New Orleans homeowners deal with more roof wear than most of the country. Between 60-plus inches of annual rainfall, hurricane season running June 1 through November 30, and humidity that rarely drops below 75%, roofs here take a beating. Some repairs are straightforward enough to handle on your own. Others can turn dangerous or expensive fast if you don’t know what you’re getting into. Big Easy Roofing works on roofs across Orleans Parish and Jefferson Parish every week, and we see both sides — homeowners who saved money with a smart DIY fix, and homeowners who made a $500 problem into a $5,000 one.
This guide breaks down what’s actually safe to do yourself on a New Orleans roof and where you need to pick up the phone.
A few types of roof maintenance don’t require a licensed contractor and can be done with basic tools from any hardware store in Metairie or Mid-City. These include:
Replacing a few shingles. If a windstorm peeled off two or three asphalt shingles and the roof deck underneath looks solid — no soft spots, no water stains — you can pry up the damaged shingles, slide new ones in, and nail them down. Match the brand and weight if possible.
Resealing flashing. Flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights can separate over time. A tube of roofing sealant and a caulk gun can handle a gap that hasn’t caused structural damage yet.
Cleaning gutters. Clogged gutters cause water to back up under the roof edge, and in New Orleans that backup happens fast during summer downpours. This is maintenance, not repair, and you should do it at least twice a year.
Patching a small area with roof cement. For an active drip during a storm, roof cement applied to the source can buy you time until a permanent fix is scheduled.
The key rule: if you can see the roof deck (the plywood underneath the shingles) and it’s intact, you’re probably in DIY territory. The moment the deck is soft, water-stained, or sagging, stop and call a pro.
Some repairs are beyond what a homeowner should attempt — not because they’re complicated in theory, but because getting them wrong costs a lot more than hiring someone in the first place.
Structural damage. If rafters, trusses, or the roof deck are compromised, that’s structural work. This is common after hurricanes and tropical storms blow through the Gulf of Mexico. A sagging roofline or a section of ceiling that feels spongy when you push on it means you need to get a professional damage assessment before touching anything.
Large sections of missing shingles. Once you’re past a handful of shingles, you’re dealing with potential deck exposure, water intrusion into the attic, and mold risk. In our humidity, mold starts growing within 24 to 48 hours of water intrusion.
Flat roof repairs. Flat roofs are all over New Orleans — on commercial buildings in the French Quarter, shotgun houses in the Bywater and Marigny, and low-slope sections throughout Gentilly and New Orleans East. Flat roof work involves membrane, seams, and drainage systems that require specific training and materials.
Any damage you plan to file an insurance claim on. Insurance adjusters in Louisiana want professional documentation. A DIY repair before the adjuster visits can void your claim entirely.
| DIY Safe | Call a Professional |
|---|---|
| Replacing 1-5 asphalt shingles | Replacing large shingle sections or full slopes |
| Resealing minor flashing gaps | Replacing or reinstalling flashing around chimneys |
| Cleaning gutters and downspouts | Repairing or replacing fascia and soffit |
| Applying roof cement to a small active leak | Any flat roof membrane or seam work |
| Removing debris after a storm | Storm damage repairs (insurance documentation needed) |
| Replacing a cracked pipe boot collar | Roof deck replacement or structural repairs |
| Tightening loose vent caps | Anything requiring permits under Act 239 |
More dangerous than most people think. OSHA data consistently shows that falls are the number one cause of death in the construction industry, and residential roofs are where most of those falls happen.
New Orleans adds extra risk factors. Roofs here are frequently wet — not just from rain, but from morning dew and afternoon humidity. Algae and moss grow on north-facing slopes in Uptown, the Garden District, and Lakeview neighborhoods, creating slick surfaces that look dry but aren’t.
If you go up on your roof:
If the repair is on a second story or involves a steep pitch, skip the DIY approach and call in a licensed roof repair crew.
As of August 2025, Act 239 changed the rules. Reroofing projects now require permits, and starting January 2026, any roofing work over $7,500 must be performed by a contractor licensed through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC).
For homeowners, this means:
If you’re not sure whether your repair crosses the permit threshold, it’s worth checking before you start. The Louisiana Department of Insurance can also help clarify what your policy covers and what documentation you’ll need.
On a basic shingle replacement — say five to ten shingles on a walkable, single-story roof — you might save $300 to $600 in labor. Materials for that job run about $50 to $100 at any building supply in Orleans Parish.
But the savings math only works if you don’t miss anything. Asphalt shingles in New Orleans typically last 10 to 15 years due to UV exposure and storm cycling. If those shingles failed early, there’s often a reason — rotted decking, poor ventilation, or flashing failure underneath. Replace the shingles without addressing the root cause, and you’ll pay for the same repair again in a year, plus the cost of fixing whatever got worse underneath.
The most expensive DIY roof repairs we see aren’t the ones where the homeowner did bad work. They’re the ones where the homeowner did good work on the surface but missed hidden damage that grew for months.
After a hurricane or tropical storm hits the New Orleans area, the instinct is to patch things up fast. Tarps go up, neighbors help each other, and some homeowners start replacing shingles the same weekend.
Here’s the problem: your insurance claim depends on professional documentation. An adjuster needs to see the damage before it’s repaired, or at minimum needs a licensed contractor’s report detailing what was found and what was done. A DIY repair with no documentation can result in a denied claim.
Beyond insurance, storm damage is rarely limited to what you can see from a ladder. Wind-driven rain pushes water sideways under shingles and into wall cavities. Fallen debris can crack the deck without visible surface damage. Trees that lean on a roof and then get removed can leave structural compression damage that shows up months later.
If your roof took storm damage, it might be time for a full replacement rather than patching sections that will keep failing.
Minor fixes like replacing a few shingles, resealing flashing, or cleaning gutters. Stay off the roof in wet conditions, and don’t attempt structural work or anything involving the roof deck. If the plywood under the shingles feels soft or looks water-stained, that’s a job for a licensed contractor.
When the damage covers more than a small area, involves the roof deck or structural supports, or was caused by a storm. Insurance claims need professional documentation, and flat roof work on buildings in the French Quarter, Bywater, or commercial properties always needs a pro with the right materials and training.
If the repair involves replacing 50% or more of the roof surface, yes. Act 239 requires permits for reroofing as of August 2025. For small patch jobs — a few shingles, sealant on flashing — you don’t need a permit.
Roofs in New Orleans are often wet or slick from humidity and algae growth. Falls are the number one cause of roofing injuries according to OSHA. If you must go up, wear rubber-soled shoes, use a safety harness, and never work alone. Avoid morning hours when dew makes surfaces especially slippery.
On basic shingle replacement, you might save $300 to $600 in labor. But if you miss underlying damage like rotted decking or mold — which grows within 24 to 48 hours in our humidity — the cost of professional correction later will exceed what you saved.
If the repair is beyond a quick patch, don’t risk it. Contact Big Easy Roofing for a straight answer on what your roof actually needs.
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By Big Easy Roofing 
Jul 19, 2023 
