Roof installment is tricky business, especially if you’re planning to do it yourself. You have to understand the roof installation process if you want to achieve your home’s best results. Moreover, this isn’t something you can do on the spot. Before getting up on a ladder and heading to your roof, you need to get the right roofing price quotes from at least four licensed and pre-screened professional roofers. This way, you can get an idea of how to get the best roof at the most reasonable price for your budget.
With that in mind, follow these steps to install a new roof for your home:
Take out the old roofing.
The first thing you need to do is take out the old roofing. After all, you can’t install a new roof if the old one is still in place. This is also a very important step because many people have been observed to install multiple layers of roofing on top of another. This is not recommended because your roof could end up failing over time.
Inspect the roof
Once the old roofing has been removed, you need the evaluate the sheathing. The sheathing refers to the flat panels that provide structural support and serves as the base where the shingles and other roofing materials are attached. Since the old roofing has been removed, you can now check the base and see if any damaged spots have to be replaced first.
Install an ice and water barrier
If you live in a very cold and prone to ice place, you should install an ice and water barrier. This barrier goes around your roof, targeting the bottom edge because this spot is where ice is known to build up. When installing this barrier, you’ll find a sticky underlayment that helps adhere to the roof sheathing. For added strength and stability, it’s also best to nail the barrier down with roofing nails.
Apply the drip edge
A drip edge is said to have two separate ways to go down. It normally goes under the lower part of the roof before the underlayment and then along the sides. To install it properly, the first thing you need to do is to install the metal drip edge on the bottom edge, right on top of the ice and water barrier. You also have to nail it in place for stability. The drip edge is designed to prevent water from running over the edge and back underneath it, keeping it from developing water stains.
Install the roofing underlayment
The next step is to install the roofing underlayment. This is a known effective method to protect your roof thanks to its water-resistant materials and thickness. It is durable and convenient, but it doesn’t come cheap. However, you should invest in more expensive synthetic underlayment to receive the best results.
To install it, you need to roll the underlayment along the edge of the roof. Use cap roof nails to secure it in place four inches along the outside edges and an additional eight inches when you reach the center. Take note that the cap nails should be nailed above the underlayment and not through it.
Then you need to roll out one row of roofing underlayment. Make sure to overlap the lower row by six inches within the next row. Use roofing cap nails for this. Afterward, make sure to overlap the underlayment sections to the roof’s very peak then to install a row covering the peak. With this, the underlayment caps off the two sides of the roof simultaneously.
You also have the option to install a metal roofing for better protection. However, some places have strict requirements before you can do that! So it’s best to consult with a professional first before you start hammering metal on top of your roof.