Your Denver Roof Replacement: DIY or Hire Professionals?

Monday, 29 March 2021 12:05

Are you resourceful and crafty? Do you often try to handle home improvement projects on your own? If so, hats off to you! DIY home improvements are never easy and often require a great deal of time, energy, and handyman knowledge. And we know that the thought might be tempting, but as a homeowner, you should never handle a Denver roof replacement project all on your own.

Roofing can be dangerous work and your roofing system is likely more complicated than you might realize. Today we wanted to discuss a few of the reasons why it's always a better idea to outsource roof replacements to reputable roofing companies.

3 Reasons To Hire Professionals For Your Denver Roof Replacement

According to NerdWallet, approximately 37% of homeowners pursue the DIY route for their home improvement projects. If you're one of those homeowners, we applaud you but would also recommend you only DIY for less expensive projects. Here's why.

1. The DIY Savings Aren't Worth It

Most people pursue DIY for the cost-savings. While you can certainly save money on many home improvements by handling them yourself, the same can't be said for a roof replacement in Denver.

As HomeAdvisor reports, the average cost to replace a roof in Denver is roughly $9,000. And numerous factors influence that cost, from the total size and pitch of your roof to the labor costs and roofing materials used. You might be able to reduce that cost by doing the roof replacement all on your own, but there's no guarantee that will happen.

With the DIY approach, you'll still need to purchase things like:

  • The roofing materials - Depending on the roofing shingles you want (e.g., asphalt shingles, metal roofing systems, etc.), 100 square feet of shingles can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000.
  • Additional equipment - These may include roofing nails, nail guns, hammers, ladders, tarps, sealants, and more.
  • Building permits - In Denver, you can't do any work on your roof without building permits from the city and country. And you may even need to pass a homeowners exam first to acquire the permit(s) for the work.

You might also unintentionally waste money throughout your roofing project too due to minor mistakes and other complications. For instance, you might install the wrong product for your roof's slope, frame, or the Colorado weather. Or you might find damaged wood in the framing or deck of your roof.

Those kinds of issues can increase the cost of your roof replacement, negating the savings of your project.

2. Roofing Is Rarely Ever Simple

There are many kinds of home improvement projects and they can all range in terms of difficulty. While repainting the living room may be an easy and straightforward project, a roof replacement can be vastly more complicated.

There's a whole system underneath that top layer of shingles, from the underlayment and sheathing to the truss and insulation system. A lot is going on underneath the surface and you may be ill-prepared to address areas of underlying damage. It's also worth noting that while you might be able to spot some signs of hail damage, you'll likely struggle to identify other signs of weather or water damage.

And unless you have prior roofing experience, it's likely you won't achieve the quality workmanship that your roof deserves. That means you'll have to live with a sub-par roof year-round or spend additional money to re-do your roof once again.

3. DIY Roofing Increases Your Risk Of Injury

This reason should be obvious for everyone. Whether your home is a one-, two-, or three-story building, a fall from your roof can result in a life-changing injury. Even with the right personal protective equipment and safety features in place, you still have a high risk of injury when working on your roof. And since you don't have the training of a professional roofer, you're more likely to make a mistake and fall victim to a potential hazard.

We can't forget to mention the elephant in the room: your medical bills. If you fall off of your roof while replacing it and hurt yourself, you will need to pay for your own medical bills. While you can likely file an insurance claim with your health insurance provider, you can not hold your home insurance company liable for an injury that you sustain on your own property.

It's clearly in the best interest of your physical health and your wallet to hire roofing experts for your Denver roof replacement.

Can You Do Any DIY Work For Your Roof?

At the end of the day, the costs and risks of DIY roofing simply don't make the approach worthwhile. It's always going to be safer, smarter, and more cost-effective to hire professionals for Denver roof repairs or replacements.

However, if you are an avid DIYer and would still like to do some work yourself, you may be able to tear out the old roof beforehand. Talk to your trusted roofer to see if they'll allow you to tear out the old roof for a discount. Some roofing companies may be so busy they're happy to let you do some of this removal work. Just remember to exercise caution and prioritize your own safety during the removal process.

That said, leave the rest of the work to your reputable roofing contractor! They have the skills and knowledge needed to expertly replace your roof and ensure your property is protected from the next storm and for the foreseeable future.

Upgrade Your Home With A Denver Roof Replacement

Does your home in Denver need a new roof? If so, you've come to the right place. Our roofing experts at Ethos have been repairing, restoring, and replacing roofs all across the Denver metro area for decades.

We'll perform a comprehensive damage assessment of your entire property to determine the severity of the damage. From there, our roofing professionals will help guide you through the right roofing decisions and efficiently replace your roofing system with top-tier craftsmanship.

Contact Ethos Roofing & Restoration today to set up your FREE consultation for your Denver roof replacement.