Roofing -Hiring a Contractor vs. Doing It Yourself
When the ceilings of our houses start leaking, it can lead to bigger and bigger problems. Things may start at a level of minor annoyance and progress to catastrophic rotting of the wood framing of your home. As severe as the necessity of a leak-tight roof is, so is the cost it takes to repair one. As with most home improvement goes, the age-old question comes to mind: Do I hire an expensive contractor or can I do some research and do this myself? Well, here are a few factors to consider before you decide on either option.
Whether you decide to undertake the project yourself or if you decide to hire someone else to do it,
you should know either route requires a good amount of both time and money. If pursuing a contractor, be responsible and ask if they are licensed by the state with liability and worker’s compensation insurance. While you’re at it, be sure to inquire as to what references workers have in regards into jobs they were hired to do in the past.
Duration of a repair job can determine whether it’s worth the trouble or not and in some cases, can be more important than cost. If workers take too long on a job, further damage can be done to your home. Make sure and ask any roofers you may consider for the job how long they plan to take in finishing the task. Weather can be a factor in the repair process, so inquire how storms will impact the progress of the job. The longer workers take, the more money it will cost. In addition to expenses, a prolonged repair also prevents your life from getting back to normal.
Before taking on the endeavor of shingling your house and sealing it against leaks, it is very important that you understand the scale and skill it requires. Before buying any supplies or starting repairs, isolate all locations of leaks. Know what needs repair before taking on a venture larger than need be. Common places for leaks to develop are the flashing around the chimney, loose nails in shingles, any flashing around heat and gas vents, dried out or damaged caulking, and any section where the roof meets a wall. Routine inspection and maintenance of these areas should be done periodically to prevent more expensive repairs in the future. Keeping an eye out for leaks and damages can be worthwhile, as they demand modest expenditures and require a reasonable amount of time.
Most people do not realize the importance of a clean gutter system. So long as water flow is impeded, the likelihood of mold and mildew growth is very high. These are the leading causes of damage and maintaining a properly working drainage system will prolong the life of your roof.
As far as repair is concerned with the roof of your house, it is best to seek the help of trained professionals. However, when considering doing the work yourself, it is more cost effective and smart to take preventative measures and constantly set aside the time for routine inspection. Catching problems before they persist to cause further damage saves cash, time, and stress.
