Did you spot one of the signs you need a new roof?
Damaged shingles, sagging, and attic problems all let you know a roof replacement is on the horizon. When the times comes, though, you might toy with the idea of a DIY roof replacement.
Many DIY projects lend themselves to a DIY approach, at least if you’re motivated and good with your hands. A DIY roof replacement isn’t one of them.
Keep reading and look at some of the reasons why it’s a bad idea.
1. Safety
Even on a single story house, the roof is anywhere from 10-15 feet off the ground. It might not sound that high, but you can break bones if you fall that far.
Professional roofers use safety gear, like a roof harness, that prevents falls. They also know where they can safely anchor those harnesses.
Most roofers also work in crews. If something happens, other crew members can call for help. You can easily misjudge the proper use of safety gear in DIY roof repairs.
If you work alone, there’s no one there to help you if you get hurt.
2. Experience
Think back to the first time you did something complicated. Did it go well?
Yeah, it usually doesn’t.
Installing a new roof is a complicated, multi-step process. There are a lot of places where things can go wrong. You can install the drip edge or flashing wrong.
Interested in other ways a roof installation can go wrong? Be sure to read more about it.
Professional roofers can install all of the components properly because they do it every day.
3. Warranty Issues
A lot of roofing materials come with warranties. A typical warranty on shingles runs 20-30 years, depending on the manufacturer.
Sounds great, right?
Here’s the catch. Most manufacturers use a clause that voids the warranty unless a professional installs the shingles. That’s bad news if you find out a year later that there’s a defect with those shingles.
4. Understanding the Materials
Speaking of shingles, do you know the performance differences of asphalt and fiberglass shingles? How about 3-tab and architectural shingles?
Are you familiar with the different brands of water and ice shields that go on most roofs now?
Yes, you can learn all of this, but not as well as roofing pros. They can tell you what’s available, offer recommendations, and explain those recommendations.
5. Time
DIY projects routinely take longer than you expect because it’s unfamiliar work. Putting on a DIY roof is a bigger than average project. However long you imagine it will take, it’ll still take longer.
Professional roofers will always get that new roof on your house faster than you can.
Parting Thoughts on DIY Roof Replacement
A DIY roof replacement is a bad idea for lots of reasons.
You probably don’t know the ins and outs of safely working on a roof. You run the risk of installing materials incorrectly. DIY installations can void the warranty on roofing materials.
You face a learning curve about the materials themselves. There’s also a time cost. Leaving the project to pros solves all of these problems.
Want to learn more? Check out our post about some other home repairs not to DIY.