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A hole in your roof can leave your home vulnerable to pests, moisture, and other forms of damage. However, while you may think that you can fix the damage yourself, it’s generally best to leave the repairs to a professional. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of hiring a pro as opposed to doing the work yourself.
Working On a Roof Is Difficult
Depending on the type of roof that you have, walking on it wrong could cause damage to shingles or other components. Ultimately, you may cause more damage before you have a chance to start working on the main problem that you’re trying to solve.
Not knowing how to walk on a roof could also increase your risk of a slip-and-fall accident. This may be especially true if you try to fix an issue during the colder period of the year when shingles could be covered in a slippery mix of rain, snow, and ice. Roofs may also be slippery if covered by leaves that have fallen from nearby trees.
Even if you do have protective equipment on, it won’t necessarily save you from a serious injury. Instead, it merely prevents you from falling dozens of feet to the hard ground below. If you don’t have a way to call for assistance after a fall, you could still be in a perilous situation with no easy way out.
Finally, the temperatures on a roof tend to be hotter than the outside air. This is because heat rises, which means all the warm air inside of the home is going to congregate near the top of the house where work is being done. In addition, shingles tend to trap the heat generated by the sun’s rays, which can also make it uncomfortable to work on a hot summer day.
Professionals Have Resources You Don’t
A professional roofer is going to have the tools, experience, and knowledge needed to get the job done in a matter of hours or days. A professional will also have a crew of people to call upon to get the job done much faster than you can by yourself.
Even if you have a crew of friends whom you can call upon to help, you don’t know if they have the experience or knowledge to do a good job. In fact, they may be a liability if they don’t know how to use a hammer or don’t understand how to walk on a roof safely.
In the event that you do know how to do a roofing job safely, you might not have the time to complete it. If you work during the week, you’ll be limited to working on weekends or during evening hours, which may not be ideal in the winter or fall when the days are short.
In an emergency situation, you might not want to stretch a repair project over a period of several weeks. This could result in water or pest damage spreading throughout the roof, which could turn your repair project into a full replacement job.
You also have to consider that time spent repairing your roof is time that you can’t spend with friends or family. If you decide to take time off from work to expedite a DIY repair job, you’ll lose income or have fewer vacation days to use later in the year when you want or need them.
You Don’t Necessarily Know What You’re Looking At
You might assume that repairing a hole in your roof just means putting new shingles in the area that’s exposed. Alternatively, you might think that you just need to tarp it off until you can get new shingles or otherwise find a more permanent solution.
Of course, that might only be true if the hole is small and hasn’t been around for more than a few hours. Otherwise, there could be underlayment that needs to be replaced or wood that has rotted completely through.
A professional will inspect the roof carefully to look for signs of damage beyond what you can see. If necessary, underlayment, decking, and other materials will be removed and replaced in a timely and adequate manner.
An inspection will also include an examination of your attic and other interior spaces to determine if they’ve been impacted by the hole in your roof. Stains on an interior ceiling, moisture in the attic, and other clues can indicate that damage is present that you might not be able to see.
You’re Liable for Your Mistakes
If a professional fails to install a shingle properly, the contractor is typically responsible for any damages that result from that error. If a professional falls off of the roof, that person’s company is typically responsible for any damages that may result.
However, if you fail to install a shingle properly, you’ll have to pay to have it fixed. If you or a friend fall off of your roof, you’ll be liable for paying any hospital bills or other losses an injured party might incur.
Don’t Void Your Warranty
A professional who works on your roof will likely offer a warranty or service guarantee that might last for a year or longer. In some cases, the manufacturer of any products that you put on your roof may also offer a guarantee of some kind.
If you try to repair your own roof, you might be at risk of voiding that warranty or guarantee even if you do the work well. Of course, if you do the work poorly, you’ll then need to pay for additional repairs that would’ve originally been covered by another party. Ultimately, if you have a warranty on your roof or certain roof components, it’s almost mandatory to call a professional instead of trying to do the work on your own.
Don’t Jeopardize Your Insurance Claim
In the event that the hole in your roof was caused by a storm or some other freak weather occurrence, the repairs may be covered by your insurance policy. However, if you decide to repair the damage yourself, your homeowner’s coverage provider could decide that the damage wasn’t actually caused by a storm.
Instead, they may decide that the damage was actually caused by homeowner negligence and choose to deny your claim. At a minimum, hiring a professional means that you have someone who can walk you through the process of filing a claim properly. Your contractor may even work with your insurance provider directly to ensure that repairs are made and paid for in a timely manner.
If you need roof repair services in San Antonio, TX, get in touch with the TEAM from BELDON Roofing Company today! In addition, we can help install new windows, entry doors, or siding on your home. These items can make your house more energy-efficient and protect against water or pest damage now and for many years to come.
