Whether your re-roofing project involves asphalt shingles or another material, a good roof is key to keeping your home or business safe from the elements. The first step is taking precise measurements, which typically requires climbing onto the roof and can be dangerous.
Special attention must be paid around areas like chimneys, vents and skylights and the ridgeline. These areas can be vulnerable to water leaks.
Before beginning a roofing project, your roofers will need to prep the house for installation. This will involve covering areas that shouldn’t be exposed to dust, dirt, or debris, and ensuring the work area is clear of any children’s toys, furniture, grills, or other items. They will also take care of trimming any overhanging branches that could interfere with the project or catch onto the new materials.
You should also plan ahead for the interior of your home, taking down wall hangings and decorations that could get damaged by vibrations from hammering on the roof. These vibrations can shake loose any decorations or mirrors on the walls, and they can even damage plants, especially those on the top floor of the house.
It’s a good idea to make arrangements for your children and pets to stay with friends or family during the roof replacement, as well. The process will be loud and disruptive, and they may be frustrated by the inability to access certain areas of the house. In addition, the vibrations and debris that fall off the roof can scratch or damage windows.
Inside the house, it’s a good idea to cover furniture and other belongings with tarps or blankets to protect them from falling shingles and dust. You can also clear the attic to make it easier for roofers to move around. And, if you have things in the yard that aren’t permanent fixtures, such as garden ornaments or lawn tools, put them away for now and cover them with a tarp. Then, you can keep them safe in a shed or garage until the project is finished. Also, be sure to mark any trees or plants that need special attention so the crew knows to give them an extra wide berth.
Materials
The type of roofing material you choose for your home impacts its cost, durability and aesthetics. Whether you need a new roof due to damage or want to replace your old one, it’s important to have the right materials for the job. Choosing the best roofing material for your house depends on a variety of factors, including local climate conditions and your budget.
The most common type of roofing material is asphalt shingles. These offer a good balance of cost, resilience and aesthetics, making them a popular choice for homeowners. Other types of roofing materials include clay, metal and slate, which last longer but require more specialized installation.
During roofing installation, contractors use several types of tools to prepare and install the underlayment and new shingles. Some of the most essential are a nail gun and nails, a roofing knife and a hammer. A nail gun speeds up the process and makes it easier to apply the nails at a consistent rate. Nails are required for securing the underlayment and shingles, and high-quality ones are recommended to ensure that they hold up well over time.
Roofing contractors also use protective workwear to ensure their safety while working on the roof. Hard hats protect workers from falling debris, while gloves shield their hands from rough surfaces like shingles. Protective eyewear shields the eyes from dust and dirt, and guardrails provide additional protection against falls. In addition to these basic supplies, roofing contractors need a ladder and some tools to complete the project. A ladder is necessary for accessing the roof, while a small pry bar and screwdriver are used to remove fasteners and other materials that don’t come apart easily.
Installing the Shingles
Shingles are the most recognizable part of a roof and provide a critical waterproof barrier to protect homes. They also add style and character while adding value to properties. The installation process is relatively straightforward but requires attention to detail to ensure proper nailing and exposure of the shingles. It is best to work with a professional for this step, especially if the roof is steep or in an area susceptible to debris, water, or moss accumulation.
Begin by laying the first course of shingles, called a starter strip. This row should peek over the eaves by about a half inch and be secured with nails at the top edge of each shingle. Next, place the second course of shingles overlapping the starter strip and nail them down as well. The tabs of adjacent rows should never line up, so it is important to nail each shingle properly.
Continue laying out the shingles progressively as you move up the roof. Be sure to install each course of shingles with the proper exposure and offset (lateral distance between joints in successive courses sometimes called stagger or edge-to-edge spacing).
You will need to use metal flashing pieces to cover the seams of protrusions like chimneys, skylights, vents and other permanent fixtures that stick out of the roof. These should be removed and replaced if they show signs of corrosion or deterioration.
When you reach the ridge of the roof, you will need to install a ridge cap shingle. These are different than field shingles and are bent over the peak to cover it. These can be purchased and installed at most roofing supply outlets or online.
Flashing
Flashing is a metal trim that covers the seams around penetrations in your roof, like chimneys, vents, skylights, dormers and walls. It helps protect the joints from leaking and also directs water away from them, either back onto shingles or into gutters.
There are a few different kinds of flashing, depending on what type of roof you have and where it meets walls or other structures. Step flashing is often used at the junction of a dormer or wall and the roof. It looks like steps and lies between each shingle course. It is also used at the corner of a roof meeting a wall.
Drip edge flashing goes along the eaves of a roof, helping to prevent wood fascia board deterioration caused by overflowing rain. It’s one of the most important types of flashing, and it can be installed during new construction or roofing installation.
Corner flashing, which is typically made of aluminum, is installed at the corner of a roof where it meets a wall. It’s formed by cutting a 45-degree line from an outside corner to the center fold and then bending it tightly around the corner. Roofing professionals can usually buy pre-bent pieces of corner flashing to save time or they can form it themselves.
Kickout flashing is placed at the point where step flashing meets a gutter and directs water away from the wall of your home. It can come as a single piece of metal with a central spout opening for a pipe, or it can be soldered to a step flashing.
Gutter Installation
Gutter systems are designed to direct rain water and snow melt away from roofs and house exteriors, preventing early deterioration and damage. Your roofing contractor should discuss your gutter options with you to determine which material suits your home best and budget. Options include vinyl, galvanized steel, aluminum, and copper.
Once all of the necessary measurements have been taken, your roofing contractor will begin preparing your gutter system. This includes cutting any needed sections and assembling components before the actual installation begins. This step can take quite some time, so it’s important that your roofing contractor keeps you updated on how long the job should last.
During this stage, your roofing contractor will also begin removing any existing gutters and addressing any damages found during the inspection process. This can require a ladder, help from a spotter, and/or special safety equipment, depending on the scope of the work and any restrictions on your roof or eaves.
The first step of the gutter installation is to mark the starting point for the new gutters using a chalk line. Then, if you’re working with a gutter-hanging kit, follow the directions to measure and cut the gutter pieces to size. Alternatively, you can draw out a plan for the order in which you’ll hang the gutters to save time and effort.
There are two ways that gutters can be mounted to your eaves: to the fascia, which covers rafter ends, or to the roof. Fascia-mounted gutters are sturdier and easier to clean, while roof-mounted gutters can be a solution for homes without a fascia or those with tall, unruly trees that overhang the eaves. Finally, decide whether you want your gutters to be anchored by spikes and ferrules or through cast brackets that cling to the rafter ends.