IS IT SMART TO TAKE ON YOUR DIY ROOFING PROJECT?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you are a commercial building owner or manager, then your roof is probably pretty big. And it’s probably not something that you have the tools for just laying around the office. If that’s the case, you might not be able to save money by completing your upcoming repairs or improvements on your own. Will completing your roofing project yourself really save you money? That’s hard to say for sure, but here are a few guidelines to help you estimate.
Contractors Have the Toolset
When it comes to roofing, it’s not surprising that roofing contractors are well-prepared to make the repairs and improvements. They have the tools and equipment, and they also have the know-how. Especially if a contractor has a dedicated repair crew, then you know they’ve been trained and have lots of experience doing what they do. If the contractor already has the tools and experience, it may not be worth it for you to purchase the equipment, then research how to use it, then research what exactly you need to do on your roof. Contractors can spread out the cost of their equipment over all of their customers, but you will be buying (sometimes expensive) equipment to use on only one roof every few years. That’s not a great ROI.
Other Things Come Up
As we said in this post, as you consider time and cost of your project, you have to consider that other things may come up and require more time and money. If a contractor comes across something unexpected, they probably already know how to fix it. All they have to do is head down to the truck, get the tools, and get it done. You might be stuck doing more research, making another trip to the hardware store, and spending two more days working.
Time is Money
In considering the time you’ll have to spend, don’t forget that your time is just as valuable as money. What else could you have been doing while working on your roof? Could you have been working on another part of your facilities? Could you have been generating income for your company? Your time is valuable. Spending it working on the roof may be worth it! We don’t want to say that it’s never a good idea to do your own work. But spending your time working on your roof may also not be worth it. You simply have to consider each project with your eyes wide open and determine if it will be profitable to spend your time on it or not.
Conclusion
Working on your roof may save you money, but it may also cost you more time and money than it should. Weigh your knowledge, experience, and tools on hand against the ease of simply calling a contractor before your next DIY project. Don’t forget that your time is valuable and shouldn’t be ignored.
