Your home should be a place that makes you feel safe and protects you from the elements, and the roof is essential to that role. It helps keep you and your family comfortable, warm and dry. Considering how important it is to your home’s function and your family’s safety, homeowners should be sure to keep it in good condition throughout the year.

Ensuring your roof is clean, strong and durable is a critical maintenance task that many decide to take on themselves. Some people are handier than others, but most of the time, taking on roofing problems yourself leads to trouble.

We’ve listed the reasons why you should avoid DIY roofing and instead hire roofing experts who are experienced in roofing matters and know how to deal with any problems that arise.

The Risk of Injury

When you’re up high, dealing with ladders and working on a sloped surface, it’s a recipe for disaster if you’re not adequately trained or prepared. All it takes is for one thing to go wrong, and instead of a simple trip or tumble, you’re putting yourself at serious risk of falling from a significant height which can lead to severe injuries.

Additionally, roofing work often requires the use of tools and materials that can be dangerous if not handled in the proper manner.

Shoddy Work

Hammer, nail, shingle: how hard could it be? The answer is roofing jobs are complicated and require skill, even for the most common jobs. Whether it’s putting in new shingles or inspecting the flashing, if the job isn’t done properly, you not only haven’t fixed the original problem, but you could end up creating even bigger ones. Also, make sure your roofers dispose of roofing debris properly. All these could lead to an even bigger expense later on that can far surpass what it would have cost to hire a professional in the first place.

Plus, when professional roofers are working on your roof, they have the expertise to be able to identify other issues as well. You may have hired someone to fix a few loose shingles, but while they’re up there they can look for potential problems that will pass you by. This can save money in the long run by helping you address minor issues before they escalate.

Warranty Woes

If your roof is under warranty, the fact is that by tackling issues yourself, you could void the warranty completely. Often, manufacturer warranties state that only certified professionals can install new materials. If you work on your roof yourself, they may not cover the cost of damage that happens in the future.

Insurance companies may also have clauses stating they won’t cover costs incurred for damages caused by DIY homeowners. You should always be sure to check your policies before undertaking any DIY work on your home.

Owning a home is expensive, and it makes sense to want to cut costs where you can, but your roof is not the area to do that in. There are many jobs around the home that you can take on yourself or learn about by watching a YouTube video, but it’s best to leave your roof to the professionals.