7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Replacing Your Own Roof
How much is your time worth? The average roof replacement costs around $5,000. To get that amount of money you could work for 100 hours at a job paying the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour. So if you are able to do it yourself and save all that time, then it might be worth considering!
In this blog post we will go over 7 questions to answer before replacing your own roof so read on and find out more!
1) Repair or Re-roof?
First, you need to decide if it is worth repairing your roof or re-roofing. If the damage is not too severe and has been patched by a professional before then there’s no reason why you couldn’t have just repaired the hole in question instead of replacing all the shingles on that part of your roof. However, if this isn’t an option for some reason – like time constraints from work or family life – then at least get rid of any exposed wood beams to prevent future rot and deterioration.
It might be tempting to replace everything but as mentioned earlier, with enough patchwork done beforehand; most homes only require minor repairs to their roofs every few years rather than full replacements when they reach an average age of twenty years.
On the other hand, re-roofing will take time, but there are plenty of benefits worth taking into consideration:
-Protection from leaks and other damage brought on by harsh weather conditions such as rain or snow
-Longer lifespan than a new shingle roof due to patchwork done before full replacement
-Energy efficiency: help shield yourself against the unpredictable increase in energy costs with this simple measure that doesn’t require any major changes inside living spaces.
With all these points considered, re-roofing might just make sense after reading through them!
2) What is your budget, and what are you willing to spend on a new roof?
If you’ve identified the type of roofing material that needs to be replaced, and you’re still unsure about your budget, then it may help if you consider how much work is needed. There are many complex factors that go into estimating a cost for replacing your entire roof; however, most often the price will depend on square footage and level of difficulty in accessing the property (e.g., steep hillsides and high roofs).
Tip: If there’s any question as to whether or not an individual can access their own home safely without assistance from someone else, hiring professional labor instead could end up being more expensive than repairs would have been. It may also take longer when considering weather delays with contractors.
3) How old is the roof in question?
The age of the roof will determine whether or not it is worth repairing. The older your roof, the more likely you are to need a full replacement instead of repairs. It’s also important to consider how much upkeep has been done in recent years; if nothing has been done for several decades then there may be structural issues that can’t be repaired and require an entirely new roof with no additional work needed!
4) Is it easy enough that you can do yourself or would you need someone else’s help?
If you’re not an experienced carpenter or handyman, it’s best to do your homework before tackling a roof replacement. Roof replacements are typically more complicated than other types of home renovation projects and can be dangerous for someone who lacks the skills necessary to complete one on their own. For example, some roofs have wood trusses that require complex carpentry knowledge in order to replace them properly; most homeowners would need professional help with this type of project. If you know what materials will work well within your budget and how long the job should take then give yourself permission to start taking steps toward getting started!
5) How long will it take for this project to be completed?
A roof replacement project, from start to finish, will take between two and six days. The time it takes for a particular company varies on factors like how many people they have working at the job site or if there are any complications that need attention during the installation process.
After you get an estimate of what this type of project would cost in your area (or even ask them about their range), then you can know more specifically how long it should take. You may find out that they’re frequently finishing projects in less than three days when they have enough manpower available!
6) Will there be any additional costs that come with having a new roof installed like permits, inspections, etc.?
Yes, there are. For example, if you want your roof to be a certain color or have specific features like solar panels or living plants then it will require additional permitting and inspections before installation can begin. In addition, for many people the cost of labor is more expensive than other types of home improvement projects because specialized equipment needs to be used on rooftops.
It’s important that we answer this question ourselves as well; so let’s talk about permits: If you’re building an extension onto your property then permits may not be required but if you’re replacing your entire roof (or installing a new one) with materials different from what was previously installed on the structure then you might need them—and depending on where you live in the United States, they might be required.
In some places the roof is not visible from the street and doesn’t need an inspection but in other areas it’s a requirement for all residential construction projects. The inspector might do a visual assessment to make sure you’re installing your new shingles correctly or check if you have enough ventilation above your kitchen stove vent hood with code-compliant vents (or both). Inspectors are also looking out for safety issues like missing guardrails on stairs as well as ensuring that any electrical circuits being used outside comply with local codes. And remember: Every person has their own project list when replacing their roof so always get professional advice before starting work!
7) Is your home insured against damage from windstorms and other natural disasters (i.e. hurricanes)?
If your home is not insured, then you are putting yourself and other members of the household at risk. If there is a storm or hurricane that damages your roof, it will be up to you to either pay for repairs out-of-pocket or take on another debt in order to make them. Homeowners insurance covers many types of damage from storms and natural disasters so check with an agent about coverage before replacing your own roof.
When we’re talking about homeowners insurance, windstorm protection isn’t always included because they come under different policies than catastrophic events like hurricanes. But this doesn’t mean that windstorms don’t result in large losses–they do!
Homeowners insurance is designed to protect your home from the results of many different disasters, so if you have no other protection for a roof replacement in case of a disaster then it’s worth considering.
Ideally every homeowner would want their own separate policy that covers just as much as a homeowners policy with windstorm coverage–but this isn’t always possible and even more often not affordable. But there are ways around this: One solution could be buying an endorsement or rider on top of the existing homeowners insurance which addresses losses specifically due to hurricanes. Another option might be negotiating with your agent about adding windstorm coverage into your current plan at reduced rates because its being added onto something already guaranteed by another insurer. But this is the topic of another post.
What do you think? Should I replace my roof or not? Have a look at these 7 questions to ask yourself before replacing your own roof. If the answer is still unclear, it might be best to hire a professional roofer and get their opinion too! Don’t make any decisions without asking for professional help first.
The bottom line is, your roof is an essential part of your home and should be taken care of so you can enjoy it for many more years to come!
