Therefore, having a routine roof check would help a lot.

But, if the leak already caused damage beyond repair, replacing the roof would be the only option.

Yes, walking on a roof can damage the shingles.

Shingles can be fragile and prone to damage.

It is not designed to handle a human weight.

Tile roofs can break easily and wooden shingles could come loose.

Though some shingles are flexible, it is best not to walk on them as it might weaken the foundation wood.

Shingles can become weak and come off easily if exposed to external factors such as strong wind, walking on the roof, having heavy things fall onto it and even poor installation work.

Shingles that get too old will tend to give way.

Shingles are designed to handle normal wind and rain.

Anything more extreme than those would jeopardize its integrity.

Missing one or two roof tiles does not usually mean that your roof will immediately be prone to leaking.

However, it is the external shield against the element.

Heavy rain or storm will eventually work its way into the foundation of your roof and cause severe damage.

It’s best to replace the missing tile immediately to make your roof last longer.

Under normal circumstances, rainwater should not be able to get under the roof tiles.

However, if a storm strikes, the strong wind could open up small gaps on the roof shingles and allow water to seep in.

This is why good ventilation in the attic is important to let the water dry up and prevent rotten deck or water damage to other areas.

Roof leak can cause the wooden foundation to rot and weaken.

This will lead to more expensive roofing repairs.

Mold will also start to grow and may cause allergic reactions.

You will also notice water stains on the ceiling or the bubbling of the paint.

It can take up to 48 hours for mold to appear.

It doesn’t take much for mold to grow. Constantly wet condition itself is favorable for mold to start growing.

On the bright side, it’s one of the best signs to look for if you want to detect any moisture accumulation under the roof.

Yes, you can.

Apply roofing sealant generously around the area with a caulk gun.

Then, use an old credit card or putty knife to smoothen it.

Ideally, get professionals to do it to prevent the risk of injuries especially when the roof is high above the ground and at a steep angle.