That IS the question.
When it comes time to replace your roof, you may be looking to save time or money by doing it yourself. There is no doubt that roofing can be a dangerous task. The height, lack of a safety rail and the fact that a roof can become unstable during replacement are just a few major reasons why replacing the roof yourself can be a dangerous project to undertake.
However, when your roof gets old, damaged in a storm, leaking or otherwise damaged, it has to be repaired or replaced one way or another. So how do you know whether to hire a professional roofing service or do it yourself?
Hiring a Professional
When hiring a professional, you are guarantying that your roof will be replaced or fixed correctly.
Professional roofing companies have years of experience and access to the right materials to get the job correctly. Another benefit to hiring a professional is that they can tell you if anything else is wrong with your roof that you may not have known.
For example, let’s say that you hired a Florida roofing company to replace a few shingles that a storm had knocked loose. Your untrained eye may not have noticed other damage done to the roof during a storm that a professional can see after inspecting.
A great bonus to having a professional roofing company replace your roof is that their replacements usually come with a manufacturer’s warranty. These warranties can offer you peace of mind in case anything goes wrong within the timeline outlined in this agreement, and potentially save you money if something goes wrong. Most of these warranties only go into effect if installed by a professional.
DIY Roof Replacement
Replacing or fixing your roof yourself comes with some caveats. First, as mentioned before, it can be dangerous for someone who is untrained to replace your roof. Roofers are up and walking around on roofs every day and are trained. They know how to safely navigate any dangerous situations, and they know how to keep themselves out of danger. Besides being up high on your roof, there are other construction-related safety things to be concerned about.
Another downside to replacing your roof yourself is that you probably do not have the experience or know-how to correctly get the job done. Your roof is such an important part of your home and you want to make sure that a repair or replacement is stable. If a small leak is poorly fixed, it could rapidly escalate into a much bigger problem.
The only situation where doing it yourself might work out in your favor is if you have a small repair to make. For example, if you have a small leak that just requires sealant or if you need to replace a shingle or two, then doing it yourself might be easier and cost effective than hiring a professional.
Outside of that, the risk of injury or of causing even more damage to your begins to increase, so it’s best to contact a local roofing contractor.
Conclusion
When it comes to roof replacement, the best course of action is to hire a professional roofing contractor.
While it may be tempting to go the DIY route, this type of project is best left in the hands of a professional because other than the safety risks involved, roof installation requires exact precision.
In the end, the decision to work on the project yourself—minus professional help—could prove to be more costly.
