The Complete Guide On How To Roof A House

One of the basic tasks, when you are buying & selling houses with the help of ZebraBuyer, is to check that every part is in good condition. Oftentimes, the roof takes frequent damage because of direct exposure to weather conditions and other falling debris or material.

Any dent or hole can spread the damage to the insulation, wirings, and ceilings during rainy seasons. In order to do repairs or to make a brand new start, you must first learn how to roof a house.

Roofing Material Types

Before proceeding, make sure you have done some decision-making first and estimate the costs. To help you with your options, here are the types of roofing materials you can apply.

Felt

Best Feature = Easy to install

Cost = $ 0.39 per square foot

Lifespan = 20 years

Tar and Gravel

Best Feature = Durable and corrosion-resistant

Cost = $ 4.00 per square foot

Lifespan = 40 years

EPDM or Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer

Best Feature = Thick, can block ultraviolet rays and provide great insulation

Cost = $ 0.80 per square foot

Lifespan = 30 years

TPO or Thermoplastic Polyolefin

Best Feature = Hybrid EPDM and can provide a watertight seal

Cost = $ 5 – 6 per square foot

Lifespan = 20 years

PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride

Best Feature = Durable and versatile

Cost = $ 6 – 10 per square foot

Lifespan = 30 years

Metal (Steel or Aluminum)

Best Feature = Strong and easy to install and repair

Cost = $ 15 – 60 per square foot

Lifespan = 30 – 50 years

Asphalt

Best Feature = Durable but require special joints for support

Cost = $ 2.50 – 4per square foot

Lifespan = 50 years

Tools Needed For Roofing

To make sure your roofing is done well, you need to have the proper tools for the job. Here are the tools you will need:

Pry Bars

Roofing Hatchet

Framing Square

Roofing Shovel

Chalk Line

Hammer Tacker

Power Nailer

Tin Snips

Roof Adhesive

Saws

Steps On Roofing A House

Learn The Local Building Codes and Acquire Permits

There are building codes needed to be followed in order for your renovations and construction to be allowed to continue and to stay structured. Before you do anything, make sure your designs, materials to be used and technical practices don’t violate any of the stated policies and protocols. Permits are also necessary before proceeding to the actual roofing.

Find And Purchase The Necessary Roofing Material 

You have now a bit of knowledge on the roofing material types and their general properties. Find the roof that fits your budget, your residential needs, and the technical capability it requires. Once you finalize that decision, you can purchase them on your local and trusted hardware store.

Remove The Old Roofing

It will be easy if you are constructing a house and installing the roofing. The hard one is roofing a house as part of a renovation. When removing the old roofing, make sure the parts not involved are given enough protection.

It can get messy and hazardous due to the sharp edges. Also, consider the weather on your roofing timetable.

Install The Flash Roof Valleys And Drip Molding

The drip molding is responsible for diverting the accumulated rainwater to the roof gutter. When doing the installation, align it and space every roofing nail by around 12 inches. Using chalk, mark the spaces, and start nailing. The flash roof valleys must also be done in a similar manner.

Mark The Nail Spacing Using Chalk

For the roofing shingles, all types except the asphalt and tar and gravel require roofing nails to fasten them in place. In a similar fashion with the installation of the drip moldings, mark the spaces needed to be nailed using chalk and make sure the spacing is at least 6 inches.

The seams of the roofing material must be spread across the surface. Allow each shingle to overlap the other by at least 1/2 inch in order to provide insulation and build a watertight barrier.

Apply The Roof Adhesive On The Exposed Nails

Once the roofing materials are all properly nailed, apply roof adhesive on each of the nails. This prevents loosening or uprooting even at the harshest weather conditions.

Dry And Enjoy

Let the adhesive dry and conduct a thorough inspection after. Check for loosening nails, sharp trimmings, and dents before applying paint. Once everything is checked and finalized, your roof is ready to serve. Now, it will need actual scenarios in order to be fully tested.

Conclusion

Roofing a house may sound simple but it is a repetitive task done on an elevated area. The number of potential hazards can be plenty.

The job is under the mercy of the current weather and any mistake can spell unwanted disaster if a harsh weather condition happens to pass by. To ease up the burden, you can learn more by joining roofing training or hire a professional roofer for convenience.