DIY Roofing for Home Roofers

“Why did the roofer go to the doctor?

ANSWER: Because he had a bad case of shingles!

Roofers love roofing jokes.  I hope that last one wasn’t over your head.  Truth is most of us became roofers because we wanted to be looked up to. Ok, enough of the cheesy roofing jokes.

We take a lot of things really serious, and taking on replacing your own roof should be one of them. But, if you are the adventurous type, not afraid of heights, strong, healthy, and physically fit…  then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to roof your own home.

DIY Roofing

First of all, gather as much information as you can about DIY Roofing. There is a wealth of information on the internet to help you successfully replace your roof. Get on your roof and walk around to make sure you are not afraid to take on your roofing task. You’ll know immediately if you are comfortable being on your roof. If you are not comfortable on your roof then you should call a professional roofing contractor who can handle both roofing and gutters.

If you determine you are capable to tackle your re-roof then proceed with a well thought through plan. Have the material delivered. And here’s a word to the wise… have the new material lifted onto the roof after the old roof is removed. Carrying bundles of shingles up a ladder on your shoulder is murder. Make sure you have all the tools with you on the roof that you will need to do the job. Having to go up and down the ladder to get what you need will prematurely exhaust you.

Be sure you choose the correct underlayment material for the quality of job you are desiring. There are numerous types of shingles to choose from. There are composition shingles, clay tile, wooden shake, metal, slate, and others. Be sure you are choosing the right roofing material for you home. Some of these materials are very complex to install and a qualified professional roofer should be enlisted.

Areas of great concern in replacing your own roof are places where water may have opportunity to enter the structure. Such as around the chimney. The chimney should have metal flashing cut and installed to sure absolutely no water can penetrate it. On brick chimneys the metal flashing should be installed into the brick itself by using a masonry saw to cut into the brick.

Another area of concern is the roof valleys. Ice and water underlayment should be installed in the valleys to insure there will be no leaking. Valley metal may also be installed. Both should run the entire length of the valley.

The roof ventilation is also another area of concern for leaks. Make sure all low profile, turtle type, turbines, and ridge vent is installed correctly. Making sure to you pay attention to these areas will insure you enjoy your newly installed roof for years to come.

You can do this. Being diligent regarding your responsibility and being vigilant to watch every detail will make you proud that you were successful of doing this job yourself.