 If you are smart and love DIY activities, you could shingle a roof yourself. Are you surprised? Don’t be; it’s simpler than you think. In this article, you will learn the step by step guide to shingle a roof. Again, I will not bother you with roofing mumbo jumbo. I will make everything as simple as possible. Does that sound good? Keep reading… Planning and Preparation Of The Project You don’t just jump into a re-roofing project because you read a DIY guide somewhere. It’s not that easy. Shingling a roof is systematic and procedural. It starts with planning and preparation. Once you get it right at the beginning, there is a high chance that you will do a great job. It’s essential to plan for the entire job before you start. As an experienced roofing contractor, I would advise you to always plan for about 10% roofing material waste during your calculations.
Never take shortcuts while working on our roof. It doesn’t always end well. And don’t compromise safety for any reason. Here are some things to do during this stage; #1. Try to get one person to help you throughout the process. With an additional skillful person, you will be more efficient and less stressful. Also, working with someone gives you a sense of safety. #2. You should also check the type of roof you are using. It could be a hip or gable roof. Also, check for dormers, intersects, or valleys on your roof. When you know these things, the task will be a bit easier for you. #3. Take note of the vents and stacks on your roof; this will enable you to estimate your roof pitch. At this stage, you need to brainstorm several things at a time. You have to decide on the type of shingle to install and the color. Again, you should consider to either tear off the old roof or re-roof over the existing roof. The former is the preferable option. It’s easy to decide on a shingle color to use. You can observe your neighborhood to know the most common color and shingle types homeowners are using. That could give you an idea of the kind of shingles and color to use for your home. See how to choose the right shingle color for your home. Some Roofing Terms To Know Before You Shingle A Roof Since you aren’t a professional roofer, there are specific terms you should know. Here are some of them; Bundle: A bundle refers to a pack of shingles. You will need between 3 to 5 bundles of shingles per roof square. Butt Edge: It refers to a shingle’s tab lower edge Closed Cut Valley: It refers to laying across the shingles from one side of the valley while you trim the shingles from the opposite side by two inches from the valley’s center Counter Flashing: It refers to the portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water from entering behind the main flashing. Cutout: It’s the section of a shingle tab that’s open strip Deck: Any plywood surface you attach to rafters is called deck. Course: It’s the roll of shingles you have already installed on the roof. Drip Edge: The essence of drip edge is to prevent water from entering the shingles and damaging the deck below it. It’s a metal strip you attach along your roof’s eaves and rakes. The Tools You Need To Shingle A Roof You need the right tool to shingle your roof. This will make the job easier, faster, and more efficient. You may not necessarily buy these tools, but you can rent them. Here are some few tools you need;
Safety Safety is an important consideration when you decide to shingle your roof. Adhere to every safety standard and never compromise safety for any reason. Trust me; it could be very deadly. Just imagine you falling from a 10 -20 feet tall roof. You don’t need a soothsayer to know how fatal it would be. For this reason, don’t compromise safety same apply to whoever is assisting on the project. The Main Tools You Need I listed some tools’ glossary you can use for a re-roofing project. But you may not need all the tools for your roofing project. Here are the primary tool you should have.
Roofing Materials You Need To Shingle A Roof There are certain materials you need to shingle a roof. Some of these materials are;
Tearing Off Old Roof Before you start the re-roofing proper, you need to tear off the old roof. It’s a critical stage of your roofing shingles installation — the first thing you should do it to get an accurate weather report. It may take you days depending on your roof size. For instance, two people can only tear off and replace about 250 square feet of roofing per day. When tearing off the old roof, you need to have enough tarps to cover exposed areas when it rains. Furthermore, try to lean plywood against the house over the shrub; it will protect it. Before you start installing the shingles, ensure you inspect the roof fascia and deck. If there is any need for amendment, you do it before you proceed. Roofing Shingles Installation This is the main area you should focus on. The first thing you should do is to apply drip edges to your roof’s eaves. However, if your eaves have straight length, you can pick an end and work towards the other. The next step is to use a one-inch roofing nail to pin down the drip edge. Also, if you are placing two pieces of drip edge together, try to overlap one over the other by one-inch space. After which you secure them using two roofing nails. You will have to use one in the front and the other one in the back. This will secure the drip edge firmly. Lest I forget, when driving the nail, try to make the flashing very flat. Also try to install ice and water shield to box vent holes, stacks, chimney’s, eaves valleys, dormers, and ridge areas. It’s important to have alignment before removing the backing and place it on the deck. Cover your drip edge according to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid premature failure. Again, when you are installing around the chimney raise your ice and water shield 12 inches above the chimney. Don’t forget to apply underlayment to the deck. It’s a terrible mistake to use underlayment directly on the ice and water shield. But if the local building code requires it, you can go ahead with it. Begin with the eave area around the ice and water shield and give it about three inches of overlapping. From there, you can work your way up. As a rule, try to keep the first row straight. For you to get it right, it’s advisable to use the ice and water shield as a guide. Also, during the paper installation overlap the felt paper according to your local building code. The essence of the overlapping paper is to help you maintain a straight row. The next stage of the shingle installation is to install the gable side drip edge. For you to be able to roll over the rake drip edge to the corner, you have to overlap the eave drip by half an inch. This will cut the 90-degree angle that lies between top and side. With this approach, your drip edge will be elegant and secure. If your roof requires a new vent box, then you have to install it. Try to apply caulk bead around the vent’s flange base. The appropriate thing to do is to set over the box over the center of the vent hole. You have to press the flange firmly so that it will seal properly. Also, nail all the four corners and the middle of the flange. You can also apply flashing cement to all the nails and outer seam. At this stage, you have to install your stack vent flashing and boot. More often than none, boots are a single piece that houses the flashing and boot together. To get a proper fit, you have to slide the boot over the stack and slide down. Slide the boot back up and add flashing to the top half of the decking. Also, slide down the boot again and secure it with roofing nails on the edge’s top. You must always leave the bottom loose as you will install your shingle below the flashing. At this stage, you are fully ready to install the shingles. Here’s where the main job begins. Before you do anything, measure the eaves and starter shingles’ length once you get the accurate measurement, place markings on the roof. Choose any of the outer edges to start lying your shingles. Ensure you cover the start row with roofing shingles. As a rule, try to create a 1/8 inches lip over the edge of the rake. Pay special attention to the butting of the shingles tight to each when laying them. Again, place a nail one inches to the end of each of the shingles. And try to space two inner nails evenly as well. All this process repeatedly throughout the roof. Boom, your roof will be ready. If you think this process is too complicated for you, we can handle it. Contact us let’s discuss your roofing project. Don’t forget that an investment in your roof makes your home more valuable. |
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