Your roof has seen better days and is due for a replacement. As a means of saving money, you’re considering replacing it yourself.
But you’re wondering: is DIY roof replacement worth the trouble? Or would you be better off handing the task to a trained and professional roof service? We’re going to help you decide below!
The Pros of DIY Roof Replacement
Truthfully speaking, there’s only one pro to DIY roof replacement. That pro is a saving of money . . . maybe.
However, if you really want to save money by going the DIY route, you’re going to have to carry out the process perfectly. Every mistake made is a loss of material, which therefore requires you to buy more material. If you mess up large portions of the roof, you could easily end up going over your budget.
And, rest assured, installing a new roofing material isn’t easy. It’s certainly not as simple as nailing down some shingles. You’re also going to need materials like flashing, underlayment, and sealant.
None of these is necessarily easy to apply, especially if you’re looking to get 20 to 30 years of use out of it. Nevertheless, if you do your homework and take great care during the installation, you could facilitate a successful (and relatively cheap) installation.
The Cons of DIY Roof Replacement
While replacing your roof on your own could conceivably save you money, it’s also going to present you with a number of challenges. Some of the biggest cons of DIY roof replacement include the following.
It Puts Your Safety at Risk
One of the biggest cons of DIY roofing replacement is that it puts your safety at risk. After all, a roof is a good 10 to 30 feet off the ground. If you were to fall from such a height, you could suffer serious injury (and maybe even death).
Yes, there is safety equipment available. However, it’s going to cost you some money. And if you’re only using it once, it’s probably going to feel like a bit of a waste.
Many would-be DIYers hand the task off to professionals for this very reason. It’s just not worth risking an injury.
Is Tougher Than It Looks
As we touched on above, installing new roofing materials isn’t as easy as it looks. There’s much more to it than just hammering down some shingles.
If you’re not versed in the roofing replacement process, you have a big challenge ahead of you. If you mess this challenge up, you’ll be on the hook for hundreds or thousands of dollars in additional materials (not to mention the additional time commitment).
Think long and hard about whether you really want to take on this endeavor. It requires a combination of knowledge and skill, and you might not have what it takes to make it happen at the moment.
It Takes a Long Time
Unless you have a large group of friends helping you out, it’s going to take you a long time to replace your roof on your own. After all, even a full crew of professionals can take 3 to 5 days to complete such a project. A lone non-professional is looking at weeks worth of work.
That’s a huge time commitment that could easily intrude on other parts of your life. So, unless you’re ready to dive into this thing headfirst, you would be better off leaving it to a professional roof service.
It Requires Loads of Equipment
You could conceivably save money by replacing your own roof. However, you might not be considering the money you’ll lose at the onset of the project.
See, roofing a house requires a great deal of equipment. Not only do you need hammers and nails but a ladder, a safety harness, and maybe even a dumpster (to catch the discarded shingles).
As you might expect, this equipment can cost you a decent amount of money. As such, while you might still save money, you probably won’t save as much as you had originally planned.
Why It Might Be a Good Idea to Hire a Professional Roofing Company
We’ve discussed both the pros and cons of replacing your roof on your own. You may or may not still be thinking about it. In any case, we’re going to tell you why it might be a good idea to instead hire a professional.
Professional roofing companies know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to roof replacement. Not only do they have all of the skill and knowledge necessary to carry out the task but a great deal of experience in doing so as well. They’ve already made the common roofing mistakes, and have had the time to correct them, honing their skills in the process.
In addition, professional roofing companies work in large groups. As such, they can complete standard roofing replacements in just 1 to 5 days, depending on the size of the home.
There’s also the issue of insurance; professional roofing companies have it. As such, if damage is done to your home during the replacement, it will be entirely covered by the company’s insurer. You, as a DIYer, won’t necessarily have this privilege, and could end up costing yourself thousands of dollars in the process.
Utilize the Services of a Champaign Professional Roofing Company
DIY roof replacement is always a possibility. However, it’s probably not as beneficial as you believe it to be. It might save you some money, but it’s definitely going to subject you to more work (and might end up costing you more in the long run anyway!).
Unless you have the time and experience to facilitate this task, we highly recommend that you hire a professional. Looking for a professional roof service in Champaign? We here at Freeman Exteriors can assist you.
Contact us now to get the ball rolling!
