Are you thinking of installing a new roof? If so, there are many things to consider before starting a roofing project. Proper installation of a new roof is critical in ensuring the safety of your home and avoiding potentially expensive issues like flooding and structural damage.

Constructing a new roof is a difficult process and best left up to professional roof contractors. However, if you are up for the task, here are the 9 steps for installing. We hope you find this helpful and if at any time you have questions about the process, we are glad to help. Just call Preferred Roofing Supply at 678-398-6880.

1. Material Selection

The first step for installing a new roof is deciding what materials you wish to use. The good news is there are so many choices when it comes to roofing materials. When selecting the best roofing materials for your home, consider  your budget, the climate in your area, your home’s design, and your aesthetic preferences. 

A reputable roofing supply company like Preferred Roofing Supply can help you choose the best roofing materials for your home. You’ll also find everything you need to properly install a new roof at Preferred Roofing Supply, including tools, nails, dumpster rentals, scaffolding, and more.

2. Site Prep

Prepping your roof and the area around it before installing a new roof will help the project go smoothly and protect your property from potential damage. Be sure to move vehicles away from your home and tarp your landscaping in case any debris falls from the roof during construction.

3. Disposing of Old Roofing Materials

Removing the old roof is one of the most crucial steps in installing a new one. If your roof is made of asphalt shingles, begin prying off the shingles from the top and work your way down. Renting a dumpster is the best way to dispose of old roofing materials. Preferred Roofing Supply offers dumpster rentals for your convenience. 

If your roof is made of metal, use a drill or a full-sized pry bar to loosen the easterners holding the panels in place. Then, working your way from one side to the other, remove the ridge cap and each fastener in each panel. The panel will need to be entirely unhooked before being removed. Be sure that all the old panels are removed before applying the new roofing materials.

If you anticipate this process taking more than one day, tarp your roof to protect it from the elements until your new roofing materials are applied. 

4. Inspecting the Roof

Once the old roofing materials are removed, you or a hired roofing contractor should inspect the sheathing. Sheathing is the flat panels on your roof that provide structural support and a foundation for new roofing materials like shingles. Now’s the time to inspect the roof for any wet areas or damage.

5. Removing the Flashing

After all the roofing is removed, examine the flashing on the roof. To stop water seepage, flashing, which is often made of aluminum or galvanized steel, is placed over roof joints. These joints include the drip edge and any flashing at the roof’s chimney, vents, and valleys. If you suspect damage to the flashing, you will need to replace it with high-quality flashing to keep water out. 

6. Installing the Drip Edge

You’ll install the drip edge for the roofing in two different stages. The metal drip edge is first installed along the bottom edge of the home on top of the ice and water barrier.

It is then firmly nailed to the roof. Install the drip edge before the underlayment on the lowest portion of the roof. Continue installing the drip edge to the sides of the roof.  

7. Installing Underlayment

Underlayment is essential to maintaining the lifespan of your new roof. Underlayment collects water and lets it dissipate, preventing dampness and rot in the frame and sheathing below. If you don’t have an existing ice and water barrier, now is the time to install one. To install underlayment, pull up the drip edge.

Then attach the old drip edge once again. Place the underlayment underneath the drip edge for further protection. The underlayment is put in place, and the ice and water barrier are secured with nails along the roof’s edge.

Start the underlayment along the edge of the roof, going over the drip edge and ice and water barrier. Use cap nails just above the drip edge to secure it. Position cap nails every four to six inches along the edge, eight to ten inches apart around the remainder of the underlayment. The next row will overlap  the previous row by at least six inches.

Repeat the first row’s nailing pattern, placing nails that are closer together along the edge and more widely spaced nails in the center. Use the same overlapping and nailing technique to the ridge of the roof. To finish the underlayment, run the material over the ridge so that it dips down and covers the top edge of both rows on either side. The underlayment’s bottom edges are securely bonded on both sides.

8. Setting Up Your Brand-New Roof

To prevent shingles from leaking, stagger each row of shingles and place starter shingles at the bottom and sides. Nail the shingles beneath the tar strip, so no nail heads are visible.

To begin screwing the vertical edge of a new metal roof, place the screw into each of the ridges rather than the flats. The roof will flatten if each vertical row is screwed before moving on to the next. In addition to keep water away from the fasteners, screw into the ridges as opposed to the flats. This will help protect the screws from water puddles.

9. Clean Up & Inspection 

Congratulations! Your new roof is installed. Now, it’s time to clean up! Place any leftover materials or old roofing debris in the dumpster. Be sure to check the area for nails or screws. 

You’ll want to schedule a roof inspection to ensure that your roof is installed correctly and there are no compromised areas that may cause leaks. Preferred Roofing Supply offers free 15-minute roof inspections. Just call 678-395-6880 or visit the website to schedule yours!

How to Choose the Best Roofing Contractor 

If after reading this article, you decide to hire a professional roofing contractor. Here are 5 reasons to call Preferred Roofing Supply to install your new roof.

• Over 12 years of experience in the construction industry
• Excellent reviews and customer-experiences
• Extensive inventory and lowest prices guaranteed 
• Licensed, bonded, and insured
• Professional, experienced roofing contractors

If you are shopping for roofing supplies or looking for a professional roofing contractor in the Atlanta area, visit one of our 3 Preferred Roofing Supply locations:

2615 Old Concord Road SE

Smyrna, GA

tel:678 -403-8759

4874 North Royal Atlanta Drive

Suite 104 

Tucker, GA

Tel:678-395-6880

 

7620 Tara Boulevard

Jonesboro, GA 

Tel:678-884-6865