The last weeks of winter is usually the time that people start to realize that their roofs are unfortunately in need of repair or replacement. Homeowners spend an average of 1% to 4% of a home’s total value on repairs and maintenance in a year, and business owners need to maintain their businesses as well. When it comes to roof repair, there are a few common mistakes that people make. Here are three of the worst things you can do if your home or business needs roof repair. 1. Removing the Old Roof Themselves One of the most common mistakes that people make is thinking that they can remove the old roof themselves to try to save a few bucks. Most homeowners (88%) think of their homes as singular units rather than the sum of its parts, but roofs are an absolutely essential part of a home or business and amateur removal could cause more harm than help. Many people don’t have the tools or the know how (especially when it comes to commercial roof types) to remove a roof, and it’s usually best left to the professionals. 2. Buying New Materials on Their Own Another way that people try to cut corners and save money on their roof repair is to buy the new materials on their own. People think that buying residential and commercial roofing materials at a local home improvement store and picking up the materials for the repair is going to save them money, but this could backfire. You’ll need to know how much of the right types of material to buy, which can be tough to do without knowing what you’re doing. Again, this is best left to the professionals. 3. Not Finding the Right Residential or Commercial Roofing Contractors Aside from trying to be too involved in the repair process, another mistake that people commonly make is not finding the right residential or commercial roofing company to do the work. There are about 50,000 roofing companies in the U.S., so finding a reputable one that suits your needs is doable. Look for residential or commercial roofing contractors that have reviews and can give you references and clear contracts — and always do your homework.