When the pitch of a roof is very, very steep, it is a good idea to let a professional roofing contractor handle the job, but for those jobs that can be safely done, here are some nuggets of advice about doing your own roofing.
Safety is a primary concern of a roofing job. Roofs, by definition, are those things on top of the building. The difference in laying tiles on a roof and laying tiles on a floor is more than technique. This is not to say that no roofing job is beyond the scope of the do it yourself type, but consideration to safety is one of the most important bits of advice for roofing installation anyone can give. Since there are so many different shapes and sizes, and even heights to roofs, it is hard to make a firm and fast rule. Common sense should be enough to tell when the height and the steepness of a particular roof make standing on it difficult and unsafe.
Professional roofers are trained and experienced and they are aware of the dangers involved in roofing work. When you have serious concerns about your personal safety, it is time to turn the job over to them and save money in a more practical manner. However, even a job that appears safe should not be approached without consideration of some basic common sense safety rules. The selection and use of proper equipment is the first step.
Make sure your ladders are in good condition and rated for the kind of load they will have to support. The ladder is one of the key danger points in the roofing job and more roofing accidents take place going up and down them than take place on the roof itself. Another area of equipment concern is the carrying of tools and nails. A good roofer will have a sling type harness for carrying tools and nails to leave his hands free for work and balance. Heavy roofing materials should be lifted to the roof with ropes and pulleys and not carried up the ladder. It is also a good idea to never work alone. Someone should be present not only to help, but to be there in case of an emergency.
There are a wide variety of materials used in roofing. Each requires different fasteners and tools. Once you have settled on the material and type of roof you will be installing, you can begin to plan the job. Roofing is not a seat of the pants type of job at all. A good plan will include a lot of preliminary study. There are plenty of books and internet guides that can give you material specific instructions. Remember, a metal roof is not installed the same way as a shingle roof. Not only are different techniques used, but different tools as well. So, know your material first, and then develop your plan and gather the proper equipment.
Roofers know that the majority of mistakes are made in the very first layer in most roofing jobs. Since so many materials, such as shingles and tile, require that subsequent rows and layers conform to the first row, it is here that most mistakes are made. Be very accurate in starting. Make sure your measurements and your overall plan is accurate before you haphazardly start laying material.
Custom Search