This article will give you the basic steps on roofing or re-roofing a house. Unless you have done some roofing before, we strongly suggest that you don’t try this yourself. You might go to all the trouble and then find out you need to start over. For this article we asked Todd of Bel Air Gutter & Siding (https://www.belairgutter.com/) for his tips and to make sure we didn’t steer people wrong. (Despite the name, a large part of their business is roofing in addition to gutters and siding.)
Why? Because you need to determine if there is one layer of roofing or two. If there is only one layer, you can simply install the new layer on top. If there are two layers already, you will need to remove all the roofing material and start from scratch.
Unless you have a rancher that is only one story, there is a safety issue from falling. Even a one story fall can potentially be fatal. Here are some things to do:
Gravity is key. The design of a good roof is based on the fact that water will run downhill. The shingles are overlapped so that water will run down and off the house and not into the house. That is why shingled roofs with very little slope tend to have problems and flat roofs need a different technology. Strong winds can blow water up under the shingles or ice damming can cause water to be blocked and move upwards. Steps to prevent these issues are listed below.
When a roofer talks about a deck, he is not talking about a place to sit around, relax and have a beer. The deck is the wood (typically plywood or Oriented Strand Board) that the shingles are attached to. If there are any wet or rotted areas they will need to be replaced. There should also be no gaps. It should be smooth and flat.
No, not in terms on drinking. You work from the lowest point on the roof and then move up from there until you reach the peak of the roof. You first need a drip edge to prevent any water from wicking upward. In colder climates, there should be also be an ice and water protector membrane applied to the bottom 2 feet of the roof to prevent problems from ice damming.
This is a layer of either synthetic material or asphalt-saturated felt. It typically comes in rolls 4 feet wide that is laid out horizontally on the roof. Put the first layer down at the bottom of the roof and work upwards, overlapping by 2 inches.
Flashing is used in places where leaks usually occur. These are places where a roof butts up against a wall or chimney, or in valleys. Flashing is usually metal and should be put in place before the shingles. Snap a chalk line 6 inches in on the flashing and when you put down the shingles, trim to the chalk line.
Other places where flashing or special rubber barriers are needed are dormers and skylights as well as plumbing stacks and vents.
As indicated earlier, you start at the bottom and work up, always overlapping. Most of the field of the roof are strips of the same shingles. However, the first layer is specially made to be resistant to the wind. Then use the regular shingles as you move up. The nailing is important. The nail needs to be flush to the shingle and not poking up but at the same time, they shouldn’t be over-nailed and tear the fabric of the shingle.
When you get to the top of the roof you need another specialized shingle. You can’t bend a regular shingle over the top. They make special shingles for the roof top/ridge.
Hopefully this gives you a better idea of what goes into installing a roof.
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A roof, as we all know, is the structure that covers and protects a building from the top. It forms an essential part of any building, be it residential, commercial or industrial. The term “Commercial Roofing” covers all aspects of roofing for a commercial building. This ranges from selection of a roofing system to its installation and maintenance.
Despite a few basic similarities, commercial and residential roofing are actually two very different industries owing to the following factors:
Selecting the most appropriate commercial roof is a significant decision in the overall planning of building construction. Below are some points that must be evaluated to arrive at the right roofing decision:
Weather and Locale: Weather and location specific conditions such as sunlight, wind speeds, rainfall and snowfall must be taken into account during designing of the roof and selecting the roofing material.
Purpose of the Building: The intended commercial use of the building may go a long way in deciding what top qualities to look for in the roofing system e.g. seepage-free material, strong insulation, acoustical strength, aesthetic value, ease of access, etc.
Durability: While factors like weather conditions, proper installation and efficient maintenance play a role in how long a roofing system lasts, the natural age of different roofing materials can vary between 10 and 50 years. Some materials are more maintenance-heavy than others. Consider carefully as to what suits your needs in an optimal way.
Budget: Nobody wants to over-spend but a roofing budget needs to be long-term and practical. Its better to invest more upfront for a durable roof with low ongoing maintenance costs.
As mentioned before, there are a large variety of commercial roofing systems available on the market. Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular:
EPDM Roofs: Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer is a lightweight and durable rubber membrane-based roofing solution. Its known to be easy to install and maintain.
TPO Roofs: One of the most in-demand commercial roofing systems, Thermoplastic Polyolefins roofs can withstand extreme temperature fluctuation. It is also amongst the best fire-resistant products available on the market.
BUR: One of the oldest and most preferred systems for flat roofs, Built-Up Roofing uses layers of insulating and strengthening materials topped with gravel or stone. BUR is fire-resistant and generally low maintenance.
Careful and meticulous planning is paramount for successful installation of a commercial roof. Last but not the least, choosing an experienced and reputed roofing company with skilled manpower is also of significant importance.
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