Roofs don’t last forever, and the occasional storm may cause some type of damage, especially if your roof is getting up there in age. While many homeowners will be searching for “roofing repair companies near me” on Google, others may want to do it themselves.
Roofing repair and replacement jobs are best left to the professionals, but some people will insist on completing the job themselves, especially if they have any experience with fixing roofs. If you’re a homeowner who’d rather do it yourself, make sure you can do it correctly by collecting all of the necessary tools and materials. Here’s a list of the things you’ll need:
Safety First
Remember to always put safety first. Here are the items to gather:
Ladder – Unless you’re a superhero who can leap over a building in a single bound, you’ll probably need a ladder to climb up to your roof. For homes that have more than one story, renting a scaffold or shingle lift ladder is recommended. You can check out Lakeside-hire.co.uk for scaffold services. You may also be able to pay the shingle supplier to load the shingles onto your roof.
Fall protection equipment – Whatever the reason may be for working up on your roof (whether it’s to repair your roof, clean your gutters, or check for damage after a storm), you’ll need to use fall protection equipment. Most systems include a safety harness, roof anchor, rope lifeline, and shock-absorbing lanyard.
Lumber strips – If you don’t use fall protection equipment (like a safety harness), you’ll need to nail some two-by-four lumber strips to the roof’s edge to help you maintain your footing while working. The problem is that you’ll have to pull up the strips and re-nail them as you move around the roof. It’s recommended to invest in a fall protection kit to save time and energy.
A helper – Don’t forget to call a friend to help you out! They’ll offer you an extra level of safety and help make your job easier. Make sure you pay them back in some way!
Roofing Materials
Here are the roofing materials you’ll need to repair your roof:
Asphalt shingles – Remember that building laws won’t allow you to overlay your roof if it already has two layers of shingles. If you are able to overlay an existing roof, architectural shingles are recommended instead of 3-tab shingles because they’ll help hide any high spots or dips.
Flashing – Make sure flashing is installed underneath the shingles and siding where the horizontal part of the home meets the vertical. This helps the water flow easily off the roof.
Underlayment – Ice and water shield underlayments help provide protection when shingles are nailed to the roof. They prevent ice and water from reaching the roof below.
Tools You’ll Need
Here’s a list of the tools you’ll need:
Crowbar – Use a crowbar to dislodge nails that are more difficult to remove.
Roofing nails – Make sure you use the proper nails when repairing your roof. The guidelines set by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer’s Association will help you select the nails needed to repair or replace your roof.
Hammer or roofing nailer – If you’re just replacing a few of the shingles, then you can use a hammer. However, if you’re replacing the entire roof, it’s best to use a power nailer to speed up the installation. Like always, make sure you follow the proper safety precautions when you’re working on the roof.
Some other tools include:
- Tarp
- Sealant
- Utility knife
Get Started Today!
Now that you know what type of tools and materials you’ll need, it’s time to gather them so that you can begin repairing your roof. However, it’s always best to contact a roofing company to complete the job for you. There are plenty of quality contractors, including Legacy Service. Contact them today to get started.