Proceed with Caution: What You Need to Know About DIY Roofing Projects

You’ve always prided yourself on being able to fix anything in your home.

You can repair a toaster, handle a broken fuse, and even take on more complicated home improvement projects with ease.

However, the truth is that knowing your way around an owner’s manual and even having DIY experience in the past doesn’t qualify you to repair your home’s roof.

In this post, we’ll help you to better understand the risks — both physical and financial — associated with DIY roofing.

Then, we’ll let you know where you can go to find expert roofing solutions that won’t break the bank.

The Financial Risks of DIY Roofing

We know that one of the biggest reasons why homeowners attempt DIY roof repair is because they think it will be much cheaper than hiring a professional.

But the truth is that reading online roofing tips and following along with a few well-intention video tutorials isn’t the same thing as calling in a professional.

Let’s take a closer look at the financial risks of attempting a DIY roofing job when you don’t really know what you’re doing.

Incorrect Materials

First of all, you run the risk of overspending on materials — if you even end up buying the correct roofing materials in the first place.

This isn’t just a waste of money in the short-term.

What happens when, inevitably, the roofing materials don’t hold up to your climate, the elements, or just the structure of the roof itself?

You’ll likely spend more than you would have to replace them than you would if you’d just called in a professional in the first place.

Plus, roofers have the experience and the credentials to advise you on how better roofing material can help you to save on energy costs. This will save you money now and down the line. It will also help you to keep your home’s temperature consistent.

Another thing that many homeowners aren’t aware of?

If you decide to get into DIY roof repair, you put your overall roof warranty at great risk. Some roofing warranties are no longer valid if you end up damaging the roof yourself.

This could lead to a serious increase in cost, and even a loss of coverage should you need to replace the roof entirely.

Improper Installation

Yes, fixing a few shingles isn’t exactly rocket science.

However, severe structural issues, problems around your chimney, and even considering replacing sections of the roof entirely aren’t things you should attempt to do on your own.

Improper repair and installation don’t just damage your roof more than it already is. It can also impact the structural integrity of the rest of your home.

Additionally, working with a professional team ensures that you get the repairs completed in a timely manner.

This can stop the roof’s structural issues from getting worse due to the weather, structural problems, or other issues.

Failure to Correctly Identify the Issue

You may think you know exactly what’s wrong with your roof.

But the truth is that without the proper licensing and experience, it can be difficult to accurately diagnose a roofing problem.

When you work with a professional roofing company, they’ll inspect not only your roof, but also your attic, your yard, your walls, and other areas of your home to ensure they know the best steps to take.

This way, you can rest easy knowing that the problem will actually be taken care of the first time.

A professional can also inform you about other issues that you didn’t even realize existed. That’s why we suggest that, especially if you have an older roof, you make annual roof inspections a part of your maintenance routine.

Consider Your Safety

Of course, we’ve all read horror stories of homeowners falling off of their own roofs when attempting to fix things on their own.

You may save a few bucks on the cost of labor, sure.

However, is going with a DIY solution really the cheapest way to roof a house when you end up in the hospital, staring down thousands of dollars in medical bills?

It’s important to understand that DIY roofing isn’t just dangerous because you could easily lose your balance and fall off of your roof.

Depending on the age of your roof, you could also potentially expose yourself to asbestos fibers. Many roofs that were built before 1990 contain high amounts of asbestos.

This puts your lungs and overall health at serious risk. Even a minimal amount of exposure to asbestos can put you at a higher risk of developing lung cancer. You may also deal with respiratory issues, nausea, dizziness, and other long and short-term consequences.

Plus, if you don’t install the roofing materials correctly?

They could fall off of the roof, posing risks not only to your yard and personal property but also the people that live in your home.

Any way you slice it, DIY roofing is a serious risk.

Rethinking DIY Roofing? Give Us a Call Instead

We hope this post has helped you to understand not only the safety risks of DIY roofing but also the financial risks of taking on a project you’re really not qualified to complete.

Instead of jeopardizing your safety and your wallet?

Let us get the job done for you.

Whether you need assistance with your residential roofing, or if you need help with a commercial roof, we have the experience you’re looking for.

Get in touch with us today to schedule your inspection with a member of our team.