Nobody is implying that roof replacement is a trivial task. It's not easy, but it's certainly achievable for anyone who's skilled around the house, confident working at heights, and strong and agile enough to carry heavy stacks of shingles up to the roof and shift them around. However, asphalt shingles should be used because they are the simplest to put up.
However, before you go out and start hunting for your shingles, you should evaluate your roof to see if you just need to place a second layer of new shingles over an existing old one, or if you will need to fully rip off the present roof. Adding a third layer of shingles is not a smart idea for DIY roofs since the roof's structure might not be able to handle the extra weight.
How to Get Rid of Your Old Roof
If your do-it-yourself roofing project will involve getting rid of old shingles, plan ahead and have a dumpster delivered to the property. Old shingles, whether removed using a flat shovel or a pitchfork, will create a mess wherever they are discarded. If you would rather not rent a dumpster, you can have someone else take care of the old shingles as you go along with the renovation.
Installing Roofing Felt
Once the old shingles have been taken off, the following step in your DIY roofing project is to look for any old roofing nails and remove them with a nail puller or a claw hammer. After sweeping the roof thoroughly, you can move on to laying down a layer of thirty-pound roofing felt. The printed lines on the synthetics felt will act as a guide as you lay your shingles, making your DIY roofing project much easier. The only tricky part is getting the roofing to feel perfectly aligned with the roof's edge.
Assembling the Mosquito Nets
The next step is to add metal roof edging (if there isn't one already) along the entire roof's perimeter to both make the roof look finished and prevent water from pooling under the shingles. The initial row of shingles in a do-it-yourself roof installation must be flipped upside down, with the solid edge resting on the metal roofing strip.
After the initial row of asphalt, singles have been fastened in place using an adhesive backing and Roofing nails, subsequent rows can be added in the same manner, taking care to align the cut edges of the shingles. Quickly you will have completed your do-it-yourself roofing job.
How To Replace A Flat Roof Covering
Flat roofs, by nature of their construction, call for regular upkeep (usually after every five or seven years). On the plus side, unlike pitched roofs, flat roofs' coverings are simple to swap out.
You'll need a claw hammer, a measuring tape, some hot asphalt, and some roofing material to replace your roof.
To begin, tear off the old roof. Here, a scrapper will come in handy for removing the old roofing. Before putting on the new roof, check the plywood decking for water damage and replace any affected boards.
Use a hammer to knock off any nails you find on the roof. If the heads of the nails break off, you can prevent the wood from tearing the felt by hammering the remaining nail below the surface.
After the previous roof has been taken off, wooden cant strips should be installed. The strips should be affixed to the inside roof corners at this point.
The strips need to have two 45-degree cuts so they can get into these nooks and crannies. The strips serve to cover any gaps that can't be covered by the felt. Replace the wooden strips with synthetic ones if you can't find the real ones.
Next, spread out the bottom sheet. A variety of materials, including paper, fiberglass, and polyester, can be used for the underside sheet.
Typically, a two- to four-inch seam is used while laying down the bottom sheet. When the sheets are in position, you should use roofing nails to secure them. Nailings need to be placed at a distance of eight inches apart.
The base sheet must be trimmed and laid over the cant strips so that it fits snugly around the vents. Putting up flashings on the roof will protect it from leaks. Flashings are typically installed around openings like vents and other spots where water can seep in.
Next, place the first roll of roofing felt over the sheet. Using hot tar or asphalt, continue layering once the first roll has been set.
Hot asphalt is applied by spreading it with a big mop along individual rows. In order to get the best results, you should unroll the roll of roofing felt while keeping the asphalt at a constant temperature.