Installing a roof requires basic knowledge of what a roof does and how it is built. Knowing the basics of how to roof can help you to understand roof installation instructions, even if you aren’t directly involved in the roofing installation process.

How to Roof: Framing

When installing a roof, you’ll learn that most of the structure is supported by framing. The majority of sloped roofs have trusses that support the roof. Trusses are mostly prefabricated these days, though there will be a certain amount of hand-framing that will be necessary on any new roof.

Here are some pointers for installing a roof’s trusses on a gabled roof:

• With truss upside down, set one end of truss on wall plate and then set the other side of the truss on the other plate.
• Raise truss so it is upright.
• Rest truss against the already secure gable truss at the end.
• Set each truss up one at a time, with the end gable truss the last one to be raised.
• Once trusses have been set up, they should be put into position with bracing and then plumbed.

Learn About Shingle Installation

Most houses as well as other structures use shingles for the external roof covering. Whether shingles are made from asphalt, wood, clay, or another substance, the basic roof installation instructions remain the same. Before shingle installation, a waterproof underlayment will cover a thin barrier, usually plywood, to create a waterproof barrier between the shingles and trusses.

When you begin shingle installation, start from the bottom edge of the house and work your way up. In this way, the shingles layer each other, creating a surface off which rain can easily flow. Shingle installation around vents, chimneys, and other places where holes are built into the roof should be carefully sealed, in order to keep the roof from leaking.

Metal Roof Installation

A metal roof installation can accomplish the same thing as a shingled roof, though metal roofs tend to last longer. Installed like shingled roofs over a board covered with waterproof felt, metal roof installation involves interlocking pieces of metal that can be either prefabricated or cut to size on site. Fasteners connect the metal pieces to the roof sheathing, and these can either be exposed or hidden, with the former method being less expensive.

Tips on Roofing Installation

Roof installation instructions may vary depending on material, here are some basic conventions for any roofing installation:

• Always follow manufacturers’ guidelines for shingle installation.
• Make sure surface is level for nailing when installing a roof.
• Make sure the roof’s sheathing over the trusses doesn’t have nails or staples sticking up during roofing installation, so as not to pierce the waterproof felt and cause leaking.
• Provide adequate roof ventilation, especially in laundry, kitchen, and bathroom areas; half of vents should be on or near peaks or along ridges, with the rest near soffits or eaves.
• Properly space shingles or tiles and nail down evenly to allow for expansion during hot summer months and contraction during cold winter months.