The roofing and housing project do-it-yourself impulse is powerful. Over 80 percent [1] of homeowners say they’ve tackled a DIY home improvement or repair project. About half of these respondents say they’ve done four or more such projects. The latest DIY surge began during the coronavirus pandemic when many professional roofing contractors were unavailable.
DIY projects always have pros and cons. As outlined below, in some cases, the pros outweigh the cons. However, in most cases, the opposite is true. Either way, homeowners need to know what they’re committing to and whether it should be a DIY or professional roofing project. So, if your roof needs work or it’s time for an upgrade, always ask a Phoenix roofing contractor to assess your situation. A half-finished DIY or professional roof job could cause many problems for years.
DIY Home Improvement Roofing
Do-it-yourselfers must do more than swing hammers. They are responsible for the entire roofing job. They must gather materials, remove the damaged roof or portion to be renovated, do the work, and dispose of the waste.
DIY roofing could be a daunting task, depending on the type of work and the house size. Nevertheless, DIY roofing has its advantages, such as:
- Savings: We’ll start with the most significant and obvious DIY advantage. This approach could save homeowners thousands of dollars, not just labor costs. DIYers also have exclusive control over the materials used. However, people who buy small quantities usually don’t get big volume discounts.
- Customization: If you want a job done to your specifications, do it yourself. Although the customer is still the boss, delegating tasks to a professional roofer means a partial loss of control. So, your vision for your roof becomes a reality.
- Learning Experience: Anyone can go online and partner with a professional contractor. DIY roofers acquire special skills they can use over and over. Additionally, you might be so good at what you do that the weekend hobby becomes a side gig or a full-time job.
Generally, if the project is very small, you have ample spare time, and you have some general construction knowledge, DIY is usually the way to go. Otherwise, the cons are overwhelming. These cons include:
- Insurance Issues: Many homeowner’s policies exclude damage or injury related to DIY roofing. Carefully review your policy to determine coverage and deductibles. Furthermore, if the policy doesn’t specifically cover roofing DIY, assume an adjuster will reject such a claim.
- Warranty Coverage: Usually, unless roofing materials are professionally installed, the warranty is invalid. So, DIYers have no safety net. If anything goes wrong, whether or not the issue was your fault, you must probably start over from scratch.
- Expertise: We mentioned general construction knowledge above, which is good. Experience with a specific job is much better. Professionals who have been there and done that employ proven methods and pay attention to minute details DIYers might miss.
- Home Value: Inspectors quickly spot DIY mistakes and other issues. Additionally, if the roof doesn’t have a valid warranty because a professional didn’t install it, as mentioned above, your home may be hard to sell.
- Safety: Roofing work is dangerous, especially if you don’t have the proper safety equipment. This equipment is usually only available to professional Phoenix roofing contractors. Additionally, roofing materials could be hazardous if mishandled. Professional roofers are trained in safety protocols and have experience working in such environments, reducing the risk of accidents. DIY roof replacement can put you and others in danger without proper precautions and expertise.
In short, working with a roofing company is an investment. DIY roofing is an investment as well as a risk. The risk includes not only safety issues but also performance issues. If a DIY job goes sideways, homeowners have no one to blame but themselves.
Why Use a Professional Roofing Company in Phoenix
At Four Peaks Roofing, we address all these issues and give homeowners peace of mind about their roofing projects.
There’s no learning curve with Four Peaks. Our team has worked on hundreds of roofs in the Phoenix area. We know what approaches work and, just as importantly, what methods don’t work. Additionally, we don’t start work until your vision for your roof is also our vision. We do the work, but the homeowner controls the project.
Finally, never let cost prevent you from speaking with a professional. If you explain your situation, a roofer may be able to offer you cost savings. For example, it may be possible to save you the costs of a complete roof tear‐off by installing a new roof over your old one.
For more information about roofing options, contact us now.
Sources:
