What is in your opinion the difference between a professional and a nonprofessional roofer?

Agreed, Egg.

Value is defined many ways, but the best indicator of value in a roofing system is simple: Cost divided by years of life = cost per year. On that count, we've kicked the butts of every single roofer in West Texas for a few decades.

A professional always does or advices what's the best for the customer .

Alba Said: A professional always does or advices whats the best for the customer .

And that's often contrary to what the "experts" say at the building code dept. Had a customer pay $50,000 that he didn't need to for a tear off, because the inspector was an ignorant clown.

I looked at a roof today. At least 3 squares of shingles blew off in the last storm. An amateur would say, "those sure were some high winds". The insurance adjuster says, "it matters not why the shingles blew off. Since there was a storm, insurance pays." But since I am a professional roofer, I say, "that is what you get when you hire UNprofessional roofers. Those shingles were nailed high and the pressure was so high on that gun, the nails were barely holding the shingles in place."

Perhaps only a professional roofer can determine the difference between pro and non-pro; and, in regards to value, the difference between economizing and just plain wrong.

Since I brought up "just plain wrong", I looked at a roof several weeks back. Previously, there was a leak around the chimney and the leak was showing up several feet down a vaulted ceiling. A supposed "professional roofer" had sold the homeowner on putting down ice and water shield over the area of the leak. Made the homeowner feel good, but because of my experience, I knew it was just a waste of money because I knew the leak originated at the chimney and the ice and water shield added nothing.

Now, a leak showed up on the other side. I put on a chimney cap and fixed the flashing. Now everything is fixed and no more leaks. That's professional.

There are a lot of people who play professional sports but they may not have a long career because they aren't as good as a lot of the others at what they do. So there is not only belonging to the professional group but there is also different levels of professionalism.

And going beyond that there are many different areas of expertise required to run a sucessful Roofing company. The higher the quality in each and every single area, the more "professional" the company is overall. Total perfection being the goal understanding that it can never be achieved 100 percent due to Human Nature. ;)

Very true. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got from one of the best old-timers I ever met was "you're only as good as your last job." Professionalism (as we've discussed...not exactly the same as professional) is a matter of conscience and some of us obviously shoot for 100 per cent despite our very human natures, and we not only have to contend with fluctuations in moral fortitude but extreme heat, wind, cold, pain, injury, hunger, thirst, fear, anger, frustration, and fatigue and anyone who has done roofing for a long, long time has experienced just how loud those things can scream. No pain, no gain. It's a marvel for sure. Almost four decades ago I had a very talented young guy working for me. He usually kept up a running banter filled with humor and good will but one particular very hot day he seemed kind of dark and brooding. I asked him what was up. "Don't you like roofing?" He sent me a look and with his peerless quickness of wit he shot back, "It's like standing on a ladder with one foot while beating on your fingers with a hammer and someone shoves a flame up your a$$. Do you like it?" rotfl.