Roofing Essentials

Residential Roofing

The purpose of a roof is to protect the dwelling from various elements. If the roof is installed incorrectly, rain and wind will be able to get into the home and will cause damage to wood work, drywall, paint, and more. If a roof is not put on properly it can cause more damage than it would have cost if you would have put it on right the first time around.

Roofing Materials

A house can be topped with a variety of roofing materials, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. Location is a main concern when selecting the materials for your roof. Information and life span about some of the most popular roofs installed today:

A properly maintained asphalt roof will last between 15 and 20 years. Because of the low cost and the ease of repairs, they are one of the most common types used throughout the nation.

The average lifespan of fiberglass roofing is from 15 to 20 years. Little maintenance is required and they come in many different styles and colors to match almost any desired look. Fiberglass roofs resist water and mold because they don't have organic components.

Many homes in the northeastern portion of the nation use wooden shakes and shingles. These roofing materials will generally last for about 15 to 20 years, and can even last for as many as 30 years if they are well maintained.

With an average lifespan of 40 to 75 years, slate roofing materials are amongst the longest lasting roofing products.

Metal roofing can last nearly 50 years. They come in a wide variety of different colors, finishes, and styles to resemble other types of roofing materials such as tiles or wooden shingles. These products are nearly indestructible from weather and can be installed over the current roof.

A less well known option is rubber roofing. It's easy to install, easy to maintain, and long lasting. It comes as a roll or as individual shingles. The very first rubber roof ever installed was in Wisconsin in 1980. It's still going strong after nearly 30 years.

Basic Steps to Installing a New Roof

The first step in installing a new roof on your home is planning. You want to figure out the following before starting any construction:

Who's going to do the work? You or a licensed roofing contractor?

What type of roofing will you install? wood shingles, ceramic tiles, asbestos shingles, metal roofing sheets and tiles, rubber roofing sheets and shingles, and more. Location is a prime concern when selecting material, so that the roof will stand up to the local elements and issues that impact it.

When will you do the work?

Where will you get the roofing materials?

Why choose one type of roofing over another?

How will you proceed with the work?

NEXT STEP:

After you plan the necessary elements of installing your roof then you will need to estimate the materials you will need according to the size, slope, and design of your current roof.

To measure a roof correctly you have to know the basics about the shape of the roof. It is easy to measure a flat poof, but for a slanting roof you have to measure the slope which is known as the pitch and the distance between the centers of the roof to the outer end which is called the run. The best way to get the exact measurement without climbing the ladder with a measuring device is to calculate according to the measurement given in the blue print. But do not worry if you are weak in mathematics it is not a big problem as there are various sites on the internet which act as roofing calculators and the measurement is done by them automatically by feeding in some basic details about your roof which can be obtained from your roof plan. The roofing calculator can also be used to estimate the exact amount of paint or coating required for the roof.

This information will give you a good idea of the quantity of materials required for the job

the lighter the color of the roof the better it will be at reflecting the heat. Dark colored roofing really holds the heat and thus your air conditioner will run longer then with a lighter colored material.

NEXT STEP

Next, you should get a few different quotes for the materials. Order the materials and have them delivered. Also, make sure you have any special tools or equipment you may need while installing the roof.

Safety

If you are installing the roof yourself, here are some basic safety tips: Use correct tools, do not get on the roof without proper safety gear. Many roofers hate wearing safety harnesses... but they are too important to ignore. We need to just figure them as the price we have to pay for the life we've chosen.

Hammer

Do-it-yourself-roofing hammer is a necessary tool when roofing. Here are some things to consider when choosing a hammer:

Basically your handle choices include wood, fiberglass, graphite or steel. Each has its advantages, but a steel shank hammer is tough to beat for roofing. It's the only one that can take all the abuse you can give without breaking.

The two most common head styles are the curved claw and the straight claw. For roofing you want a straight claw for digging out old fasteners that need to be removed.

Head weights typically run from 16-ounce (which is too light) to 28-ounce (which is too heavy). A 20-ounce head is heavy enough to seat roofing nails with one smack, yet light enough to use all day without wearing you out.

NEXT STEP

Remove old roofing down to bare wood.

NEXT STEP

Repair any deteriorated sheathing, framing, and or fascia that is damaged. Make sure roof sheathing meets code and cut out ridge vent slots as needed.

NEXT STEP

Install underlayment over entire roof deck and temporarily seal all vents, pipes, and other flashings.

Tack on drip edge with 3" minimum lap. From ground level, make sure it looks right. Nail off drip edge, with nails no more than 6" apart. Install valley metal and wall flashings. Next install new gooseneck vents and pipe flashings. Have a "Dry-in" inspection.

NEXT STEP

Measure for vertical and horizontal lines. Chalk layout lines on underlayment. Install "ice and water shield" where required. Install starter strips, field shingles, cap shingles on hips and ridges.

NEXT STEP

Layout ridge vent slots, cut out slots, Caulk around slots with flashing cement, install ridge vents with corrosion-resistant screws and grommeted washers.

LAST STEP

Remove any debris from roof and gutters, clean up ground, haul away debris, return any leftover materials, have final inspection.

Maintaining your New Roof

Now that you have a new roof, it is important to maintain it. To much debris on roofs can cause damage to your roof. It is easy to sweep off leaves from a roof. If allowed to accumulate, leaves will accumulate water and hold it very well. As the wet leaves accumulate and hold water, they will rot in place. Not only does the moisture build up and seep below your shingles, the rotting debris also begin to release acids and organic compounds that will cause your roofing material to loose its integrity - and then BAM! - high roofing repair bills!! Don't let this happen to you; just spend a few minutes sweeping of your roof when needed.

T is writing on the basics of roofing your home. You can read more about roofing on my blog at http://roofingessentials.blogspot.com

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