Okay, so you need to replace your roof and you want to do it on your own to save money. Replacing a roof is certainly going to be a daunting job, even if you have the know-how on the basics of roofing, understanding the process, knowing the types of roofing materials available, and knowing the right tools and equipment is essential not only to make this project work, but also to ensure your safety. Here is a basic checklist and guide to the essential tools and materials you will need for DIY reroofing:
Safety Equipment
- Heavy-duty, sturdy ladder
- Harness
- Roof anchor
- Lanyard counterweight
- Rope
- Hard hat
- Work gloves
- Slip-proof boots
Tools and Materials
- Lumber Strips, Nails and Hammer – install a few of these on your roof for a secure footing
- Asphalt Roof Shingles – choose a shingle color and design that will complement your style and taste, and that will match in with your house’s facade
- Asphalt Roofing Cement – applied to the back of the shingle to ensure a tighter fit to the roof’s surface. You can also use this on the nail heads to prevent small leaks
- Galvanized Roofing Nails – secures shingles to the roof
- Replacement Flashing – replace damaged flashing strips around eaves, ridges and valleys
- Utility or Sharp Linoleum Knife – for cutting portions of shingles or for trimming shingles to the correct shape and size
- Chalk line – a useful tool for measuring exact shingle positioning to ensure symmetrical placement of each shingle
Step by Step Reroofing Guide
- Preparation
Clean the work area first. To avoid unnecessary accidents, remove all obstructions from the area and keep your equipment organized. Block your work area from children and pets.
- Tearing Off the Roof and Preparing the Roof Deck
Prepare the surface under the shingles. When the old materials are removed, clean the deck so you can see if there are any potential problems that need to be fixed. This could range from rotten wood, to cracked boards, to an unsound deck that won’t hold nails.
- Sheathing
Before laying down shingles, you need to protect the roof with sheathing. Roll out a single layer of roofing felt or tar paper. This will serve as a moisture barrier. Begin with the layer at the bottom of the roof, and gradually add in horizontal rows with a slight overlap to prevent leaks. Secure the sheathing with galvanized nails.
- Install Shingles Properly
Starting at the bottom of the roof, lay down a single shingle, allowing about an inch to clear the edge of the roof. Lay out an entire row before nailing to make sure the shingles are straight. Use a chalk line across the roof to keep your shingle rows straight. Use ridge caps to complete the ridge or top of the roof.
- Clean Up the Area
Reroofing is not as simple as it sounds. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration—your safety, the quality of the work, and access to durable roofing materials are among the main concerns. It is a task that is best left with Hopatcong NJ roofing contractors, likeUp and Above Contractors, LLC.
We are one of the top Hopatcong NJ, and Randolph NJ roofing contractors. Our team of expert installers take from their 20 years of experience in the business to provide home improvement services that will surely boost the comfort of your home; and as partners of the top roofing manufacturers in the country GAF, we have access to high-quality roofing products from top-of-the-line roofing shingles to the roofing cement.
If you have queries about our products and services, feel free to browse through our website or you can give us a call and our friendly office staff will be more than happy to assist you.