Install metal roofing

Let’s start with one simple rule for people who want to install metal roofing. If you cannot easily walk across the roof because it’s too steep, call a professional contractor. With that rule in mindif you want to have a metal roof but the professional bids are too high, here’s how to install it.

Gather the proper tools. The list is a measuring tape, a chalk line with plenty of chalk, a good drill, a good extension ladder and a good, sturdy step ladder, ½ pound of ¼ inch roofing nails, metal roofing screws, metal snips, and to hold the nails and screws a nail bag.

Using the tape measure the roof’s height adding the desired overhang, generally two to four inches. Make accurate measurements keeping in mind the handy man’s mantra “measure twice, cut once.” Next measure the roof’s length and height on both sides to figure out how much metal edging to add. Take these measurements to your roofing supply company. They will tell you how much roofing is needed. Remember that three to six inches of unblocked air flow is needed between layers.

It’s best to remove the old roof before laying a metal roof. Use a pitch fork, roofing shovel, or roofing pliers to remove old shingles . Then lay down 30 pound tar paper as the base for the new roof. If there’s only one layer of shingles on the old roof, lay down 1”x4”x building length pine wood boards screwed onto the old shingles. Once the roof is prepared the metal roof edging can be applied.

Now it’s time to place the metal sheets running from top to bottom rather than side to side. They are screwed into the wood slats, using a screw every two feet on both sides of the sheet. Each sheet overlaps the last. When you reach the edge cut the last metal sheet so it’s just past the edge of the roof.

When the sheets are applied to both sides of the roof it’s time to apply the metal trim along the edges at the sides of the roof. The trim also goes on the peak, first scoring it in the middle so it can be bent over the peak.

That covers installing the tin barn roof type of metal roof. Other types of metal roofs require different methods for installation. But those can be tackled equally as well by a do it yourself person who wants to install metal roofing.