Pros and Cons of Fixing Your Own Roof

We love that independent, do-it-yourself spirit as much as the next person. It’s fun and rewarding to complete a project yourself, and with all the assistance available today (in the form of kits, supplies, and YouTube videos), it’s easier than ever to tackle a little home improvement project.

You might find the DIY attitude extending to your roof, and you should keep in mind that there are pros and cons to fixing your own roof.

Pros of Fixing Your Own Roof

Save Money: Since you won’t have to pay for labor, you can save a big chunk of the cost associated with roof repair.
Have Fun: The physical labor might not be fun, per se, but the feeling you get from completing the project? That’s a great feeling.
Help is Everywhere: Like we mentioned above, it’s easy to find tutorials and step-by-step guides on how to do projects like this.

Cons of Fixing Your Own Roof

Danger: Not to be dramatic, but any time you get up on a roof, there’s a risk of falling off. If that’s not a risk you want to take, you’re better off hiring a roofer.
Time Commitment: Assuming you’ve never fixed a roof before, you’ll have to brush up on how to do it, then actually do it, both of which could take quite a bit of time. If you have a lot of time on your hands, this might be okay, but if you’re already juggling work, family, and other activities, it’s simpler to hire a professional.
Hidden Costs: You might save on labor costs by doing it yourself, but you’ve still got to buy materials and tools–which might include tools you’ll never use again. In addition, you run the risk of not fixing the roof properly, in which case you’ll have to hire a professional anyway. There’s no guarantee on your own work, but a professional roofer will usually offer a warranty. Don’t underestimate the cost of the mental stress you’ll put yourself through if the DIY project doesn’t go as planned.

You have to weigh the pros and cons for your particular situation. If it’s a small fix, you already own the tools, you have some construction experience, and you have free time, it might be worth doing it yourself. Otherwise, you’ll rest easier when you hire a local roofing company with years of experience.

When it comes to your roof, there’s a little more at stake than when you’re completing a DIY wreath for the front door or even new kitchen tile. If the cons to fixing your own roof seem like more than you want to take on, contact Scro’s Roofing. We’ll be happy to DIO (do it ourselves) and save you the trouble.

We had significant hail damage due to the May 2016 hail storm in Cary, and warded off all the storm chasers that came through our area for 2 months after. I called Scro’s Roofing after the insurance adjusted had written off the roof, and they worked us into their busy schedule. Amazing job done by an amazing and hard-working crew. I was impressed by the way they used tarps to protect the landscaping around the house, and Patricia was pretty particular about cleaning up after the crew. Danny was a pleasure to work with, and he provided several improvements to our roof like a installing a chimney cricket and ridge vents. We used Moire black shingles and the roof looks...

Larry O. | Cary, NC

In life you get what you pay for and this is certainly true with Scro’s Roofing. There are so many “fly be night” roofing companies out there who do not have the long standing customer service and support that a local roofing company can offer. Everyone should take the time to educate themselves about the roofing process and the track record of the company, as this is a very larger investment and an area where you don’t want to cut corners. The team at Scro’s Roofing provided me with many educational links and never pressured me into a sale. They wanted to ensure that I fully understood the process and trusted that I would make an intelligent decision. This sharing...

Kevin A. | Wake Forest, NC

Scro’s Roofing installed a new roof on our home and everything went exactly as planned and scheduled. The installation crew covered all our plants and deck when removing the roof and then cleaned up perfectly when the job was done. We were kept informed all along the job from start to finish so we knew how and when everything would be done. I’ve never experienced a contractor, a company or an owner like Danny who worked with us on every detail. Further, we had gotten several other quotes with Scro’s being the best. This project couldn’t have been done more smoothly… We greatly appreciate Danny the owner and Sarah our scheduling contact. They both were there for all and every...

Joe V. | Cary, NC

We just had our roof done by Scro’s Roofing, and we are very happy with the results. Danny and his office were very helpful in answering all of my questions. I did a good bit of research beforehand, and after talking with Danny, I had a lot of confidence that they are up to date on best practices and latest materials. In particular, I liked that they hand nail the shingles, use a synthetic underlayment instead of tar paper, install a drip edge, and provide a 10-year labor warranty. The thing about getting a new roof is that most people may not find out whether the installer did a bad job or used inferior materials for 5-10 years when they...

Matt B. | Cary, NC

The big hail storm of May 2, 2016 did extensive damage to our roof (and Leaf-Guard gutters as well). Our insurance company appraised the roof and said it all needed to be replaced. My first choice was again Scro’s Roofing. I was not about to use one of the “storm chasers” that descended on our neighborhood like carpetbaggers from who knows where. Danny, the owner of Scro’s Roofing looked up my record from seven years ago and was able to give me an estimate almost immediately from the information he already had on file. Their estimate was within a couple percent of what our insurance had already written a check which made the decision to go with Scro’s Roofing again...

David C. | Cary, NC

I had a great experience working with Danny and his team. Danny even recommended a less expensive roofing product based on our needs. Sarah was so helpful and accommodating throughout the process. I wish all home repairs/renovations were this easy and professional. A wonderful company to work with!

Kate L. | Cary, NC