The roof of your home represents around 40% of its exterior, so it needs to look good. Maintaining your roof plays a critical role in keeping your property’s value, improving the overall good looks of your home, and keeping its contents and occupants safe and sound from the elements.
Many homeowners will consider doing minor roofing repairs themselves. It’s understandable given the rising costs happening in the construction industry. In an effort to save money, homeowners are tempted to use cheaper alternatives for roof repairs.
People turn to relatives, call the local handyman, respond to a Craigslist ad, or even attempt the roof repair themselves. However, there are significant advantages to hiring a local roofing contractor in your area. For starters, roof repairs are dangerous and difficult, but here are a few more reasons why hiring a roofing contractor is always the best option.
Job Experience
How much knowledge do you have about how the roof work? If you are like most home or business owners, you have only a basic understanding of your roof and its various systems.
Roofing professionals go through extensive training to hone their craft before going to work as professional roofing contractors.
They are also licensed and understand roofing materials and how and where they should be used when constructing new roofs or doing repairs.
Without this experience, it will be difficult for you to know for sure that you have fixed your problem, regardless of how many YouTube videos you have watched. This could end up costing you even more money in repairs later.
Your home or business should not be an experiment in saving money on roof repairs. Get it done right the first time by only working with professional roofing companies in your area.
Improved Safety
The number of deaths and injuries because of DIY roof repairs is a testament to how dangerous roof work is for untrained and inexperienced property owners.
When all of your attention is focused on an unfamiliar job, you aren’t paying enough attention to your surroundings. It’s a dangerous situation, so if you do choose to tackle a simple roof repair yourself, at least make sure you have someone keeping an eye on your safety.
Professional roofing contractors have the experience to keep their attention where it is needed, while also ensuring they are safe. When working at heights, they have the proper safety gear and the training to use it properly.
Insurance plays a role in safety as well. The average business or homeowner is unlikely to receive an insurance payout if they injure themselves working on their own roof.
On the other hand, good roofing contractors always have full insurance. Both the homeowner and the contractor are covered should the worst happen.
It’s a good idea to check the insurance coverage of any roofing contractor you work with. You don’t want to be financially responsible for a serious injury that occurs on your property.
Save Time
Professionals in every field make difficult jobs look easy. If you have ever found yourself marveling at how someone can get a job done in a tenth of the time it would take you to do it, it’s because that’s what they do all day every day.
There’s a good chance you have no prior knowledge about how to fix your roof. You will likely spend a few hours watching videos and reading books, which is even worse if you are referring to them while you are working at heights.
When you make a mistake, you have nobody to blame but yourself. Fixing the problem after mangling it yourself will result in extra expense. A roofing company will fix the problem and will come back if they make a mistake or unknowingly use faulty materials that are under warranty.
Save Money
Saving money in today’s economic climate is a high priority for most families. However, your roof is not something you should skimp on.
If you are doing a repair yourself, you’ll be heading to the hardware store with a full shopping list. Most roof repairs will need shingles, roofing nails, sealants, roofing felt, and more.
Small repairs will result in a lot of wastage in materials you won’t need again and tools you won’t use. Plus, you are also likely to purchase the wrong gear and drive up your costs because of inexperience.
A professional roofer will have all the materials and equipment they need to get the job done. Plus, as a professional tradesperson, their costs to purchase materials in bulk are much lower than the retail prices you will pay. Also, consider how much your time is worth because it will take you much longer to do the repairs than a professional.
Damage Liability
Even the best roofers have bad days and experience unfortunate circumstances. Like all construction projects, roofing is susceptible to mishaps that may end up damaging your roof.
Reputable roofing contractors will stand behind the work they do with comprehensive liability insurance. If your work receives damage from something they have done, you are more likely to be compensated in full.
Take Advantage of Warranties
Most of the equipment and materials used in roofing repair and construction will come with warranties, but only when used or installed by a trained professional. If your DIY roof repair fails for any reason, you will have to bear the cost.
Your roof is not an area that will tolerate mistakes when doing home repairs. It’s major work that requires a professional touch to ensure the roof can continue protecting your home against the elements. Before you consider doing your own roof repairs, consider the disadvantages in material costs, the physical demands, the risks of getting it wrong, and the potential for accidents.
A professional roofing contractor in Vancouver will give you peace of mind that the job has been done well. Your roof will last longer and look better, which is great for resale value and increasing curb side appeal. If your roof needs some attention, get in touch today to find out how we can help.
