Important
note: do not attempt this on a building that you
cannot freely walk on because of the pitch, or angle of
the roof. If you are not capable of safely working high
up have a professional roofing company do the work and save
your friends the flowers and visits to the hospital. Never
stand on unfastened panels, and use safety gear to prevent
eye and hand injuries. How
to measure roof pitch.
Click here
for diagrams of ridge cap, closure, vents and flashing
installation.
First,
you will need the proper tools and materials. These
may include: Measuring tape A good drill with three different
bits: a ¼ inch screw head bit; a 5/16 screw head bit;
and a standard Phillip’s bit. A chalk line. A good extension
ladder and a step ladder, Metal cutting “Snips” We also
highly recommend using a nibbler
to cut metal roofing as cuts can be made safely and easily
even over ribs. (Click link for information on renting
a nibbler for your job).
To decide how much metal roofing and screws you will need,
measure the roof from peak to eave and add whatever overhang
you want (anywhere from one to two inches is usual). This
will give you the length of your panels. Measure along
the width of your roof and divide this number by 3'. This
will give you the number of panels you will need. Allowances
for valleys or hips will progressively change the panel
length along the valley or hip allowing the panel to be
cut along the angle of valley or hip. Ridges, hips, valleys,
Gable ends, and eaves should be measured for length so
the proper amount of flashing can be ordered. Trim comes
in 10' lengths. We can do a take off of your roof from
provided drawings for a minimum fee please call the office
for additional information.
It is not necessary or recommended to take off the old
shingles before starting to install new roofing(unless
you have two roofs already on.) You can “tear off” composite
shingles with a pitchfork or a roofing shovel if you have
to do so. You will then put down 30 pound tar paper, or
roofing felt, as a base for your new roof. If there is
only one layer of shingles on the building,we suggest
you keep the old roof on and put down what is called “Batten
board”. This is 1x4xlength (Never use 1"x2"s
or pressure treated) of Yellow Pine boards that are screwed
or nailed securely on 24" centers over the old roofing.
They should be placed every two feet up starting from
the bottom of the roof up. You can then put the new metal
roof on over these boards. As an alternative you can fasten
the boards with sparse nailing and then use 2" screws
to go through the panels, the batten board, and then into
the sheathing. This method may produce a stronger bond
to the sheathing.
Now
you are ready to start putting on your metal roof. Put
your Eave Trim edging down; at the eaves, not on the
Gables. You can nail this in with 1 ¼ inch roofing
nails. Inside Closures can be installed with each panel
now or later as described. Valleys should be installed next,
and should run from the peak to just over the eave and may
extend just past new roofing panels to allow the water to
run off without touching the house. Do not nail except on
the very outside edges of the valley.
NEVER STAND ON UNFASTENED PANELS!
The
bottom of the Panels must be aligned along the eave and
square to the gable if possible, gables are often not
square with the eave so some misalignment with the gable
is possible. Align panels along the eave using a 3-4-5
triangle measurement. The Panels should run from top to
bottom and cover without lapping end to end if possible.
If there is a hip or valley, run panels starting the first
one from the gable working toward the valley or hip. If
the run is from gable to gable start on the end most comfortable
for you being right or left handed. The valleys or hips
must be cut on angle to fit. Use tin snips or a nibbler,
but do not cut panels with a saw. Clean any filings (from
installing screws) after installing. Panels should be
cut so there will be a "trough" of 4" to
6" in the valley for water to run. Universal closure
should be used under panels in the valley to help prevent
water from flowing between panel and valley. Never use
plain flat valley with metal roofing, use only valley
with a water ridge in the center. VERY IMPORTANT; The
panel side that has a slight extension beyond the edge
of the last ridge goes UNDER the adjacent panel. . On
the last sheet toward a gable, measure roof edge and cut
the panel to fit. If using gable trim you may turn up
a 3/4" lip to support the trim and prevent water
from running over the panel edge.
Now
the metal trim goes on. It will cover the sides (Gable)
of the roof at the edge. It will also cover the ridge
of the roof (the top peak) as well.
Sealant tape or butyl tape should be used between
any trim fastened on the flat of panels so the hole in
panel will be sealed. The Gable end trim goes on first
then the Ridge Cap. Gable trim is fastened in the 3/4"
flat with sealant tape between the trim and the panel.
Outside Closures should be used under ridge cap. It is
also possible to use the ridge for a vent by placing the
closure in a "J" Channel at the top of the panel
rather than under the ridge lip. These are pieces of foam
rubber that come in 3 foot lengths that follow the design
of the panel ridges. For eaves you push it up into the
openings along the edge (it prevents birds and animals
from going up inside the ridges). It has a glue at the
bottom and will self seal and stick when put in. Do not
screw the bottom of your sheets down if you want to put
closures in after the panels are down. Now you will do
the ridge. Outside Closures are a foam closure similar
to your bottom enclosures, but this will fill in the wide
gaps at the top of your sheets. Place these on top of
the sheets at the ridge (top of the roof) to fill in the
gaps. Take the metal ridge for the panel and screw it
onto the ridge with a screw on either side at the point
where the high point of a ridge occurs and put it in with
a 1/4x 7/8 metal lap screw. Do this every rib on both
sides of the ridge. The ends of the Ridge Cap can be cut/trimmed
and turned down to close the opening for a finished look.
Filings from screw cuttings must also be cleaned off the
panels after screws have been applied through the panel
to avoid rust marks. Failure to comply with the above
procedure relieves Discount Direct Metal Roofing, Inc.
of responsibility for any resulting damage to, or deterioration
of the finish. This should just about complete your roof.
If you have any questions about how to install your roof
please call us at Discount Direct 904-696-9700 or e-mail
us at ddmr@ddmetal.com.
