According to recent research by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently over 70,000 roofing contractors in the United States. However, despite the availability of roofing experts and the fact that a roof is at the core of protecting a home, many homeowners still insist on DIY. When handled casually, roof repair is among the most intricate home renovations, with disastrous implications.
A well-done roof guarantees you protection from rain and other weather-related extremes, boosts your home’s value, and enhances energy efficiency. Professional roofing also improves your home’s curb appeal. These benefits are on top of saving money and time.
Conversely, a poorly done roof repair process is a ticking time bomb. As such, hiring a roofing contractor instead of DIY repairs is critical. Here are reasons why the roof repair process should be left to experts.
They Have Experience
The internet is a great source of information. However, it lacks depth in knowledge and exposure to practical skills. Most roofing contractors, on the other hand, have years of experience and exposure handling roof repair procedures.
A professional in the roofing business for over a decade will most likely have handled most, if not all, of the common roofing repair issues. Chances are that a DIY only has base-level roof repair knowledge. Such limitations could lead to poor workmanship and expose the roof to severe future damage.
A common challenge with DIY is that they have a one-size-fits-all approach to everything. A DIY would be out of wits with the roof repair process if the problem is more complex than their limited experience. Apart from having practical experience in roof handling and repair, experts have the technical know-how to handle different roof repair processes.
They Will Keep Your Family Safe
Safety is a top concern during any home renovation process. The reality, nevertheless, is that the roofing process exposes both you and your family to specific potentially grave safety concerns. During a DIY roofing repair process, an oversight may manifest due to the lack of professional awareness of the surroundings.
The risk of flying objects landing on a child’s head or debris in their eyes is too common. Even with extreme caution, your family’s safety is not negotiable. When you hire a roofing contractor, you hire an individual who has been through training on safety procedures. Part of their training includes using fall protection gear and specialized tools, especially when dealing with metal.
Sometimes, the motivation to go the DIY way is to save money. However, you might end up paying medical costs in case of an accident. A spot check by Forbes reveals that most professional roofing companies have general liability coverage, which indemnifies them in case of bodily injury claims from clients. Working with a certified metal roofing contractor will guarantee a safe and secure working environment and compensation in case of injuries.
They Will Save You Time
A DIY roof repair project may save you the extra cost of hiring an expert, but the amount of time needed for an amateur to achieve pro-level roof repair standards is immense. Apart from the reroofing process, a DIYer must spend hours online learning the various roof repair techniques.
No matter the time spent learning the roof repair basics, it’s practically impossible to match up to the span of learning that roofing experts amass in their roof restoration projects. Even worse, despite spending much time on the project, a single mistake could take you back to square one. When you hire a roofing expert, they bring on board their experience and resources that make their work fast.
Before taking your roof restorations head on, pause, and consider the time required to complete the project. Regardless of your intention to save on costs, the time factor should be a priority consideration. Professional roofing contractors have a team of experts who handle different aspects of the roof repair process, which minimizes time wastage.
They Will Save You Money
According to Forbes, the roof repair process is generally expensive, costing up to $7000. The general assumption is that DIY is cheaper than hiring an expert for roof repairs. On the contrary, hiring a roof repair expert to handle this project is more cost-effective. The time is money, and every hour spent in trial and error on your DIY project could be more costly than hiring a professional. Further, unlike in the case of DIY, professional roofers get it right the first time.
A DIY roof repair process can be costly in the long term. You certainly can’t have all the tools required for the process. Which means you need to either buy new machines or hire. You may also not know where to source cheap material and how to minimize wastage during the repair process.
Any experienced roof repair contractor has high-quality tools and knows where to source affordable materials from suppliers. As such, the project’s total cost will be based on the scope of work. It will cost you much more if you attempt to handle the materials, tools, and labor than simply hiring a roof repair expert to manage the project.
They Will Provide Professional Advice
The roof repair process is intricate. You need a professional who can provide reliable insights during and after the roof installation. Certified roofers can offer consultation before, during, and after the metal roof installation project. When you opt for DIY, you not only bear the burden of completing the project but also look for solutions in case problems emerge.
Certified roofing contractors appreciate the need to work with a homeowner throughout the journey. If you entrust this intricate process to a roofing expert, they will offer advice on keeping the roof in the best condition. An expert will also provide information on possible causes of constant roof damage and offer workable solutions to help you address such issues.
Most reputable roof repair experts offer professional consultancy as part of a free, non-obligation estimate. The expert evaluates your roof and offers possible solutions to the problem. Such free advice is critical for making a final decision. The fact that DIYers may lack the knowledge to undertake such evaluations is enough reason to consider an expert.
They Offer Lasting Results
If handled casually, roofing problems can be a perennial concern. The roof is the first point of contact with extreme weather conditions, including rain, hail, and sun. This means that even after repairs, the roof can experience severe damage if the initial roof repair process does not meet certain thresholds.
DIY can offer temporary solutions to a leaking roof. Given your limited capacity, you will probably manage to address the basic problems. However, the possibility of a recurrence of the issues is high. The difference between DIY and professional roof repair experts is the long-term results.
If you intend to undertake residential roof repair, you likely want a lasting solution. You don’t want to interrupt normalcy in your residential property with unending roof repairs. A professional residential roof repair service guarantees the best results from past projects and successes. You can, therefore, trust them to deliver high-value results based on their portfolio.
They Know the Local Regulations
The roofing industry is highly regulated by building code standards. If you are a DIYer, you might focus more on the work and neglect the rules and regulations governing roofing processes. You may not fully understand the legal definition of roof recovery versus roof replacement and their difference.
Not all local authorities will approve the installation of new roof covering on top of an existing roof cover. Such regulations point to the set standards on how to undertake roof repairs. In some states, such as Florida, the standard regulation is that if more than 25% of the roof is damaged, the entire roof must be replaced.
Expert who has been in the industry long enough to understand every legal dynamic in roofing businesses. You are safer working with such professionals, given their reliability for any legal and regulatory advice you may need. Sometimes, absconding from your regulatory compliance duty can have adverse cost effects. If you end up on the wrong side of the law, your roof repair process could stall, so you need to trust an expert roofing contractor with the project.
They Provide Quality Materials
Homeowners mainly consider DIY, assuming it helps save on costs. Cost-saving, while critical, can affect your ability to make rational decisions on most matters, including purchasing quality roofing material. Often, materials that seem cheap lack the quality threshold required for longevity.
On the other hand, professional roofing contractors understand the importance of high-quality material in the roof repair process. They, therefore, go out of their way to ensure that source for the best roofing material regardless of the cost. However, roofing contracting may seem overpriced due to the obvious need for quality over cost.
Reputation is at the core of any roofing contractor’s mind when undertaking a project. As such, they likely wouldn’t want to ruin their name using substandard material. Any contractor who appreciates the impact of testimonials will pay attention to the standards and quality of the material.
They Use Superior Equipment
One of the major differences between DIYers and hiring professional roof repair experts is the gap in equipment. A DIYer will likely use the most basic equipment and tools in roof repair. The roof repair process is intricate and often requires extra attention to details and processes. Without proper tools, you will have low-quality outcomes.
Lack of equipment can greatly impede the quality of the roof repair process. DIYers may need to rent out such tools or undertake the process manually, with obvious ramifications. Renting out equipment would also mean incurring more operational costs. With such underlying constraints, most DIYers often have substandard reroofing processes.
In contrast, hiring local residential roofing companies guarantees superior equipment and top-level workmanship. Most contractors offering local roofing services have been in the business long enough, so they know which equipment to use for specific roofing problems. As such, the total cost of the roof repair process you’ll pay includes superior roofing equipment to guarantee you the best roofing solutions.
They Offer Warranties
Your roof is susceptible to various risks throughout the year. Even after a comprehensive roof repair process, the sudden change in weather can cause a recurrence of a minor issue such as a leak. When such issues arise after a DIY procedure, you may need to incur the total cost of redoing the repair process.
Most roofing contractors have a warranty period within which any issue related to workmanship is subject to reevaluation. According to the United States government, each local authority must define the warranty terms. It’s important to note that this warranty doesn’t cover the roofing materials but concerns arising from the roof repair process. You may need to confirm with the roof contractor the specific terms of their workmanship warranty.
A reputable roof repair contractor will inform you beforehand of their terms of service. Some of the terms include the span of the warranty and what it covers. With such a guarantee, you can be confident you’ll see value for your money. Unlike a DIY project where any arising costs after installation are on you, a contractor assumes any costs arising from poor workmanship entirely.
A Professional Roof Contractor Is Your Best Bargain
The need for a roof repair process may arise unexpectedly, and the cost burden may seem enormous. Even then, considering a DIY procedure to save on cost could be the worst mistake ever. DIYing your roof repair process exposes you and your family to inherent safety concerns, is time-consuming, costs you more, and results in poor workmanship.
Roofing is an intricate process that could have grave implications if handled casually. That’s why you are safer hiring a professional who has been in the roofing business long enough and understands the dynamics of the process. Apart from having the right equipment and the experience to deliver, these experts also provide a warranty on work done.
Are you considering a roof repair project soon? Don’t gamble with this intricate process. An expert roofing contractor will help you save much more time and money than DIY options. Call us today for proven quality roofing.