Five Easy Step: Do It Yourself Metal Roofing

When you make that fateful decision to install a roof on either a new or old house, the first thing you must decide is whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a professional contractor. Whichever you choose, make sure to plan the whole roofing experience carefully. Never simply thumb through the yellow pages to find a contractor. Never. Just do not do it. If you are going to find a good roof contractor, do your research. If you hire the cheapest contractor you can find, you may later discover the reason they are so cheap. I suggest contacting various roofing supply retailers. Ask questions. Meet the contractor. Never forget to listen to that gut instinct. Of course, if you choose to do it yourself metal roofing project, you will have your own set of obstacles. Simply doing proper research and planning from the beginning will offer you a relief from the dreadful experience in later years.

1. Choose your roofing material carefully. You have decided to do it yourself metal roofing project. Now what? The first step is to find the exact kind of metal roofing for you needs and that fits your budget. For this article, I am assuming you have chosen metal roofing, but these steps can be taken with any roofing material you choose. Whatever you do, make sure that the roofing material fits your climate and needs.
2. Plan and mark exactly where the material will lay. Chalk is your friend. Yes, I said chalk. You will want to mark with chalk before you start where each and every piece will fall. This will serve a dual purpose. One, using chalk will insure that you have just the right amount of the roofing material. Two, using chalk will act as a great guide for self-installation. Most kits will contain the plans for this step.
3. Use a good underlayment. Yes, underlayment is important. You will want to purchase the underlayment and lay it under the roofing material. This will add support to the roofing material and help keep out the elements. You can secure the underlayment with tar, roofing nails, roofing glue, or a combination of any of the options.
4. Add drip edges, extra sheet metal pieces, and flashings to the roof. These will keep your new roof from leaking. Roofing kits will include instructions sometimes, but do not depend on them. Use your best judgment and do your research of how and when to add the touches. These will reinforce and prevent leakage later.
5. Now it is time for the final step. Add your roofing material. This is the most important step to any roofing project. Using the proper roofing nails, secure your roofing material to the beams of your roof. Once properly secured, seal your roof. When you have finished this step, your roof is ready to face anything!

When you do it yourself metal roofing projects, the challenge is both rewarding and a pleasure to witness if you are prepared and have done your research. Never assume that things will work out magically. A good roof is worth its weight in gold; a bad roof will come back to haunt you time and time again. Do it right the first time and you will have a roof you don't even think about.

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