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It dries out the asphalt and makes it brittle, so it cracks easily. Even if you’re an avid home improvement DIY’er, roofing requires a large amount of skill and experience. Not only are there additional personal risks because of the height, but also the potential for damaging your home’s structural integrity is high.

Add a pipe collar or boot over the pipe — it should be sized to fit tightly — and secure it in place with nails. Run a bead of roofing cement onto the collar around the pipe and under the bottom edge of the collar. Continue shingle installation, cutting to fit shingles in the next course around the pipe as needed. When you reach other penetrations such as a vent, skylight or chimney, install flashing and shingles as instructed to divert water away from the penetrations. So, to answer your question, removing the old vents and installing a ridge vent does make a lot of sense. You will probably end up replacing a significant portion of the roof with new shingles, or getting a complete roof replacement.

Start your search by filling out the form below to get an expert quote. Now that you've conquered the underlayment and drip edge and plotted your course, it's time to learn how to install roof shingles. Nail the drip edge in place using your hammer and roofing nails. Always install flashing around a chimney and other valleys where two roof planes meet as these areas are more prone to leaks if not protected. In the event you loved this information and you want to receive much more information concerning oneclickpower.co.uk i implore you to visit our internet site. Once all your shingles are installed, you’ll need to cover the ridge , and you use ridge cap shingles for this.

You may need to take days off from work to complete the project within a reasonable time frame. Before installing a new roof, you must remove the entire old roof first. Rent a dumpster to simplify the cleanup process as you tear off old shingles. A roofing shovel makes the job easier and you can take off gutters and ridge vents at the same time. It involves complex processes for removing the old roofing material, adding sheathing, installing the new materials, and ensuring the entire surface is watertight. We recommend hiring a professional roofing service to manage the project.

The next step is to install felt paper, which captures moisture between the shingles and the sheathing. Tack down the paper with either a stapler or roofing nail every foot, then overlap the felt sheets by four inches to maximize protection. If you’re installing shingles on eaves or gables, you may need a drip edge to help direct water to the gutters. In areas with extreme winters, you may also be required to install ice barriers.

You'll also need to conform to local regulations, which vary by region and climactic zone. Cold weather will make shingles brittle and subject to breaking easily. In hot weather, the edges of the shingles may damage easily. As you work, use care when stepping or kneeling on new shingles to avoid damaging them. Leaving us to believe that the gable vents would be adequate with the ridge vent.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. Using the chalk line, snap a straight line on each 5-inch increment. Using the chalk line, snap a line between the two marks to get a straight edge. Roofing contractors tend to charge less for labor during winter because it’s the offseason. However, you’ll need to live in a climate with mild winters to take advantage of this.

The arborist will also ensure your trees remain healthy and attractive to maintain your home’s curb appeal. 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. Items like a harness, hard hat, work gloves, safety glasses, long pants and a tool belt keep you safe while you're up on the roof.

Hang gable-end starter shingles 1/2 inch past the drip edge, and make sure you overlap the starter shingle on the eave by 2 to 3 inches. Install self-stick underlayment in regions where codes require it. Often called "ice-and-water" underlayment, it prevents water that seeps under the shingles from damaging the decking because it sticks to the roof decking to seal out water. It also seals around nails and keeps water from leaking through nail holes.

When you nail the upper shingles, get as close as possible to the flashing, but avoid driving directly through it. When you’re done, sweep the roof decking clean with a broom. Set up scaffolding to install the drip edge and first few courses of shingles. A wet roof is a slippery roof, the hot sun is hazardous — to you and the roofing material — and working in windy conditions is just asking for an accident. Needless to say, roofing when it's cold enough for ice is also out of the question.