Thinking about hiring a roofing contractor to replace your old worn out or storm damaged shingles? That’s what most people do. But if you are the adventurous type you might want to take on the task yourself. More and more of late the DIY homeowner are taking on home repairs themselves. Replacing a roof can be an enormous undertaking filled with lots of opportunities for making costly mistakes. But, if you are looking to save some money and you have confidence in yourself you can carry out the roofing project yourself, even if you’re roofing justin texas.
There is no question it is always safer to get a reputable roofing company to contract your roofing project. You have peace of mind knowing with a good roofing company that you are going to get a professional job and they carry all the liability. But, they are very expensive too. This article should help you with an overview of replacing your roofing shingles yourself.
Start by choosing the shingle you want on your roof. Next, determine what you will need in the way of roofing material, place your order and have it delivered. Then make sure you have all the right tools for your roofing project such as; ladders, nail guns, hammers, tape measures, chalk lines, proper clothing and shoes, etc.
Remove the old existing shingles and have a dumpster or trailer for removal to the dump. Once the old shingles are removed make sure the decking is clean of any debris and that there are no nails are sticking up. Also make sure that the decking is not damaged. If there is damage be sure to replace the damaged areas before moving forward.
Next, install your drip edge on the perimeter of the roof. Now install the felt. The felt will give an extra layer of protection between your decking and the new shingles. Replace valley metal and whatever hardware as needed. Start at the bottom of the roof and roll out your felt horizontally nailing with nail caps as you go. Repeat the process until you reach the top of the roof or the ridge line. Next, install your starter shingles nailing them down around the perimeter of the roof. The starter shingle will provide a water shed and adhesive layer for your first row of shingles.
Now you are ready to install the new shingles. Once again start at the bottom of the roof. Start your first row of shingles by letting it overhang the drip edge about an inch nailing each shingle below the tar line. Work your way horizontally across the roof then begin your next row repeating the same process on the second row, and then continue until you reach the ridge. Do this on both sides of the roof.
Finish your roofing project by installing your ridge cap. Nail down the left side of your ridge shingle, fold it over the ridge and nail the right side. Lay the next shingle over the first covering the nails and repeat the process until you reach the other end. Use a dab of roof sealant on the final ridge shingle. And you’re finished.