DIY Roof Replacement – What You Should Know
Your roof is an extremely important part of your home. A roof protects you from the elements and provides you shelter, things that are critical to comfort. Unfortunately roofs don’t last forever, and eventually they need to be replaced. One way to replace your roof is through a DIY project, tackling the entire thing on your own. Although this may be a lot of work, it can also save you lots of money. So what should you look out for and know before you start the long process of replacing your roof? Let’s take a look.
Pick a Material
The first thing that you need to do while doing a DIY roof replacement is pick a material to use for your new roof. Different materials have different pros and cons, meaning that some materials may be better suited in different scenarios. For example, some roofing material may have a high durability to wind, while some roofing materials may be fire retardant. In addition, some roofing options may focus on aesthetics rather than durability. It’s important to match the material you use for your roof with what your home needs. Will you need extra protection against the elements, or do you simply want your roof to look nice? These are important questions that you need to consider before you pick a material and start the DIY process.
Prepare for Costs
As you might expect, redoing your entire roof can actually be quite the expensive project. Even if you complete the project on your own and save on labor, there are still considerable costs that need to be accounted for. First, you’ll likely have to spend several thousand dollars on the materials for your project alone. However, you might also have to grapple with other costs such as permit fees and waste disposal on top of the costs of materials. If you plan on redoing your roof through a DIY project, then you best have a lot of money saved up to add to your roof funding in order to pay for all of the project’s costs.
Plan For Noise
Something that many people don’t consider when redoing their roof is the large amount of noise that the project makes. When you redo your roof, you’ll have to deal with constant noises like hammers making impact and power tools running. The noise can be quite the distraction, especially if other people have things going on in their life. Ensure that the rest of your family is ready and prepared for the noise, and make sure that the neighbors are warned in advance as well. Remodeling a roof can be quite noisy, and you don’t want to step on anyone’s toes or make any enemies due to the excess noise.
Understand Local Laws
Another thing that you need to consider when redoing your roof by yourself are the local laws concerning constriction. Many local areas have laws that relate to construction, and while someone in the industry might know those laws by heart, you’ll likely have no idea. As a result, it’s extremely important to research and understand all laws that could potentially pertain to your project. For example, some jurisdictions may outlaw simply laying a new roof over an already done layer of shingles, meaning that you’ll have to tear off the first layer. Your area’s local construction laws can have a huge influence over your project, so it’s important that you know and understand them all.
