How Do You Calculate How Many Shingles To Buy
Measure the actual surface area of your roof rather than basing your calculations on the homes square footage. Roof pitch and elements such as gables and dormers will affect the amount as well. Use a simple roofing calculator to get a rough idea of square footage. For a more accurate picture, use a roofing calculator that can take all of these peripheral factors into account or consult with a roofing contractor.
Install The Eaves Protection Membrane And Cover The Valleys
- 2.1 – Install self-adhesive waterproof membrane 36-72″ wide on all fascia boards.
- 2.2 – Unroll and align the membrane so that it overlaps the metal drip edge by 3/8″.
- 2.3 – Temporarily attach the roof membrane at a few equidistant locations.
- 2.4 – Fold back the lower half and peel off the release film.
- 2.5 – Reposition and press down to ensure good adherence.
- 2.6 – Remove the temporary installations and fold back the upper half of the membrane.
- 2.7 – Peel off the release film, reposition and press down to ensure good adherence.
- 2.8 – Repeat to cover the eaves and fascia.
- 2.9 – Lap the end joins by 6″ and the lateral joins by 3″.
- 2.10 – Install roof vents and other roof elements on the decking.
- 2.11 – Cover valleys with self-adhesive waterproof membrane. Begin at the lower section of the roof. Center a 36″ strip so that half of the strip covers each side. Overlap each section of the membrane by 6-12″.
- 2.12 – Lay the self-adhesive membrane to extend 4″ up the sides of the chimney and to form a 12″ strip on the roof around the chimney.
- 2.13 – Cover ridges and crests so that half a strip covers each side.
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.
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It’s Not Ideal To Install New Shingles Without Removing The Old Ones But Follow This Pro Advice If You Do
Although placing new roofing over old may be allowed by some codes, roofovers tend to be inferior and wont last as long as a roof installed over stripped sheathing. If you must do a roofover, check with your local building department firstcodes typically require that you strip a roof if there are two or more layers or if existing shingles are curling.
Before beginning, replace or flash over old flashing as follows:
- Use aviation snips to cut away flashing around plumbing vents.
- Use a cold chisel to remove chimney counterflashing.
- Along the eaves, install a new drip-edge over the butt ends of existing shingles.
- Along the rakes, install a new J-channel drip-edge, which wraps around the old rake flashing and starter courses.
- Leave the old valley flashing in place, and install new over it.
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Be Cautious With Double Layers Of Roofing
Where allowed, you can save money by laying a new roof directly over the old shingles without removing the old roofing. However, this may be prohibited by code in some areas, where complete tear-off is required. And make sure the old roof is flat and in decent shape, as any flows or irregularity in the old roof will telegraph through to the new layer of shingles. And never go more than two layers thick.
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Fitting Shingle Ridge Tile To Roof
Step 1
The ridge tiles are positioned on the roof and nailed through the lapped section using 20mm large headed galvanised clout nails.
Step 2
The bitumen strip is then heated and the joint consolidated with pressure from a batten. On exposed locations reinforce the tile lap bonding with felt lap adhesive applied in a continuous bead as required 2.5cm from edge of tile.
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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Fold Flashing Over The Peak
Cut the flashing back to the peak along each crease. Then fold the flashing over the peak and cover the cut ends with self-stick underlayment. Roof valleys channel a lot of water, so they need extra protection. Start by installing self-stick underlayment on the decking. This process is much easier with two people. Cut the underlayment to size , and peel off the entire plastic backer. With a person on each end, fold the underlayment in on itself, sticky side out. Then lay it into the valley and unfold it. Try to push it down into the crease of the valley as tightly as possible. If this self-stick ice-and- water underlayment bridges both sides of the decking, leaving a gap underneath, it could tear once you install the metal valley flashing. Run the underlayment past the drip edge at the eaves, and trim off the extra with a utility knife. Once it’s smooth, nail it down on the outside edges.
Finish installing felt paper on the rest of the roof, overlapping the self-stick underlayment. Be careful when you trim back the felt paper so you don’t slice into the underlayment. Photo 7 shows the underlayment covering the felt on one edge a couple of inches. This will keep water farther away from the inside corner of the fascia. You can extend the center out even more but not so far that water overshoots your gutters if you have them.
How To Shingle A Valley
Valleys are areas on a roof where two different roof lines come together, forming a valley where water will run down. As such, it is extra important that they are completely watertight because there can be a virtual river running down a valley if the roofline is a good deal higher on both sides.
It is a good idea to lay a self-adhesive ice and water shield over valleys before continuing but not absolutely necessary. While valleys can be covered with either the open and woven methods, only the open method will be covered here. While woven valleys look better, in my opinion, they are not appropriate for the architectural style of shingles most people prefer.
To make an open valley, shingle the side of the valley with the lowest peak first, extending each shingle well past the valley. Make sure there are no joints where two shingles come together near the center of the valley keep such joints at least 6 inches away from the center. Continue installing shingles on that side until the entire valley is covered with shingles, all extending past the valley.
Snap a chalk line down the valley, about two inches off-center towards the shingled side. The other side may now be shingled, making sure to extend each shingle past the chalk line. As individual shingles are installed, they can be cut down the chalk line, finishing the valley and leaving one side a cut line of shingles down the valley.
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How To Roof A Ridge
Ridges are much easier to cover than valleys. You will need either a 3-tab shingle or special ridge shingles. In the example, 3 tab shingles were used simply because they were already on the job from another roofing job, but normally ridge shingles would be preferable.
If 3 tab shingles are to be used, each one is cut into thirds, giving “shingles” that are about a foot wide and normal height the same basic size as a ridge shingle.
To install ridge shingles, start either at the bottom of the ridge if it is actually a hip or at the end opposite where the prevailing winds come from if it is actually the top ridge of the roof.
Bend the narrow shingle over the ridge so that each side is equal and nail the ridge shingle into place with a single nail on each side of the ridge. Place the next shingle in the same manner that normal shingles were placed, once more bending it over the ridge and nail it into place. Continue to the far end of the ridge. The last ridge shingle will need to be cut to the proper length just make sure that 100% of the visible shingle is from the bottom half. Don’t leave any part that would normally be hidden exposed.
Congratulations! You have a brand new roof that you did yourself and saved several hundred dollars that can be put into something else. Maybe a new hardwood floor and get rid of that worn carpet. How about a fancy chandelier in the dining room? With the new roof completed, what else are you ready to tackle?
Wilderness
Proper Steps To Shingle A House Roof
A solid, watertight roof is absolutely essential to your home, but the asphalt shingles that protect your roof from the elements don’t last forever. The best shingles will last up to fifteen years, after which they must be replaced. With the right tools and material and cooperative weather, the project can be completed in a few days. But carefully consider the condition, location and pitch of your roof before deciding to do this project, which presents serious safety hazards to the do-it-yourselfer.
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Have Your Shingles Delivered To The Roof
Even the simple garage shown here needed nearly a ton of shingles loaded onto the truck, carried to the job and packed up a ladder and onto the roof. Most shingle retailers will, for a price, deliver the shingles not only to your home, but placed on the roof as well.
It is well worth almost any price to have those heavy packages of shingles, at around 60# per bundle, delivered to your roof rather than packing them up yourself. Something to consider when you buy.
When And Why To Put A New Roof Over An Existing Roof
When your roof starts to fail, but it is in an overallgood condition, a reroofing might be the best choice for you. What does it meanto have a roof that is failing but is still in a relatively good state? Itmeans that your roof may be at the end of its life, but its underlyingstructures and sheathing are in a generally good condition. Your shingles maybe losing granules and are worn out due to age or weather, but they are notcausing leaks, they are not curling or missing. These are all goodpredispositions for installing a new layer of shingles over the existing one.
Reroofing can also be done when you simply want orneed a change on your roof you may want a different design or color, or youmay be completely renovating your home so you want the roof to match your newstyle. But even if your main goal isnt redesigning your roof, it willnonetheless gain a new aesthetic appeal. Installing a new shingle layer willgive your roof depth and even a three-dimensional appearance, as it is slightlyraised due to the existing layer of shingles beneath it.
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Install The Drip Edge
Metal drip edge isnt usually required , but it gives roof edges a nice finished look, prevents shingles from curling over the edge, and keeps water from running directly down your fascia boards.
Before you install the underlayment, fasten the drip edge that covers the fascia on the eaves. The whole length of the fascia is probably not perfectly straight, so dont snap a line just hold the drip edge snug against the fascia and fasten it through the top into the decking with roofing nails. Nail it every couple of feet.
Install the drip edge on the gable ends of the roof after you finish installing your underlayment. Start at the bottom side of the gable, and overlap the sections of drip edge a few inches as you work your way up the roof . Use a tin snips to cut the drip edge to size.
Calculating How Many Shingles Do I Need
How to Measure Your Roof:
- Use a tape measurer to find the length and width of each section of your roof.
- Multiply each section of your Roofs Length x Roofs Width = Roofs Surface Area
- Repeat for each section of your roof.
- Add all of the Roof Surface Area sections together = Roofs Surface Space
- Divide Roofs Surface Space/100 = Square feet also known as Squares
- For example: a 10 Square Roof is actually 1000 sq. ft overall.
- Use this number to buy the correct amount of asphalt roofing shingles and underlayment to cover your total roof area + 10%.
* Full Description below:
The simplest way to get the area of your roof will likely require you climbing up with your tape measure and getting help from a friend or family member. This may be a job best left to the pros if you have any safety concerns about being on a roof. Measure the length and the width of each section of your roof and multiply the two dimensions together. This gives you the roofs surface area of that individual section of roofing. Add all the roofs areas together to find out exactly how much roof surface space there is overall. Do this in feet and then divide the total that you come up with by 100 to get your figure from square feet to what is known as squares. A 10 square roof is actually 1,000 square feet overall.
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Complete One Shingle Bundle Before Moving To The Next
Use up all shingles from the same bundle before using the next bundle. Colors may vary slightly between bundles, and by using up the bundles one at a time, you will avoid having different colors on the roof within the same area. If possible, make sure all your bundles are from the same manufacturing “lot,” which will minimize color variations.
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.
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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.
How To Lay Shingles
This article was co-authored by David Bitan. David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. With over 12 years of construction industry experience, David specializes in restoring, repairing, and maintaining residential, commercial, and industrial roofs. With over 60 years of combined experience, Bumble Roofing provides easy, friendly services to structures including residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and government buildings along with hospitals, hotels, and churches.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 90% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 645,424 times.
Shingles protect sloping rooftops from the effects of rain, snow and hail while providing an attractive crown for the house. Keeping a solid roofing layer of shingles is an important way to avoid water damage and leaks. Doing it properly will keep you without problems for 20 or 40 years. Laying shingles can be hard and hot work, but the reward of an attractive, watertight roof can be worth it.
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