Why You Should (and Shouldn't) Work On Your Own Roof
Here are some reasons why you should and should not DIY your own roof.
12/07/2019
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Your home’s roof is one of the biggest investments in a property. As a matter of fact, this is perhaps the main reason why a home is referred to as having a “roof over your head”. Due to factors such as time and the weather elements, however, your roof is always vulnerable to various kinds of damages, some of them being corrosion (for metal roofs), cracking, breaking, and fading. The only way to protect your investment is to ensure that you observe proper maintenance and see to it that repairs are done as soon as faults are detected.
But then again, we live in an economically harsh world, and save a buck or two, many homeowners resort to DIY when it comes to certain home improvement projects, roof repair, and inspection being some of them. And remember, we’re talking about an investment that is worth thousands of dollars here. So should really try and fix your own roof when it comes to repairs or replacement? Without beating around the bush any further, here are some reasons why you should and should not DIY your own roof.
Reasons To DIY
You want to save on labor costs
One of the main reasons property owners choose to take up their roofing project DIY is the notion that roofers are expensive to hire. Well, the truth is, doing it yourself can sometimes be cost-effective, especially if it’s just some minor repairs here and there. If you’re working on a strict budget, fixing minor repairs can be ideal for you.
You want to experiment
At times, DIY projects can be fun. Especially if you’re the kind of person who likes to get themselves dirty, you can really have a good time handling minor repairs, gutter cleaning, checking for rots, and minor sealing leaks.
Reasons Not to DIY Your Roof
You lack the expertise
Did we mention that the roof is one of the biggest investments in a home or property? Well, when it comes to roofing projects, a shoddy job can end up being a mega source of frustration on your part. Experts at Mississauga Roofing say that roofing projects require a great deal of expertise and to get the best results, it is best to leave the job to the professionals. The only way to ensure that your investment is protected, your comfort is ensured, and your roof lasts to exhaust its lifetime is to let the experts handle the job.
Lack of proper gear, tools, and equipment
Depending on the nature of the job or the severity of the problem, roofing projects require specific types of tools, and equipment. When doing DIY, however you may find that you don’t have these, and buying the same might be more expensive than hiring a roofer in the first place.
Your safety is on the line
Roofing projects also involve climbing high ladders and subjecting oneself to various kinds of risks. As a matter of fact, falls from roofs could result in severe injuries if not death. Unless you have some high-level training on working from heights, it is safer to avoid DIY roofing.
In addition to the above pointers, DIY roofing can even end up being costlier than you had anticipated in the long term, not forgetting that it could also void your roof warranty. As you can see, after weighing the two options, you will agree that it is best to leave roofing tasks to the experts. There is no point in saving a few bucks off your roofing repair, only to spend thousands on replacing the entire roof, just because some damages were not spotted or a proper job wasn’t done.