At The Roof Doctor, we’re proud to be your go-to roofing contractors for everything from basic inspections and repairs to full-on commercial or residential roof installation. There’s no roofing issue we haven’t seen and dealt with in the past, and no product or material we can’t help you work with.
Unfortunately, the other side of this coin is that we’ve seen a number of major mistakes made by home or business owners who tried to bite off more than they could chew. Most of these are mistakes born from good intentions – you want to help save some costs and apply your handiness around your home or building, but just don’t have the expertise to do so. Here are a few areas that, unless you’re a certified roofing professional like ours, we recommend you leave to us when it comes to your next roofing project.
Buying Materials Alone
One of the key areas that roofing contractors help with during any roof project is the sourcing and purchasing of materials. You may think you’re pretty good at finding great deals, and you’re probably right, but contractors in this field get competitive pricing from various manufacturers and will often simply be exposed to discounts you aren’t.
This, of course, is on top of the increase in quality you’ll get by going this way. Your contractor knows exactly which kinds of materials your roof needs for a given project, plus will ensure you get a good warranty and lifespan from them. You avoid quantity issues here as well, which are common for people trying to do this kind of project for the first time.
Working on Your Own
Once again, unless you are a certified roofing expert, you should leave major roof work to those who are. You may think you can learn as you go while tearing off parts of your roof or attempting to replace shingles, but these projects often turn into reclamation projects where we have to clean up after your mistakes – at a greater cost to you, as well. We know the desire to save some money and do the job yourself is tempting, but you should leave this process to professionals with the proper safety equipment and expertise.
Installing Poor Products
In some cases, DIY projects on the roof are flawed not because they’re done incorrectly, but because they aren’t needed or even might cause more harm than good. One example here is a flush-mounted skylight, which comes with a limited flange width and therefore can’t support much water – flooding and leaking are common with these products.
Down similar lines, rain diverters may appear helpful on the surface, but many models will actually divert water under your shingles and lead to major damage. Our professionals, on the other hand, will spot these kinds of products in a heartbeat and advise you against them unless they’re right for you.
For more on the reasons why you should include a roofing contractor in all major projects, or to learn about any of our roofing repair or installation services, speak to the pros at The Roof Doctor today.