5 Reasons Why Hiring a Roofer Is Better Than Doing It Yourself

Do it yourself and save money, right? That has been the trend for several years now and with many home projects it works. However, there are just some things you shouldn’t DIY and should leave to a professional. Hiring a professional for your roof is one such project.

You Could Fall

This is an absolute possibility. Even experienced roofers fall off roofs and sustain injuries. The difference between you and them is that they have health, medical, and business insurance to cover them when they do fall. They also have equipment to prevent their falls that they should be properly using when they work on your roof. Fatalities from falling off roofs are common enough that you should want to avoid placing yourself in this position. For these reasons alone you should hire a pro to do your roof and not do it yourself.

You Could Damage the Decking

Without knowing what you are looking at when you are tearing stuff off your roof, you may fail to notice that there are soft spots in the decking. Walking over these soft spots could cause you to break through and damage the already damaged and soggy decking material. Now you would have to tear off that decking and replace it, which means tearing off more sections of the roof if you haven’t completely fallen through the hole in the roof to begin with. If you don’t have help, you could even get stuck in that hole for hours and be sorely injured before help comes.

A roofing contractor can spot trouble areas before starting the work, work around those areas, and not damage the decking until it’s time to pull it up and replace it as needed. Hiring the contractor minimalizes potential damage of this kind and minimalizes the risks to your person.

You Might Install Things Incorrectly and Void the Warranty

Any products you buy for a roofing project have to be installed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines or the attached warranty may be voided. While it would not be your intention to install things the wrong way, everyone is human and does make mistakes. You could be going along and installing sheet after sheet of shingles the way they are supposed to go, and then accidentally install a few rows wrong.

If you didn’t realize your mistake until the project was finished, or not notice the mistake at all, the warranty is voided when something happens to the new roof. You would have no way to file a warranty claim. You probably couldn’t file a homeowner’s insurance claim either, since you were the one to install the shingles incorrectly.

Your Homeowner’s Insurance Might Not Cover a DIY Roof

Insurance companies can be quite particular when it comes to major projects and coverage of projects if something happens to the work after the fact. Check with your homeowner’s insurance to see if they cover defects in installation or problems after you have installed a roof yourself. Most insurance companies prefer to go back to the roofing contractor to settle disputes with new roofing issues, but you are not a licensed contractor. That creates a whole host of problems for you as the owner who has to find a way to pay for the damaged roof installed by you.

The Right Roofing Contractor Installs the Roof Perfectly Every Time

Can you guarantee yourself that the roof will be perfect when it’s done? Do you guarantee your own work? The answers to both these questions is very likely, “no.” However, a roofing contractor can guarantee a job and guarantee the work he or she does. If you hire the right roofing contractor who is licensed and insured, you will get a perfect roof every time. You also get a contractor who will return to fix anything that goes awry in the next couple of years, something you yourself probably would not want to do or tackle.

Find the roofing contractor to get started. Set dates and expectations so that you know when the job will be complete. Then stay safe and cozy in your home while someone else works on your roof.

Clay Frankel