Saving thousands of dollars is something we all would love to do! Doing your own roofing job might seem like a great way to save some money, but slow down a little bit first.
Besides the foundation your house sets on, your roof is the most important structure.
Your roof is a significant investment that when done right will provide you with leak-free protection for decades.
If not done correctly, not only can it ruin your roof, but it can cause a multitude of problems that will far surpass any amount of money you may have saved by doing it yourself.
If you want to avoid costly mistakes, read on to see why hiring a professional could be your smartest move.
Roofing Contractors Are Licensed & Insured
Any roofing contractors worth hiring will show you their licenses and insurance information.
Licenses are not given to anyone, but only to those who have demonstrated the skill and level of knowledge required to get a license.
You can’t replace the years of experience roofing contractors possess by watching a few how-to videos on youtube.
You may be able to get the basics down, but not the years of learning how to do the job correctly.
Roofing contractors learn techniques and procedures proven over the decades to provide the highest quality leak free roofing.
Safety First – DIY Roofing vs. Professional Roofing
Every day, someone falls from a ladder, a platform, or even a roof. Some are lucky and only sustain minor injuries or maybe a broken bone.
Others are not so lucky, and their families are the ones who suffer from the fall.
This is not to make light of a difficult situation, but to point out that if you do not have the training, equipment, or knowledge, roofing can be dangerous and even deadly.
If you are new at doing something and learning a new skill, you’ll usually focus most of your attention on doing it right. For some things, this is not too much of an issue, but a rooftop is no place for distractions.
Time is Money
If you have never taken an old roof off and put a new one on it will take you more time than it will for an experienced roofing contractor.
It goes without saying that if you take on a DIY roofing job for your home, you will come across issues you weren’t expecting and may not know how to address.
It’s a given that the unexpected adds time onto projects as well as money and resources. You may end up spending more money and resources.
You will end investing more time and money if you make a mistake like measuring wrong, damage roofing materials and rendering them unusable, installing something wrong, or buying the wrong material.
Professional Roofing Warranty Protection
If you make mistakes, you foot the bill, whether it’s during the installation or a year later if your roofing job leaks.
There may be a warranty with your shingles, but it will only be for any material defects. Many shingle manufacturers will only honor their warranty if a licensed roofer installs them or the warranty is voided.
If you hire a licensed contractor, you will benefit from professional roofing warranty protection that will cover any damages that are a result of improper installation. It will also keep the material warranty intact.
Installation Techniques
Something that we mentioned before was techniques used by professional roofing installers.
The truth of the matter is that a professional roofer knows the right techniques to use and the right roof for your home. They can provide you with a properly installed roof that will give you years of worry-free use.
The techniques that are most commonly done incorrectly with a DIY roofing job are:
- Starter shingles improperly installed
- Improper installation of valley flashing
- Incorrect nail placement on shingles
- Improper shingle exposure or overhang
Anyone of these mistakes can allow water to seep in through your roof, causing damage that could be costly.
Having a knowledgable, experienced roofing contractor install your roof means that they will also inspect your roof after the tear off.
Having Your Roof Inspected
An experienced licensed roofing contractor will be able to determine if the decking is good and up to code. They will be able to find past mistakes from previous installations and know what to do to bring it up to code.
There may be issues that the untrained eye would not be able to recognize. A roofing contractor will spot these problems and help protect your home from further damage, like wood rot and mold.
You may spend some more money up front if you use a licensed roofing contractor, but considering all that they provide, you stand to lose more than you could gain.
Selecting the Right Roofing Contractor
We have listed some excellent reasons for choosing a licensed roofing contractor, but we are not suggesting that you hire any contractor.
Not all contractors are the same or will fit your specific situation. Pricing, customer ratings, and responsiveness are essential. What’s most important is that they can do the job you need them to do and do it right.
Finally, a roof can be costly, so you need to know that it will be cost effective, high quality, and installed by a contractor that backs up their work.
Warranties mean very little if you cannot get the contractor who promised to repair their mistakes. A contractor offering the lowest price does not make their offer the best one.
Taking everything into consideration is essential when making your decision on which contractor to hire.
When you are ready to have a new roof put on and want the best roofing company in Annapolis MD, contact us today. You will be glad you did!