DIY Roofing Installation

The most essential part of a house is the roof. This is the part of your home that provides shelter and protection from the elements. If you din't have a roof you would be baked in the summer and frozen in the winter and soaked by the rain. Homeowners tend to take their roof for granted until it starts leaking or has other problems. If you enjoy home improvement projects you may be able to repair a leaky roof on your own. Roofing DIY projects that knowledgeable homeowners can often do themselves include small repairs and maintenance like weatherproofing. For bigger jobs it is advisable to consult with a professional roofing company.

Laying shingles is a frequent task undertaken when working on a roof and the first thing to do when starting this task is get all the necessary supplies. Shingles are sold in quantities known as squares. There are usually several bundles of shingles held together to make up one square. To help you decide how many shingles you will need to do the job, measure the length and width of the area of the roof you are working on. The total square feet is what you will go by when determining how many shingles you need then simply divide the square feet by one hundred and then purchase that many squares of shingles plus ten percent more in case you make a mistake or need more than you originally thought. Also, you can save them and use them for repairs in the future.

Roofing nails will be the next item on your shopping list. The shingles you purchase should come with a manufacturers recommendation for the best type of nails to use and common roofing nail sizes are 11 to 12 gauge. Most people will find the job a whole lot easier if they use a nail gun which makes the job fast and easy. You will also need cement which is used to fill ridges and edges. Finally, if laying asphalt shingles you will need felt which is laid before the shingles. When you are installing the starter shingles, you may have what is called a starter strip to make the job easier. This strip hangs over the eaves slightly and is the foundation upon which the rest of the shingles are placed.

Doing roofing DIY can be a lot more challenging than many people realize and often requires the use of ladders and being safe at heights. Replacing a few shingles is something many homeowners could handle but replacing an entire roof is best left to the professionals. If you are determined to handle your own roofing tasks, there are some helpful books you may want to check out, such as Ortho's All About Roofing and Siding Basics by Ortho Books and Larry Johnston.



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