There are many advantages to hiring a professional roofing contractor instead of doing it yourself. DIY projects often seem to save you money, but when it comes to large projects like roofs, unless you know what you are doing, the process can become dangerous and costly. Also, if you do not fix it the first time, the damage could get worse and you will ultimately need to hire contractors to handle what becomes a more intense job. You also do not want to risk dealing with a leaky roof damaging your home.
Here are some common mistakes that people make when fixing their roof themselves:
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Re-using Materials
Even if some portions of your roof look less worn out than others, you should still replace these parts of the roof. You want to avoid the pains of buying more materials and starting your roofing process all over again a few months later. The most common piece of the roof that people try to re-use is the metal flashing that goes around the chimney, roof valleys, and skylights. These are the most vulnerable areas of your roof so even if the flashing still looks sturdy, it needs to be replaced to protect the inside of your house. Also, do not try to save money on buying used materials. Once again, just because a piece of material looks strong, does not mean that it will be good for your roof.
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Improperly Placing the Ventilation
If the ventilation is placed improperly, then your roof will be exposed to more moisture and heat than the roof can handle. The best place to put the ventilation is at the peaks and eaves of the roof.
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Application
If application is not done well, your roof will be subject to excess damage from the elements. Your contractor will make sure that they hammer in the nails under the overlap of the shingle. Do not hammer it in too deep or else your shingles will trap moisture. Many people think that this is the easiest step to roofing, but if it is not done precisely, then the rood will be subject to much more wear and tear.
Here are several reasons why you should hire a contractor instead of doing it yourself:
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It Costs Less
The whole point of DIY projects is to cut down on costs by teaching yourself instead of hiring contractors, but doing it alone, can often cost more, not just in money, but in time as well. Roofing contractors have connections with companies that give them deals on high quality materials. If you try to buy the materials yourself at a local store, you run the risk of choosing a lower quality material that will need to be replaced more quickly than a contractor’s material.
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Efficiency
Contractors also know how to do their job efficiently so that you do not have to spend weeks or months on a project that could take contractors a few days. Especially when working on your roof, you want to make sure that you get the job done as quickly as possible to limit the inside of your house and family to exposure from the elements.
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Safety
Thousands of people get injured each year from ladder and roof related accidents. Professional contractors have the proper equipment to protect them as they climb ladders to take the materials up the roof. Contractors will also offer warrantees and guarantee that if they did not fix your roof properly, that they will come back and improve it.
