Hiring a professional roofer may not seem necessary to many homeowners. “Roofing isn’t rocket science,” Homeowner Harry said to himself. “I can do this myself and save some money. Maybe I’ll get Uncle Joey or the high schooler next door to help.” Roofing may not be rocket science, but it’s not child’s play either, and what Harry doesn’t know can hurt him—and his helpers. If you are tempted to make your roof repair a DIY job, please think twice. 

Risks of Doing Roof Repair Yourself

Doing important repairs yourself is always risky. The lesser risk is drama: if Uncle Joe helps and does a poor job, you can be awfully uncomfortable together at your next family gathering. Your relationships need to be protected just as much as your roof does! The next level of risk is the potential for leaks, wind damage, and other harm to your home due to substandard work resulting from inexperience. The greatest risk is physical harm to you or your helpers. If someone gets injured, they may be unable to continue with their job or other responsibilities and you may be legally and financially liable.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Roofer

You don’t go to Uncle Joe when you need a foot doctor (unless, of course, he is a foot doctor). And, if he is a foot doctor, you don’t go to him when you need heart surgery. You need the right professional to do professional work, with the right tools and experience. A professional roofer has both—and more besides!

A professional roofer:

• is fast and efficient because he has the right tools, properly maintained (such as nail guns maintained at proper pressure to prevent popping holes in shingles).
• does the same thing every day, so he understands what different situations require. Therefore, he knows what will leak and what won’t.
• protects himself, his workers, and you by  being bonded and insured.
• knows local building codes, regulations, and laws. He’ll ensure your roof passes inspection.
• is financially responsible. He has the reserves to buy materials for your job. He won’t require pre-payments to pay off materials or workers from the last job. (How do you know if a roofer is financially responsible? This can require checking references and other steps. But for a quick, first assessment, look at his vehicles. Are they properly maintained? Chances are he isn’t going to take good care of your home if he doesn’t take good care of his equipment.)
• gets the roof on straight. With “dimensional” tiles, this may not be as obvious to the naked eye as with traditional tiles, but it’s just as important so that you don’t end up with shingles that don’t seal properly, or exposed nail heads (a potential leak risk), or invalidated manufacturers’ wind warranties.
• will keep your place clean and protected during the job. The average roof has some 8,000 nails per layer. A professional will protect your flowerbeds and decks with tarps and will sweep the area with magnets after removing the tarps.

Don’t put your relationships, your roof, or ,more importantly, yourself at risk like Homeowner Harry and Cousin Joey. Hire a qualified professional roofer for your roof repairs and roof replacements. It will protect you and yield benefits for years to come! For more information about hiring a roofer, see our top 10 tips. To schedule your inspection with a licensed professional, contact us TODAY!