DIY Network

A Roof Over Your Head: How Do I Install My Roof? From "Blueprint for Home Building" episode DBHB-106

In this week's episode you're finding out all about roofing, and thus far we've discussed the basics, the different types of materials and which ones would work best for your home. Now it's time to install a roof.

A good roofing contractor will be a team leader, and as the person who oversees the installation of your roof, he or she will hire and supervise all the subcontractors and workers who put down the paper and lay down the shingles or tiles on your roof. This is a trade that involves a support team and a supervision team -- all working in concert together with one another to achieve an end result, which is a beautiful roof you'll enjoy for a long time.

Note: Most homeowners will just go to the yellow pages and start calling around to find the cheapest bid, but then some time down the road they find out why this person was the cheapest bid. If you're choosing a contractor to work with, make sure he or she is licensed and insured, and make sure you're getting a labor warranty in addition to the product warranty itself. Another way to find a roofing contractor is to visit your local distributor of roofing materials. Not only can they help you find a contractor, they can also help you make an informed decision about the many kinds of building materials that are available for your roof.

advertisement

Figure A

Installing a Roof

Whether you are installing a roof yourself or having a roofing contractor do it for you, make sure that you plan out (figure A) the installation ahead of time. With so many options in roofing materials and styles, it's easy to pick a roof that's just not going to work with your house, which can lead to a lot of headaches.

DIY Constructive Advice: Research your roofing options thoroughly and determine the best materials for your roof before you begin the installation. Using a material that's not appropriate for your house can ultimately damage your roof. Be sure to fit a material that fits the structure of your house -- not just aesthetically, but structurally!

	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

There are five steps to installing a roof:

Remember: No matter what material you use, all roofs use basically the same techniques during installation.

1. Choose the materials that you'll use as the outer covering of your roof, and be sure to keep in mind the climate of the area and also what structure your house can handle.

2. Mark where your materials will go (figure B). It's important when you're installing a roof to first lay out the roof itself and mark it with chalk. If you're doing the installation yourself, all roofing materials come with instructions that really lay this step out, which is important from an aesthetic standpoint.

3. Protect the roof with an underlayment (figure C) in order to make sure the surface is waterproof. The paper underlayment is applied using roofing nails, hot tar or both. The underlayment, remember, is a specialized tile membrane with each layer being nailed into place. The second layer is hot mopped with basic hot tar.

4. Add the flashings, drip edges and other sheet metal pieces to the roof (figure D). These pieces will prevent water from collecting in the seams. The drip edges are usually installed "after" the gutter has been installed, and the drip edge is a piece of metal that bridges between the roof and the gutter. It provides an avenue for the water to find its way into the gutter without touching the edge of the building. The sheet-metal work is done at the same time.

5. Take the material you've chosen for your roof -- anything from wood shingles to clay tiles -- and apply them to the roof (figure E). This constitutes the final layer that constitutes the water-proofing function. These materials can be shingles, tiles, slate or a variety of roofing materials that we've mentioned earlier in this episode.

Once the roofing materials are in place, your roof will be ready to face the elements!

In the final segment of our "Roofing" episode you'll see how hot and cold affects your roof.

GUESTS :

John Broniek
Buildings Programs Manager
Ibacos
Website: www.ibacos.com

Rick Betts
Owner
Spartan Supply
Website: www.spartansupply.com

Robert Osborn Jr.
2517 w 237th St., Suite D
Torrance, CA 90505
Phone: 310-326-5678
E-mail: ozzyrobert@netscape.net

Tom Black
Executive Director
Metal Roofing Alliance
3309 56 NW, Suite 105
Gig Harbor, WA
E-mail: tlblack@ix.netcom.com