Installing A Standing-seam Roof: Really A Diy Job?
If you're seriously considering a DIY standing-seam roof installation
, you'd best bone up on your general knowledge regarding what is undoubtedly a great roofing solution. While successful amateur installations are not unheard of, your surest bet is to seek the help of a professional. Standing-seam roofs are made of numerous interlocking panels, which run vertically from the ridge, or edge, of the roof to its apex at the eave. The seam where any two panels interlock is raised just above the surface of the roof, allowing water to run off the roof without it dripping in between the panels. This simple structure belies numerous details of installation that, if not properly attended to, can lessen the efficacy and lifespan of the roof.That said, metal roofing panels are generally much easier to move around than traditional clay or fiber-glass shingles. Weighing in at only one to two pounds apiece, their portability makes the logistics of lugging them onto a rooftop much simpler, so your contractors unlikely to charge you the same rates he would for a more challenging job. You can also forego the need to tear the old roofing off, as installing a standing seam roof over the old roof is no more difficult than normal installation.
This is why a DIY standing-seam roof installation is just more trouble than its worth. But if you're not convinced and intent to push through with your project, here's some metal roof installation tips. After you lay down your waterproof plastic membrane (an essential feature for making sure you don't let any water through your roof), you'll need to chase it with a layer of roofing paper, which you must ensure covers every nook and cranny including the spaces between the different roof surfaces (the roof valleys). One part of the job you'll definitely want to done for you (unless its your goal to become a professional roofer and you're just practicing on your own home) is the making of ridge-cap, which is preformed to fit over the roofs peak. Once this groundwork has been laid, you're ready for the shingles.
You should find a professional at your local hardware or construction outlet to demonstrate just how to fit the shingles together. The most visually stunning configuration you can arrange panels in is a staggered pattern. You can find panel solutions, such as those made by Permanent Roofing Systems, that take a lot of the guesswork out of this process, as they can pretty much be clipped together by hand. Designed for the construction amateur, these four-way shingles often come pre-assembled in multi-shingle sheets, greatly reducing the labor you'll be required to undertake. Go to permanentroofing.com for a downloadable PDF full of DIY standing seam roof installation tips.
Now, all this is well and good until you realize that your roof isn't regularly shaped. And Ill tell you, most peoples roofs fall into the category of irregular. Just about everyone's roof has some kinky little feature, like a skylight or a chimney or a dormer, that needs to have pre-made shingles cut in accordance with its shape. Should you attempt to use your regular shingles without consideration for the unique requirements of these areas, you're going to end up with a roof that is either ugly or practically ineffectual. The fact is, the tool for this job is not a saw or a hammer, its a hydraulic powered shear with teeth sharper than razor blades that trained professionals use to quickly cut standing seam roofing panels to size on site. Its called a brake, and its the reason you want a pro doing this kind of a job.
So maybe, on just this one occasion, its the time to loosen those fists and hand over the cash for a skilled roofers work. Indeed, if your worker as recommended by the manufacturer, or at least is recognized as qualified to install standing seam roof panels, it will mean that your roof is subject to warranty " and that you can look forward to fifty or more years of being secure in the knowledge that you've a strong roof over your head.
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