If you own a home long enough eventually the roof is going to need repairs. There will be a leak. A shingle will get damaged by a storm. As a homeowner, you need to know when to fix the roof yourself and when to get a professional to help you. The rest of this article will explain to you the pros and cons of fixing your own roof and what to look for if you decide to go with a professional contractor.
Pros of fixing your own roof
When you fix your own roof, you don’t have to wait on anybody else’s schedule. You can do the work when it needs to be done instead of waiting for a contractor to have an opening. You don’t have to worry about someone ripping you off since you’ll be doing the work. You know that the repairs you want done will get done because it’s your house and you have a vested interest in making sure the job gets done right.
Cons of fixing your own roof
If you decide to fix your own roof and you aren’t an expert at it, you could hurt yourself pretty badly. You could also mess up your roof pointing repairs even more if you don’t know what you’re doing. Worse yet, if you are the one doing the repairs, you don’t have anyone else to blame if your roof gets even more damaged from the repairs you tried to do yourself.
When to hire a contractor to fix your roof Some roof repairs are better handled by a professional such as High Skillz Toronto Roofers. If you have outside light shining through your roof, that is not a problem you should handle yourself. You should also call melbourne roof restoration if you have dark spots or signs of water damage. If you see damage that you aren’t sure you can fix, just contact a contractor for an estimate to be on the safe side.
Before hiring a contractor for your commercial roof coating project, be sure to ask for references. A trustworthy contractor will readily provide names of satisfied clients. Inquire whether the contractor offers inspections and estimates, and also if they clean up any remaining roofing materials. While these details may not seem crucial initially, they can prevent significant issues down the line.
Common scams contractors try to pull As with any profession, there are con artists in the roofing business. Be on the lookout for some common scams. Some contractors will try to convince you that a simple project needs a permit when it doesn’t. Be sure to research the laws in your area so you know which types of jobs require a permit. Some contractors will require a huge deposit before they start the project and then run off with your money without starting any work.
Having a broken roof can be a scary experience. You may be tempted to fix it yourself to get the problem resolved quickly. Consult with a professional first so you can see exactly what you’re dealing with.
![\\\\\\\"\\\\\\\"](\\\\\\\"https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=r2cEh1aAod000d\\\\\\\")
There is another factor for us–though we are fit and take care of ourselves, we have reached an age (cough!) where climbing and possible falling are a huge consideration! I also think that knowing what your town requires in terms of permits helps when contracting for this kind of work.
The step many folks forget to do is get references. A reputable company will be proud of their work. My folks own rental properties and they know there are a lot of not so honest people out there.
Diana C
I am a carpenters wife- he has almost 30 years in the business…..
All contractors / independents in the vast majority of cities are bonded . Unless it is a repair if you live in town you will need a permit -if you dont think you carpenter got one, you can ask (the city will know by the address given)
“Ask if your potential contractor provides inspections and estimates” is an odd statement…….. estimates should always be free. If someone is asking to charge you something is up. Inspections are ALWAYS done by the city at certain phases of a roofing job – in cold climates for example a frost barrier is installed- the city inspector should be showing up-you might not see the inspector if youre not home but the work cant proceed until they are shown it has been done. The only time there should be a question of ‘inspections’ is if you have signed a large company when the person who is the owner isnt there on site or on the crew.
“Some contractors will require a huge deposit before they start the project and then run off with your money without starting any work.” PLEASE expect to pay a deposit if you are having a roof done. You will usually be asked to at least cover materials cost. Get a receipt and make sure you are comfortable and that your roofer is local and reachable.
Last of all…….make sure they are indeed what they say they are and not ‘weekend warriors’ working without bonds- you have no recourse should the job not get done or heaven forbid they sue you if they fall. People hiring a roofer (or any service person) most often get ‘scammed’ by hiring people who have no business being in/around your home.
Sorry for ranting but being around the business for 30+ years and always seeing ‘scam’ associated with a profession raises the hackles .
my hubs works as a roof salesman he worked in the field repairing and installing them for years he cant count the times people have opted to do it themselves and mess up or have someone who has no experience do an awful job. Atleast if anything ever happens to our roof he’s more than capable of doing it himself 😉
Great tips. We had to have some work done on our roof a couple of years ago. We interviewed 6 or more contractors. It is a huge cost plus it is something you want done right the first time. We also checked with the Better Business Bureau in our city.
i have fixed my own roof a couple of times, but they were minor repairs. when there is something major or will take a while i usually call a professional to do it.
Our neighbor just completely re-tiled their roof and they did a decent job. Personally, I’d be afraid of ruining it. If you have the talent, I say go for it, but I’ll stick with the nerdy computer stuff.
Your roof gets more abuse than any other part of your home, making regular inspections important. Keeping your roof well maintained is important. Thank you for sharing your blog post.