Roof Shingles Are Not Lying Flat
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The shingles on your roof serve a dual purpose. They give the roof a finished look, while forming a protective seal. Lumpy, bumpy or curling shingles that do not lie flat can be problematic, but dont hire a new roofer yet. The extent of the problem depends upon many factors, including the age of the roof, the outdoor temperature and the overall condition of the roof. In some cases, the shingles will almost magically fix themselves, but in other cases, costly repairs might be necessary.
Composite Plastic Roof Shingles
Composite plastic shingles are generally produced from recycled plastic materials. They are a way to get more life out of plastics and other materials that would simply be tossed out in most instances so they are a great environmentally friendly roof replacement option. You can expect to pay $4 to $6 per sq. foot for plastic shingles or $400 to $600 per square installed on a standard sized single story home.Composite plastic shingles can be designed to imitate stone slate tiles or even wood shakes. They are much lighter than slate or other roofing types which make them easy to install. Composite plastic shingles are relatively affordable, but they are not as long lasting as most other shingle types. Plastic roofing lasts from 7 to 20 years depending on the type of plastic you choose to install.
How To Cap An Asphalt Shingled Roof
Standard roofing tools like a hammer and roofing nails are all you typically need to cap a roof. Generally, regular shingles are cut straight through the tab indentations to create equally sized caps, although genuine asphalt shingle caps are manufactured. You will be at the highest part of the roof, on the peak, so ladders must be on level ground and the roof must be completely dry before attempting to install a cap on an asphalt shingled roof.
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Carefully Remove Old Roofing Materials
Once the surface is clean, its time to remove the old shingles. Start from the peak of the roof and, with a garden fork or shingle removing tool, pry the shingles up. They should come off in sheets with a bit of elbow grease.
Carry those sheets of shingles to the edge of the roof and drop them in a trash bin or designated pile. Keep going until each slope of the roof is clear.
Tip: It normally takes about three batches of asphalt shingles to cover 100 sq. ft. of a roof.
Take Extreme Precaution Throughout Your Project
Shingling a roof is a risky affair. Taking up this task on your own calls for you to familiarize yourself with all safety measures before climbing onto the roof. This is to make sure you stay protected throughout the entire shingling process.
Here are the safety guidelines you need to follow as you work on your roof:
- Put on the right roofing attire and safety equipment.
- Be conscious of your surroundings. Are there passers-by who may be hit by falling debris? Erect proper signage to warn other people and notify them of ongoing construction works.
- Handle the roofing hammer or nail gun with care. As you strike the hammer, make sure no part of your body is anywhere close to the striking surface. Always unplug the nail gun when it’s not in use. Make sure to use a firm grip so the hammer doesnt go flying off the roof.
- Rest the ladder against a stable solid surface.
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How To Install Metal Panels
Metal panels are a bit trickier to install on your own. Youll need help maneuvering the metal into place and making sure the seams between panels are secure.
Cut the metal to the right length before pulling it up on the roof. Then, add a layer of sealant tape along the seam where the next panel will slide into place. Repeat the process for each panel you add.
Then, secure the panels with metal roof fasteners. Take care not to overtighten the fasteners as this will damage the metal and increase your risk of leaks and damage.
Nailing The Cap In Place
The first cap piece is always nailed down with four equidistant nails near the corners, two on each side of the peak. Longer 2-inch nails are used instead of the more common 1-inch roofing nails to penetrate the many layers of shingle material that have been laid down before the cap. For extra resilience to the weather, two end cap pieces are nailed together, one directly on top of the other. After that, each cap piece is added so that half of the next piece covers half of the piece preceding it. Nails are only placed where the cap pieces overlap. This alignment continues over the entire peak of the roof culminating in four equidistantly placed nails, in the corners, on the last cap piece.
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Above All Never Compromise On Safety
Like any construction work, installing shingles can be dangerous. In order to avoid unfortunate accidents, make sure you respect the following rules:
- Falling is the primary, and most obvious, danger. If walking on the roof is difficult, its probably because the slope is too steep for you to do your roofing work safely.
- Wearing a well-anchored safety harness is essential to prevent falls.
- Avoid working on a ladder. Use a platform or scaffolding instead. They will ensure your stability while you work.
- To avoid electrocution, keep your ladder and all metal objects away from electrical wire and make sure you never touch these wires.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment: protective glasses, work gloves, work shoes or boots with rubber soles and steel toes, long-sleeved work shirt or sweater, etc.
You have now gathered all the tools and all the necessary equipment and are ready to go on your roof, equipped with the necessary information to optimally install your shingles.
Are you really ready?
Not quite. Before you start, here is some more information to further prepare you:
There you have it! Our roofing guidelines! You are now ready to get up on that roof and start working! However, if you prefer to entrust your work to a professional, to check our network of certified experts.
Why Install A Layover
If its basically only a new roof that would accommodate a layover, it begs the question, Why install a layover? It doesnt take that much time or labor to remove the first layer of shingles that a layover gets your roofing project done faster or cheaper. In fact, a layover would only take longer because there are literally more factors to take into consideration since you have to think about everything you thought about to install your first layer of shingles plus your first layer of shingles.
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How Much Does It Cost To Put A Metal Roof Over Shingles
It is not cheap to replace a metal roof with existing shingles. The cost of putting a metal roof over an existing shingle roof will depend on the type of material you choose to use, but typically ranges from $4-$7 per square foot. This price includes the materials and installation.
The cost of a metal roof over shingles is more expensive than simply replacing the shingles. Its important to note that putting a metal roof over existing shingles creates waterproof protection for your home, but it will not prevent leaks from coming through undiscovered damage or if water gets into the material beneath the new surface.
How To Fix Damaged Roof Shingles
We share step-by-step instructions for the three most common asphalt-shingle repairs.
Maintaining a sound roof literally tops the list of crucial home repairs: It keeps you and your family warm and dry, along with everything in your house. A new roof is a pricey proposition. These simple repairs can keep your existing roof sound for years to come.
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What The Finished Product Looks Like:
Aluminum Shingles:
Quick Overview of Benefits:
There are many benefits to installing a metal roof.
Contrary to a popular, but a somewhat misinformed belief, metal roofs have approximately the same noise level when it rains as most other types of roofs. They are very reliable and long-lasting and can sustain extreme weather for many decades.
Did you know? Some insurance companies will offer reduced home insurance rates to homeowners who would like to insure a home protected by a metal roof.
Many modern styles of metal roofing are rated to withstand winds of hurricane strength, while many also carry Class A Fire retardancy ratings.
Safety Considerations:
Your personal safety should be your main priority. The ladder should be placed in such a way that it will not to slip away or move under your weight, even if you tried.
Therefore, it should be properly secured at the base, as well as at the roof access point. You should also be familiar with and use a proper fall arrest system that is properly anchored to your roof studs.
If you hire professionals to install your new metal roof, then make sure that they are properly trained and have some solid experience installing the type of system you have chosen, as well as licensed and properly insured to do so.
Bottom Line:
Whether you choose to go the do-it-yourself route or decide to hire a pro, installing a new metal roof can be a sound and worthwhile investment in your home.
Can Metal Roofs Handle Snow
Yes! A new roof should never have to deal with too much snow during the winter which is why its important to choose a material like steel or aluminum that is meant specifically for snowy climates. If you live in a region where it snows several feet each winter, then you will want to choose something that can handle the excess weight of all of the snow.
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Install Step And Dormer Flashing
It’s possible to reuse existing step flashing and dormer flashing, but the best way to get a watertight seal is to tear off the siding in those areas and install new flashing. Start by running self-stick underlayment at least 6 in. up onto the walls. This provides an additional barrier if water does get past the flashing. Cover the front wall first and then work your way up the side wall. Overlap the sidewall underlayment around the corner onto the front wall about 1 in. or so.
Install the shingles right up to the front wall. Cut a couple of inches off the vertical portion of the dormer flashing, and run the horizontal portion past the side wall that same distance. Nail the dormer flashing to both the wall and the shingles.
Make a 1- to 2-in. cut with a tin snips at the bend in the first step flashing. Run a bead of sealant on the corner edge of the dormer flashing, and then run that step flashing past the dormer flashing the same distance you made your cut. Bend the step flashing around the corner onto the dormer flashing with your hammer.
Install your next row of shingles over that first step flashing, then cover that row with a step flashing, and so on. Nail the step flashing to the wall toward the top of the flashing at the end that’s closer to the peak, so the next step flashing in line will cover the nail. Don’t nail them down through the shingles. For information about flashing around chimneys, see Installing Chimney Flashing.
Cost To Remove Asphalt Shingles
Removing asphalt typically costs between $3 and $5 per square foot. One benefit of asphalt shingles is that they can go directly on top of your old shingles provided the roof deck is in good condition.
If the roof deck is in bad shape, you have two or more shingle layers, or if your current roof is shake-shingled, roofers will need to remove all the old materials and roofing. Ask a roofing specialist near you to include this step in the estimate so you aren’t surprised by the added cost later on.
Get Local Quotes From Roofing Professionals
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Clean And Inspect The Roof
Make sure to clean the roof of any protruding nails, and sweep the roof to get rid of any remaining dirt or debris.
Inspect the sheathing to determine if any boards are rotted out or damaged.
If you find any broken or rotted out boarding, cut out the damaged section, and replace it with sheathing that is the same thickness as the board on your roof.
Make sure to center any of your cuts over the rafters so you can nail the new sheathing into the rafters.
Difference Between Reroofing And Roof Replacement
Roofing over an existing roof is also called reroofing or an overlay. It is the process where roofers install a new roof over your existing one, i.e. add a new layer of shingles, which means that there is no tearing off of the old roof. It is important to know that this process can only be done once because you can only have two layers of shingles on your roof.
Roof replacement is the process of installing acompletely new roof that includes tear off of the old one. Roofers will teareverything off, down to the deck of the roof, and basically start from scratchwith the new roof, from putting felt paper to installing shingles. Since roofreplacement includes tearing everything off, it can be done on every roof, nomatter the number of shingle layers they are all going to be removed in anycase.
Roof replacement involves much more time and labor,and is, therefore, more expensive than reroofing. When a roof has no underlyingproblems, when it is old, and is simply losing its function, reroofing might bea better solution as it involves much less work on your home, as well as lessmoney.
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Roof Replacements Are Expensive
Though its possible to learn how to install roof shingles on your own, its always best to leave it to an experienced professional. Roofing contractors know how to install different materials the right way, the very first time.
If you can, hire an experienced contractor and let them handle your roof replacement needs.
That said, did you know that there may be ways to extend the life of your current roof? Roof Maxxs all-natural treatment rejuvenates your worn-out asphalt shingles, adding up to five years of life to otherwise outdated materialsat a fraction of the cost of a roof replacement.
Contact us to learn more or to find a local contractor who can help you protect your roof with ease.
New Shingles Not Sealing Down
Standard asphalt shingles feature an adhesive strip that softens during warm weather, especially when the suns rays hit the roof directly. When the shingles heat up, they become flexible and the adhesive bonds the shingles in place. Before new shingles seal down, they can look a little lumpy and uneven, but once the roof gets hot enough, they should soften, flatten and form a permanent seal. Sometimes this problem is more apparent on north-facing roof slopes that dont heat up sufficiently for the shingles to seal until summer. Usually this isnt a major issue, but if you live in an area that is very windy, your roofer can apply temporary adhesive to prevent the wind from catching the edge of the unsealed shingles and blowing them off.
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Asphalt Roofing Cost Factors
There are several cost factors to keep in mind when installing asphalt roofing:
- Removal/Disposal of Old Roof: $3-$5 per square foot. Costs can increase depending on location and the difficulty of the removal process.
- Roof Rafters or Trusses: $1,000-$10,000. Roof rafters or trusses need to support the roof damaged trusses will need replacing.
- Shingle Styles. Asphalt shingles can mimic the look of different materials, such as slate, wood shakes or tile, and they come in a wide variety of colors.
- Algae and Fungus: extra 10%-15% of materials budget. You might want to consider algae-resistant shingles if you live in a location with high humidity or precipitation.
- Weight. Thicker shingles last longer, meaning theyll cost you more up front.
- Steep Pitch. A house with a steep pitch increases the physical risk for anyone installing asphalt shingles on the roof .
Remove The Old Shingles
- 1.1 – Remove the old shingles and roofing felt with a roofer’s shovel. Pry out nails.
- 1.2 – Sweep the roof as clean as possible and run a scraper over the decking to check for nails that might have been missed.
- 1.3 – Inspect the plywood or particle board and replace any damaged or rotten boards. Panels must be at least ½” thick.
- 1.4 – Nail down or screw in any boards that are raised or loose.
- 1.5 – Install a metal or vinyl drip edge directly on the plywood the length of the eaves. Nail at 12″ intervals and lap each section by 2″. Use snips to cut the corners.
- 1.6 – Verify that soffit and ridge vents are not obstructed.
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What Benefits Can You Get From Installing A Metal Roof Over Shingles
Installing a metal roof over your existing shingles is an excellent way to increase the value of your home, while also protecting it from common weather damage. A new metal roof can last up to 50 years without needing any replacement, which will save you money in the long run. Not only does this type of roof provide great protection against inclement weather, but they are also very energy efficient! This means that even though you may have spent more money on your initial installation, you will actually see a decrease in utility bills each month. Because these roofs are so durable and attractive looking, many homeowners choose to install them as well because they add value to their homes!
Some of the benefits include:
