Don’t DIY: Why You Should Leave Roofing to the Experts
When money is tight and you have time on your hands, you may think you’ll be better off fixing problems around the house on your own rather than paying for a professional to come in and do the job for you. While some fixes can be simple enough that even an amateur would have no issues, you’ll want to call in a pro for most roofing repairs and replacements for a few simple reasons.
1. Expertise
No matter how much of a repairperson you may be, the roof of your home is likely not where you spend most of your time. Different dangers and risks come with working on the roof, and if you’re not used to the slope or height of your house, you may experience some trouble with the repairs you need to do.
By contrast, a professional roofer spends many of his waking hours on top of buildings and has experience navigating the risks. You’ll risk no danger yourself, and your contractor will be much safer than you would be in the same position.
2. Costs
You may try to DIY because you want to save money, but you risk the opposite as well. Conducting your own repairs or replacement will require you to pay retail prices on the materials and tools you need, which can easily get up to hundreds of dollars upfront. You’ll then have to put in your own time to conduct the work, which will take you longer than it would an expert in the field.
Roofers will already have the appropriate equipment and often will get better prices on the materials they need. Most of the time, you’ll save money and time if you hire an experienced contractor or team rather than trying to do it on your own.
3. Liability
When you do your own repairs and replacements, a lot of responsibility falls on you. You’ll have to make sure you match new tiles to old, place everything correctly to avoid making the problem worse, and keep track of every move you make so that you know that all the layers of your roof are at their best. Additionally, the warranty that comes with your roof often won’t cover your own repair work.
Warranties do extend to professional fixes, though. You’ll also be able to hand off the responsibility to your contractors, which will allow them to do the work they’ve trained for and keep your roof in good order. All you’ll be responsible for is to dictate what you want and to check their work when they finish. As a bonus, you can be sure that their finished work will fit well with the rest of your house.
4. Expectations
You may expect to find replacing a couple of shingles easy, or your handyman experience to extend to repairs on your roof. If you haven’t done it before, though, your expectations may be upset once the project starts. You’ll discover that it takes more time, money, or experience than you thought, or find that the task is beyond your abilities.
A professional roofer can give you clear and more reliable expectations for your repairs or replacement. With the years of experience he or she should have, you’ll get a good idea of the time and financial commitments you make when you hire that company.
When you face roofing problems and need to call in a pro, look no further than Jerry Newman Roofing & Remodeling Inc. Our experts with 40 years of experience will be happy to perform installation and repairs you can trust to last for years. Find out today how they can help you build the roof of your dreams.