We never advise a homeowner to climb on their roof, let alone attempt to repair or replace it. You might cause a lot more harm to your roof and possibly yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing. DIY websites depict fairly simple, straight-forward roofs, and if you are reasonably handy and follow all safety precautions and package recommendations, you may be able to roof your own home. However it is still not as simple as they make it look. Also, you should not attempt it yourself if your roof is steep or has particular flashing considerations, such as a roof to wall, dead valley, hips, dormers, pitch variations, chimneys, or a variety of other challenges.
Biggest risks associated with DIY roofing.
1.Safety Risks
- DIY roof maintenance comes with a slew of risks, some of which can be fatal.
- Inexperience can allow you to lose track of the roof’s edge, resulting in a deadly fall.
- Improper roof repairs can cause you to fall through the roof; inexperience can cause you to lose track of the roof’s edge, resulting in a dangerous fall.
2.Financial Risks
- Unfortunately, many people believe that DIY roofing projects save money in the long term.
- Passing on a licensed professional may save you money up front, but you’ll almost certainly end up paying an arm and a leg to solve problems that arise over time. These problems must be addressed, and if they aren’t addressed properly, they will recur.
3.Functionality Risks
- Installing a new roof isn’t as simple as putting down a few tiles; it’s a complex process that necessitates a full team of qualified roofing contractors.
- You can expect holes, gaps, and other defects if your roof’s flashing and underlayment aren’t placed properly.
- Improper roof installation leads to problems such as leaks, which often go undiscovered and lead to mould growth.
- Major structural and functioning problems might put you and your family in danger, which could have been avoided if you had employed an expert.
- The purpose of a roof is to keep you and your family safe from the elements such as rain, sleet, snow, and wind. It defeats the purpose of having a roof in the first place if you’re getting rained on because your roof isn’t working properly.
Tools Required
- Air compressor
- Air hose
- Caulk gun
- Chalk line
- Circular saw
- Extension ladder
- Roof harness
- roofing nailer
- scaffolding
- Stapler
- Straightedge
- Tin snips
- Utility knife
- Work gloves
Materials Required
- #15 or #30 Felt underlayment
- Asphalt shingles
- Drip edge
- Hook blades
- Roofing nails
- Sealant
- Self-adhesive waterproof underlayment (“ice and water shield”)
- Staples
- Step and dormer flashing
- Valley flashing
- Vent flashing
Installing Roof Shingles in 11 Steps:
- To begin shingling, line up aluminum drip edges flush with the edge of the roof and make a pencil line at the top on each end of the house.
- Using the chalk line, snap a line between the two marks to get a straight edge.
- To create a gap between the drip edge and the fascia board, pull the drip edge down approximately a half inch from that line.
- Nail the drip edge in place using 1¼-inch galvanized roofing nails and a hammer.
- Repeat steps for gabled ends, installing the drip edge up the roof along the gable.
- Lay out 30-lb. asphalt roofing felt paper and nail it in place using 1¼-inch galvanized roofing nails.
- To lay out the design for the shingles, begin at the bottom of the roof and place a tape measure ½ inch from the edge of the roof to ensure the shingles overhang the drip edge.
- Mark 12 inches up on the roof for the first course of shingles, then mark every 5 inches all the way up the roof to set your reveal. Do this on both sides of the roof.
- Using the chalk line, snap a straight line on each 5-inch increment.
- Use the chalk line to snap a straight line vertically every 6 inches.
- Install a starter course by cutting off the three tabs on a shingle, leaving only the top tar section.
What is the labor charge of the roofing shingles??
The cost of labour varies based on the roofing material, roof pitch, and complexity of the roof design. Roofs with several skylights and chimneys, as well as numerous valleys and dormers, will have higher labour expenses than roofs with fewer openings.
- Most roofs utilising asphalt or architectural shingles cost around $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot on average, so labour costs for a 1,500-square-foot roof would be roughly $1,500 to $2,250 out of the $6,960 total.
- Roof shingles are also laid out in squares. The standard square measurement is 100 square feet. Roof shingles range in price from $350 to $550 per square foot. Bundles of shingles are also available for purchase. These are smaller than a square and cover around 33 square feet, or one-third of a square. Roofing shingles cost an average of $116 to $183 each bundle.