Failed roofs cost both time and money, and it’s important that you don’t risk spending those precious assets on a DIY project.
If your roof needs repairing, but you’re not sure if hiring professional roofers is worth the investment, these three reasons could help sway your decision.
1. Safety First
Roofing is a dangerous business. There are very strict safety guidelines roofing contractors follow on the job site every day, and for good reason.
Professional roofing contractors have proper safety gear and the expertise to perform their service safely. Even if your roof isn’t particularly high off the ground, it’s still high enough off the ground to cause serious injuries.
Loose Tools
Since your roof becomes your job site, there will certainly be lots of tools and materials floating around up there with you. These tools and materials are major safety concerns. They can trip you up, cause you bodily injury, or tumble off of the roof. After all, you’re not exactly using a level workbench. Any number of items could fall off the roof at any time and hurt someone below.
Falling Hazard
There’s also the issue of you climbing a ladder, and then proceeding to crawl around on a slanted slope up in the air. Sounds like a broken back waiting to happen.
Again, not only could you injure yourself by falling off a ladder or off the roof, but you can injure bystanders on the ground too.
Insurance
Another motive people overlook about the safety aspect of hiring a roofing company is that the workers will be insured.
If a worker gets hurt on the job site, they’re covered by insurance through their employer. If you do the work yourself, who’s got your back? Is it really worth risking your family’s insurance if something goes wrong? Definitely not.
You don’t have to be negligent to cause harm repairing or replacing a roof, you simply have to be untrained.
2. Experience Matters
A roof in disrepair can be expensive and stressful to fix. And nothing takes the fun out of a DIY project like a frustrated spouse or an angry family member!
Time is Not on Your Side
Even if you’re experienced at odd jobs around the house, there’s no way to know how well your DIY skills will hold up under pressure and time constraints. You can’t start the job now and finish it in six months when you find some extra time. And some internet research and a few how-to videos won’t give you the same knowledge in one hour that a local contractor took 20 years to acquire.
Also, a professional roofer won’t waste precious time figuring out what materials to buy or how to use their tools. They’ll get in there, do the job well, and get it done quickly.
Quality and Quantity
Hiring a professional roofing contractor with years of experience will help to ensure that the project goes as planned, and without costly mishaps so you get a quality job that will last many decades.
Contractors who have been in the roofing industry for a long time will provide the knowledge and skills to yield excellent results and help you avoid future roof maintenance resulting from a poor job. They will make sure the repair lasts so your roof investment will be worth the money.
Don’t risk not having a roof over your head, literally! Let someone else be your knight in shining armor for a change.
3. Money Matters
Money matters. A lot.
DIY Can Cost More
Most people who DIY don’t mind spending their time completing a project. People can enjoy it, and it challenges them to learn a new skill. However, would your time really be well spent, and would it really be a fun challenge if it ended up costing you way more money than simply hiring a professional?
No. That’s the nature of DIY. A lot of the fun and excitement hinges on being resourceful and accomplishing the mission to save money.
Doing DIY roof repairs can be a huge financial let-down, and it can discourage you from completing future projects on your own home.
There are a few main pressure points that cause this inevitable disappointment.
Getting the Required Tools
Firstly, you have to buy the right tools to repair or replace a roof.
That wouldn’t be so bad except, you should only have to replace a roof once every 20-40 years. Do you really want to buy a whole new set of tools and only use them once? Probably not. A professional roofer will already have the right equipment for the job.
Getting the Right Materials
Secondly, the roofing materials are costly if you DIY.
Professional roofers pay lower costs for quality materials and they get better warranties. That’s what makes the construction world go round. They get high-quality materials at wholesale costs simply by being certified builders. Plus, your local roofing contractor will have a large network of suppliers to lean on to source products. They can shop around for you to get the best products at a lower price.
Battling Building Codes
Lastly, you probably aren’t familiar with the building codes in your area.
Far too often, people try to fix or replace their own roof because they think it’s more cost-effective. Unfortunately, by doing this, many people end up hiring professionals to tear out their new roof due to code violations, even if they think their new roof is in good condition.
Hiring a reputable roofing company can protect you because they know the rules. And, if they do make a mistake, most companies have insurance and offer a warranty to cover your project.
To start you off on the right foot, you can get a free roof inspection from a professional roofing company, like Denver’s Peak to Peak Roofing. It’s the perfect place to begin. You’ll learn how much work needs to be done, and it won’t cost you a penny.
Then, you can follow through with the estimate they give you, or research other local roofing contractors in your area to find out who can complete the job within your budget and timeline.
Send in the A-Team
Hopefully now, after hearing all this, you can smell regret in the air when you think of DIYing your roof. The risks certainly don’t outweigh the rewards.
Although the temptation to replace the roof yourself is strong because it’s expensive and seems straightforward, there’s much more to roofing than what meets the eye.
Hire a professional. The benefits of hiring an experienced roofing contractor are that they will ensure your safety, save you money, and leave you feeling comfortable knowing the roof over your head is secure.