Roofing Supplies
November 26, 2008 by Laminate & Hardwood Flooring
Filed under Roofing Materials & Contractors
Roofing supplies include a wide range of materials and items necessary for roof construction and maintenance. This consists of not only shingles but molding, lumber, pipes and vents, roofing cements, ladders and all the necessary tools , even roofing nails.
One of the most important roofing supplies is, of course, the top roofing material. This is considered the roof proper and includes wood shingles, ceramic tiles, asbestos shingles, metal roofing sheets and tiles, rubber roofing sheets and shingles, and more. Location is a prime concern when selecting roofing material, so that the roof will stand up to the local elements and issues that interact with a roof.
The frame or support structure of a roof is lumber. This generally consists of a triangular truss and a lattice of beams. The roof itself is then laid over the frame. Lumber is used for other elements including the cornice, part of the frame that overhangs the wall, the fascia, which is the underside of the cornice, the eave, beam ends of the wood frame that allow water to drip away from the roof, and the soffit, which is the underside of the eave.
Pipes and vents stick up from the roof. They help the house breathe, and are also the way out for smoke from a fireplace or cooking hood, as well as for hot air from the attic. The bottoms of pipes and vents are always sealed with a boot, or metal strip, that includes a lead based or plastic sealant. These pipes and vents have one way shields sealed with rubber so that the air or smoke can escape, but water doesn’t flow into the pipe or vent.
Roofing tools include the ladder to climb up to the roof, as well as other items necessary for both installation and removal, as well as for regular maintenance. These include simple items such as a broom and bucket to hold waste shingles, a slater’s hammer that includes a hammer as well as an ax and blade, a slate cutter to cut through shingles, seaming pliers to grab shingles, and a hip runner to install the ridge cap, the portion of the roof that caps the seams.
When it comes to roofing nails they must be long enough to extend through the shingles and get about 3/8 inch below the underside of the shingle. Anything that interferes with the nails biting into the wood could cause the nail to spring out of the shingle, and eventually the loss of shingles. This includes shingles with ridges, some under shingle materials, and of course nails that are too short. A good roofer can drive a roofing nail with one solid hit. A homeowner doing it themselves should be able to drive most roofing nails with one hit within a few minutes of work.
Like a well roofing supplies are a deep subject, but satisfying when you get to the bottom of it.
Roofing tools
December 23, 2008 by Laminate & Hardwood Flooring
Filed under Roofing Materials & Contractors
You can’t go wrong hiring a qualified professional for a roofing project. But with a little bit of time and knowledge, and often with the help of a few friends, replacing a roof can be a rewarding do it yourself project. The key to doing it yourself rather than doing yourself in is the right roofing tools. Most of the following tools can be found at the local hardware store.
A slate cutter does just what the name implies, cuts slate and shingles. It cuts through most roofing materials like a hot knife through butter. Industrial versions cut 1/2†thick shingles easily. Some models have a punch to get them started, which also offers better control in the cutting process.
Instead of throwing the shingles to the ground, which requires a constant trek to the perilous edge, consider a ridge bucket. These buckets are designed to hug the roof so they don’t slip even on a steep incline. It’s safer and quicker to use a ridge bucket to dispose of materials.
Use a hip runner to install ridge cap and hip ridges perfectly straight every time. Of all the roofing tools this is one the contractors always have, but do it your self enthusiasts rarely consider.
Seaming pliers aren’t for sewing. They’re for pulling shingles, especially stubborn shingles that seem to have a mind of their own intent on staying in place. Seaming pliers have teeth to grip the shingle without tearing it. Add a good pair of thick work gloves to save your fingers and hands from scrapes, bruises and blisters caused by gripping and pulling rough shingles.
What has a hammer head on one side and an ax and blade on the other? No, not a movie hero’s weapon, it’s a slater’s hammer. This roofing tool can be used both for removing and installing roofs. Don’t worry about it going to waste after the roofing project, it’s also a handy every day hammer.
Most local hardware stores rent these tools as well as sell them. This way a home owner can use the best quality tools rather than one that’s cheaper to purchase. Knowledge is also a roofing tool, perhaps the most important of them. Local hardware stores, as well as the Internet, are great sources of information on roofing and roofing tools. Between books they carry and staff on hand who can give you advice, they can prepare a person for every step of the roofing process.
