You might be thinking that the issue with your roof is just a simple fix and that with enough duct tape and your ingenuity then you can do anything. Who am I to say that you can’t. But you’re smart. Smart enough to know that some jobs should be left to the professionals. Below I will go through some of the reasons why you shouldn’t try to be like superman and do DIY roof repairs yourself.
Your efforts may be counterproductive
Say you have a missing shingle in a fairly visible spot on your roof. All you need to do is climb up there and nail down a new shingle or two in the exposed area, right? Wrong. Please, don’t do that.
If one shingle had fallen off your roof, chances are that the surrounding shingles may be damaged or unstable as well. If you go climbing up there to fix the problem, you very well might disturb the structure of the roof and cause even more damage than what you started with.
You Don’t Really Save Money
It’s understandable to think that you would be able to save money in a DIY roof repair. However, that may not be the case. Either way, you will still need to spend money to purchase the right materials for the job. The only thing that you would be saving money on would be the cost of labor. But if you were to be doing the job yourself, you would just be spending your own valuable time and effort instead.
When you hire a roofing contractor, you pay for their expertise. They’ve done hundreds of repair jobs over thousands of hours. They are qualified to fix the problem and able to identify the other symptoms that might indicate your roof is unwell.
DIY Roof Repairs could void the warranty
A DIY roof repair might save you a couple dollars in the short run, however you are putting yourself in financial risk in the future. If you try to install your own roof or take it upon yourself to do the repairs, you could void your warranty with the roofing material manufacturers. So, if you need a new roof or repair in the future, it may not be covered by the warranty and you would have to pay out of pocket.
You Could Hurt Yourself Doing a DIY Roof Repair
One would think that getting up on your roof to do some intricate repairs could be a thrilling experience, but it really isn’t. If your roof is old and some shingles are loose, maybe your roof slope is particularly steep, and it maybe rained last night. These are the perfect conditions for a disastrous result. I don’t need to tell you that falling from your roof won’t feel very good.
It is better to just leave the work to the professionals; they know how to be safe and they know what they’re doing.
DIY Roof Repairs Won’t Look as Good as a Professionals
Now I’m not saying that your work won’t look as good or last as long as what a professional roofer can do. Maybe you will figure it out on your own. But why go through that stress? I will say that “DIY” roofing jobs don’t have the same hours of experience that a certified GAF contractor would have.
A common phrase we hear a lot is “work smarter, not harder.” Mind you this is often said as someone gets their colleague with less seniority to do the brunt of the job. But you should take this same philosophy to heart as well. Don’t try to be a hero and do the job yourself, an experienced professional can do the job at much quicker and with professional quality. So, I encourage you to be smart, by not working hard. Contact us for a free roofing inspection and estimate.