roofing diy vs. hiring a professional: why you shouldn't diy or hire an unlicensed contractor

​1. Licensed Professionals Have Knowledge and Experience

A roof is a complex system including different components and multiple layers. All of these mechanisms work together in harmony to properly divert water off of your roof instead of into the home. State licensed roofing contractors are trained and have established the knowledge to understand and identify roof systems and how to install their components properly. A state licensed contractor also takes into consideration both the manufacturers, local and state building code standards. In the state of Florida, Taylor’s Roofing has met and is certified at both the state and local level to perform work on your roof. Taylor’s Roofing is also certified and accredited by multiple roofing manufacturers to ensure you are being delivered the quality craftsmanship and satisfaction locals have come to expect.

2. Liability and Insurance

Your homeowners insurance may not cover any damage or neglect you do to your roof by excessively walking on it, repairing it yourself or without the proper state certified licensed professional.  If they deny your claim, your insurance company may claim negligence on your behalf.  If this happens, you will be forced to pay for these repairs out of pocket.
Professional and reputable roofing contractors carry liability insurance in the event of any damage caused by the contractor. Reputable roofing contractors will also return to fix any mistake they may have incidentally made.

3. Limited Warranties

When you hire a state certified roofing contractor, you will be covered by two types of limited warranties; one would be for the labor and the second would be from the roofing material manufacturer for product defects. If you attempt to DIY or pay an unlicensed contractor to perform any roof repairs, you won’t be covered by the roofer's limited warranty. Furthermore, you will most likely void your limited warranty from the manufacturer too.

Manufacturers require that their products be installed correctly by trained and certified roofing contractors in accordance with their written application instructions, in addition to state and local applicable building code requirements, in order to receive eligibility for any limited warranty coverage. Professional, state certified roofing contractors are your best protection to properly comply with these requirements.  

4. Safety Hazards

The major risk is falling off a ladder or worse, the roof. You are more likely to be hurt while on a ladder or roof than a professional roofer would be. You may lack proper training for using a ladder, working at heights, multi-level, steep surfaces or identifying slippery surfaces. You may also lack the training or possession of proper fall protection safety systems.
Your roof is not safe to walk on, especially if the roof is in need of repairs. There is always the possibility that you could fall off of the ladder before even reaching the roof.  In fact, many homeowners fall from ladders because they do not know how to properly angle a ladder while setting up and ascending or descending from a ladder resulting in injuries. We strongly recommend contacting the trained professionals at Taylor’s Roofing to safely take care of your roofing needs.

Overall, it is best to hire a professional, state certified roofing contractor instead of attempting to DIY or hire an unlicensed handyman. If you try to repair your own roof, you run the risk of damaging it and the rest of your home or worse injuring yourself.