You Can Replace the Roof Yourself, but You Don’t Have To

You rarely think about your roof until it starts to leak, but once that drop seeps into your happy home, its importance becomes clear, as does the fact that roof replacement is expensive. Depending on the size and type of roof, a replacement will cost you anywhere from $4,000 to over $30,000 . With that kind of money, it’s easy to see why some people might think replacing a roof on their own is a brilliant idea. This is wrong.

Yes, roofers charge $30 to $100 an hour for labor, which adds up to most of the change you can keep in your pocket if you provide the labor yourself. And while technically you can do the job, there are two fundamental reasons why trying to replace a roof yourself – even if you’re relatively accommodating and not afraid of heights – is a bad idea.

Roof replacement is a dangerous job

The most important consideration is the danger inherent in roofing work. Roofing is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous occupations in America , with a fatality rate 10 times higher than most other jobs. The risks are obvious: you are working high above the ground, usually on uneven and sloping surfaces. As the roofers themselves point out , learning to walk comfortably and carry (often very heavy) equipment and materials across the roof is a skill that must be acquired. Even if you normally feel comfortable at a height, you can’t just jump up there with 100 pounds of shingles on your shoulder and bounce safely.

It’s also financially dangerous: with no experience, you’re more likely to rely on Google’s results and guesswork when ordering content, meaning you’re likely to order more or less, resulting in you either having to pay extra shipping and handling costs for extras (plus living with an unfinished roof for a longer period of time), or you’ll have palette shingles lying around in your garage for the rest of your natural life. And since you won’t have any warranty on the installation, if you screw something up and your new roof leaks (or worse), you’ll have to pay to have it redone or hire someone to replace it. second time.

Roof repair is harder than you think.

Roofing systems are actually quite complex – even if you have a flat rubber roof, replacing it isn’t as easy as rolling out fresh material and patching up the seams. Roof systems include things like decking under the roofing material (which may also need to be replaced), gutter edges, sheathing and lining, and initial shingles – and you need to know how to properly install all of these.

You’ll also have to figure out how to rip the old roof off without causing more damage, how to get all that material down to the ground and haul it away, and how you’re going to get new roofing materials. up to your roof (not putting too much weight in one place, which could cause it to collapse). Next, you need to know what tools and equipment you’ll need for the job (most of which are pretty specific, meaning buying a lot of stuff that you’ll use exactly once, or big rental bills).

And the roof, in a word, is tiring . This requires not only knowledge and skill, but also strength and endurance, especially if your roof caves in in hot weather and you find yourself baking in the sun while you work. By bringing a group of friends or family members together to help you can reduce individual stress and workload, but it also increases the chance that someone you care about will get hurt.

If you absolutely need to replace your roof and can’t afford the rates you get from roofers, your first step should be to find out if more affordable repairs can help you in the short term, or if you can work out of a payment plan. or project financing . Do-it-yourself roof replacement should always be your last option.