Do-It-Yourself, or DIY, has become quite popular over the past few years, especially when it comes to home renovations. From demolition to painting to installing new kitchen cabinets, is there anything homeowners shouldn’t be able to do by themselves?
There’s a reason why there are professional contractors who do what they do. Every DIY home project comes with risks, even if it may not seem that hard. We can’t speak for other trades, but when it comes to DIY roofing, here are three very good reasons why you probably shouldn’t try doing it yourself.
According to OSHA, the leading cause of fatalities among construction workers is falls, and a study done by the Journal of Safety Research reported that a third of falls in the construction industry were from a roof. If that sounds scary, that’s because it is. Not all damaged roofs look dangerous from the outside and it’s extremely dangerous to walk on your roof with an untrained eye. As professional roofers, we take many safety precautions and measures to ensure the safety of our workers. We also know how to navigate around your roof when the weather isn’t ideal and when it’s best to delay roof work if the weather is bad.
You should NEVER go on a roof that is potentially unsafe. If you think there is a problem with your roof, most reputable contractors will offer a free or low-cost inspection.
Many homeowners choose to DIY home projects because they think it saves them money. For some projects, that may be true. But that is not the case with a DIY roof replacement. In fact, you may end up spending a lot more money than if you had just hired a contractor.
As mentioned above, inspections are often free with a reputable contractor, and they will usually perform an inspection before starting on any roof work. There is a lot more involved to roof replacements than just replacing the shingles; the process also involves removing and disposing of the old shingles and repairing any damages that may have been underneath them.
At IBEX Roof, we’ve put a lot of thought into our process for any roofing job. For example, we use a special trailer to collect trash and debris so that your driveway doesn’t get scratched up from a dumpster. We cover up your beautiful landscape to protect it from falling debris. And we also have a thorough cleanup process after your roof work is completed so that you and your family are safe to walk around your home.
It’s hard to think about every step of the roofing process when you’re doing a DIY roof replacement. Not to mention, if you end up installing your roof incorrectly, you will have to spend more money fixing any mistakes or even getting your roof replaced all over again.
Lasty, a DIY roof replacement could mean no warranty for your roof. Most manufacturers require their roofing materials to be installed by professional roofers. So even if you are confident in your roofing skills, it’s probably not worth passing over a warranty. After all, the roof is one of the most important parts of your home! Additionally, some roofing contractors may even offer extended warranties for certain roofing materials. They may also offer another warranty for their roof work.
If you think it’s time to get your roof replaced, call IBEX Roof today for a free estimate on your next roofing project!
They were very responsive to a couple of installation issues and followed through with the business philosophy of finding a solution that would work. Thanks Jeff for your work... read more
Jerry WilleyI wont to thank all of the people that worked extremely hard on both in being honest and doing a great job, and in fast in have enough... read more
Jody KoellingNick and Jeff E. were great. They both took the time to make sure we understood our options, answered our questions and we were able to make the best choice... read more
Donavan AndersonGood price for good work. Crew did full strip and reroof for our two story house in 2 days. Looked great when done. Important to work with a roofing company... read more
Steve WetterlingJeff Eason did a fantastic job and found cost effective ways to avoid high costs
John Bonomi Jr.We actually stumbled across IBEX at the Tigard Festival of Balloons and scheduled a free estimate to have our roof cleaned. And I'm so glad we did! Miguel... read more
Amanda CaseJeff Eason, our project manager, made sure to handle our project with care and attention. He kept us in the loop of what was happening and was generous with providing... read more
Rory ParsonsJeff Eason took great care of me. He kept me up to date each step of the way. I added gutter replacement to my reroofing job and have me regrets!... read more
Michelle HuffmanJeff Eason project manager did a wonderful job and gave me the best deal on gutters
Allen KosinJeff Eason and his crew are professionals who care about the customer. He and his crew arrived promptly at scheduled times. The crew worked efficiently and the roof was installed... read more
Laura Guerra
