DIY (Do-It-Yourself) isn’t a new idea. Once upon a time everything was DIY or it wouldn’t get done at all. There is something about doing the job yourself and enjoying the sense of accomplishment especially when completing a project outside of ones expertise. DIY home repair and improvement projects can be one of the more enjoyable parts of owning a home!
Although many repairs and improvements can be performed by laypeople. it is important to know one’s limits. Much like changing a tire, or even one’s oil in a car is much different from rebuilding a transmission or even reprogramming a car’s computer, roofing work is something best left to the experts.
The Right Tools For The Job
Many people accumulate tools over the years, some more than others, usually for common jobs around the house. But even those with large, multiple toolboxes rarely have the tools needed to work on a roof properly. Simply because it’s not something done often enough to justify the costs of the tools.
Your roof is incredibly strong and durable, after all it is built to keep out the harshest elements and protect your home. As such, small repairs are rarely simple. Simply patching over a hole or plugging it isn’t an option if you wish to maintain your roofs integrity. In most cases, you’re not only repairing the problem itself but also the area around it. As such, most DIYérs simply do not have the tools to do the job properly, and in many cases, attempting to do so without the proper tools results in a weaker roof and ultimately increased costs.
Safety and Risk
Risking money (saving or losing) by doing a project yourself is one thing, risking your health, even your life, to save a few bucks is another. Getting up on the roof by itself is a risk much less doing even minor work without the proper tools, professional roofing contractors have been dealing with risks like these for decades and have the equipment and knowledge (not to mention insurance) necessary to mitigate these risks.
Knowledge & Experience
Although it may appear to be a quite simple structure, the truth of the matter is your roof is actually a complex system of multiple components that work together to keep your home safe and sound. Knowing all the possible combinations of these components and how they work on each home is critical to proper roof repair and is something most homeowners simply won’t bother learning. Unless one is planning on getting into the business, taking the time needed to become a roofing expert simply isn’t something even the most avid DIYér would do.
Would you have your plumber repair your car’s brakes? How about your landscaper performing brain surgery on your significant other? When it comes to the things that are important, we look to the experts and with good reason.