It’s sad but true: More than 2,000 people die annually from falling off North American roofs.
This number includes both professional roofers, as well as people doing DIY roofing projects.
That’s right. Even people with the latest safety tools and equipment can get injured on the job. Have you got the boots, pads, helmets, and other equipment required to protect you? Probably not.
But most homeowners still decide to try DIY roofing without knowing what a proper roofing project entails. If you’re one of them, it might end up costing you more, even if you sought to save some cash.
Even worse, you could end up injured or damage your property, which may leave you with unwelcome expenses.
To avoid facing these situations, it’s best to hire a professional roofing contractor when replacing or repairing your roof.
Here are several reasons why should never, ever attempt DIY roofing repairs at your home.
DIY Roofing Repairs Risk Your Safety
Professional roofers have special tools and equipment necessary to not only get the work done properly but also ensure they don’t hurt themselves in the process. If you don’t have the tools to safely move around and work on the roof, you endanger your safety.
Professionals are also familiar with working in difficult conditions, which means they can easily move around on a slippery roof or one that’s covered with debris. They know that one false move could be tragic, but do you know that?
DIY Roofing is More Expensive in the Long-term
One of the best things about DIY projects is that they can help save money.
When it comes to roofing replacement or repairs, however, those savings probably won’t be realized if you don’t have the tools and experience needed to properly fix a roofing issue.
If you don’t do the repairs properly, you’ll just have to buy more DIY roofing materials and start afresh or hire a professional roofer once you quit. If you damage your roof further, know that new repairs can end up costing more than the first repairs.
DIY Results in Shoddy Work
One of the pluses of using a professional roofer is that you know they’ll do their job properly and efficiently. A DIY approach offers no such guarantees.
A licensed roofer knows the risks attached to doing shoddy work. They understand that doing substandard work could get them into the bad books of the local authorities.
They have a livelihood to consider and a reputation to protect. On the other hand, a DIY roofer has no livelihood to worry about or reputation to protect.
Therefore, you shouldn’t be in a hurry to complete this job quickly–unless your loved ones are on your neck.
You Invalidate Your Warranty
The terms and conditions of your warranty probably have a clause forbidding unauthorized repairs, which might otherwise make your warranty null and void.
Do it yourself roofing really has no benefit if your roof is still under warranty.
A Roofing Project Requires Experience
As simple as it might seem, roofing is quite a difficult job. The skills required to repair leaks and replace shingles take a long time to acquire. And hands-on experience is the only way to perfect those skills.
Most professional roofers spend countless hours on the job, perfecting their skills before launching their own business. They’re licensed and know how much material your home will need.
Those doing DIY roofing tend to either grossly underestimate or overestimate the amount of material that will be needed.
No amount of studying or Google or YouTube research will provide the same know-how that experience can.
You don’t want to experiment with your home, so get the roof repaired properly to prevent the need for further repairs. By doing shoddy work yourself, you’ll only end up spending more to hire someone else to fix your mess.
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A Roofing Project Might Not be Fun
Are you really looking forward to spending your weekends in the hot sun on your roof?
At first, roofing might seem like an awesome experience but it’ll probably soon turn into a daunting task that you’d probably want to give up.
Wouldn’t you rather be spending time with your loved ones chilling out, watching your TV favorite shows? Or maybe head out for a tasty treat? You may think DIY projects save money, but remember that your time is also valuable.
Almost all DIY tasks take longer than you may think, so your roofing project may easily extend to several days and will likely be left unfinished.
DIY is Uninsured
Mess up your roofing job and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.
If you’ve made mistakes, your insurance provider won’t pay out and if you hurt somebody else, you might be hit with a claim worth millions.
When you use a professional for your roofing work, they’ll have appropriate insurance and they will be duty bound to do the job properly.
You Might Not Be Happy With the Results
If you don’t properly fix your roof it’ll leak, which could potentially be a worse problem than it was before.
Moreover, roofs should not only be functional but also easy on the eye. Aligning shingles properly and ensuring that everything is fine and good-looking isn’t easy.
What will you think looking at an uneven shingling job or lopsided roof every day? Even if you manage to complete your DIY roofing project, you might not be pleased with the results.
I bet you’d want a stunning roof you can proudly look at. Badly done DIY roof repairs will not only be unsightly but also significantly lower your home’s resale value.
Hire the Experts
Roofing professionals not only have the knowledge and experience to do the job right, they’ve also got the necessary tools for whatever problems your roof may have.
Is your roof past its best? Forget about DIY roofing repairs. Just leave it to the experts. To find a contractor for your roofing repairs, please check out this blog.