Installation & Methods

How roofs are measured, built, fastened, sealed and kept safe to work on. 65 entries.

• Altdeutsche DeckungThe 'Old German' slating method, using hand-dressed slates of graded sizes laid in rising courses; regarded as the most demanding German slate technique.
• Asphalt Shingle Nailing PatternThe nailing pattern sets how many nails each asphalt shingle receives and where: typically four, or six for high-wind and steep-slope work.
• Australian WHS Roof Work RequirementsAustralian work health and safety codes require roof work fall risks to be controlled through a hierarchy, with edge protection and rules based on roof pitch.
• Batten Seam RoofingBatten seam roofing lays metal pans between raised wooden or metal battens running down the slope, with a metal cap locked over each batten.
• BS 5534 Fixing SpecificationBS 5534 is the British code of practice for slating and tiling; its fixing specification sets how every tile, ridge and verge is mechanically secured.
• Chimney Flashing InstallationChimney flashing combines apron, step, cricket and counterflashing to seal the gap between a masonry chimney and the roof.
• Clay and Concrete Tile InstallationTile installation hangs or fastens clay or concrete tiles over battens or decking, fixing them mechanically and, traditionally, bedding ridges and edges in mortar.
• Coil CoatingCoil coating is the continuous factory process that cleans, pretreats, primes, paints and bakes metal strip before it is formed into roofing.
• Cold Weather RoofingCold weather roofing covers the extra precautions needed below normal application temperatures, from warming materials to hand-sealing shingles.
• Dry-Fix Ridge SystemA dry-fix system secures ridge, hip or verge tiles with mechanical fixings, seals and ventilated rolls instead of mortar.
• Flat Seam (Flat-Lock) RoofingFlat seam roofing covers a roof with small rectangular metal pans whose folded edges lock together flat; seams are soldered on low slopes.
• Fragile RoofA roof or roof element, such as old fibre-cement sheeting or a rooflight, that will not safely carry a person's weight; a leading cause of roof-work deaths.
• Fully Adhered vs Mechanically AttachedLow-slope membranes are attached by gluing the whole sheet to the substrate (fully adhered), fastening it at laps (mechanically attached) or holding it with ballast.
• Hand Sealing ShinglesHand sealing is applying dabs of asphalt cement under shingles where factory sealant cannot be relied on, such as on steep slopes or in cold weather.
• Hiring a RooferHiring a roofer involves checking licensing or registration, insurance, references and written terms; licensing rules differ by country, state and province.
• Hot Weather RoofingHot weather roofing addresses heat stress for workers and softening, scuffing and over-sealing of materials when roofs are installed in high temperatures.
• Hot-Air WeldingHot-air welding joins thermoplastic roofing membranes such as PVC and TPO by melting overlapping sheets with heated air and pressing them together.
• Hot-Mopped Built-Up Roof ApplicationHot-mopped built-up roofing (BUR) bonds several plies of roofing felt with layers of hot asphalt or coal-tar pitch applied by mop or mechanical spreader.
• Ice Barrier InstallationAn ice barrier is a self-adhering membrane or cemented underlayment installed at the eaves to resist water backing up under shingles from ice dams.
• Installing a Metal Roof Over Existing ShinglesBecause metal is light, it can often be installed over one existing roof layer where local codes allow, but deck condition, ventilation and fixing must be checked.
• Ladder Safety for RoofingLadder safety for roof access centres on the 4-to-1 angle rule, extending the ladder about 1 m (3 ft) above the roof edge and securing it top and bottom.
• Mechanical SeamingMechanical seaming folds the raised edges of adjoining metal roof panels together with a hand or powered seamer, forming single-lock or double-lock seams.
• Mechanically Seamed Standing Seam (Single and Double Lock)Mechanically seamed panels have their raised seams folded together on the roof by a seaming tool, forming single-lock or watertight double-lock joints.
• Plumbing Vent FlashingA plumbing vent flashing (pipe boot) is a flanged sleeve that seals a vent pipe through the roof and is woven into the courses around it.
• Ridge Cap InstallationRidge cap installation covers the peak and hips of a roof with overlapping cap pieces, laid away from the prevailing wind and blind-nailed.
• Roof BracketsRoof brackets (roof jacks) are metal supports nailed to a pitched roof that hold a plank as a foothold and material shelf for roofers.
• Roof Coating ApplicationRoof coating application cleans, repairs and primes an existing roof, then sprays or rolls on a liquid membrane such as acrylic, silicone or polyurethane.
• Roof Deck Inspection and ReplacementDeck inspection is the check of the structural roof surface for rot, deflection, gaps and fastening before new roofing is installed; damaged sections are replaced.
• Roof Inspection ProcedureA roof inspection is a systematic check of the covering, flashings, penetrations, drainage, deck and attic to find damage, defects and leak sources.
• Roof Measurement and EstimatingRoof estimating converts plan dimensions into true roof area using pitch multipliers, expresses it in squares or square metres and adds waste allowances.
• Roof Pitch CalculationRoof pitch is calculated as vertical rise over horizontal run, expressed as x:12, a ratio, a percentage or an angle in degrees.
• Roof Replacement ProcessThe roof replacement process is the sequence of work used to remove an old roof covering and install a new one, from planning and permits to final inspection.
• Roofing Fall ProtectionRoofing fall protection is the set of legal duties and equipment, such as guardrails, nets, harness systems and warning lines, that prevent roofers falling.
• Roofing Permits and InspectionsMany authorities require a permit for roof replacement and some for larger repairs, with inspections to confirm compliance with the building code.
• Roofing SquareA roofing square is a North American unit of roof area equal to 100 square feet (about 9.3 m²), used for ordering and pricing roofing.
• Roofing Warranty TypesRoofing warranties fall into two main groups: manufacturer warranties on materials or systems, and contractor workmanship warranties on installation.
• Shingle Exposure and OffsetExposure is the visible height of each shingle course; offset is the horizontal stagger of joints between courses so water never lines up with a gap.
• Skylight Flashing InstallationSkylight flashing seals a roof window or skylight to the roof using a head flashing, side step flashings and a sill apron, usually from a manufacturer's kit.
• Slate Hook FixingA method of securing roofing slates with metal hooks that grip the slate's tail, as an alternative to nailing through holes near the head or centre.
• Slate RepairSlate repair replaces individual broken slates by cutting the old nails with a slate ripper and securing a new slate with a nail and bib flashing, a hook or a tab.
• Slate Roof InstallationSlate installation lays split natural slates in double-lap courses, hung on copper or stainless nails (or hooks) with a set headlap that depends on pitch.
• Snap-Lock Standing SeamSnap-lock standing seam panels click together at the seam without a seaming tool, held down by concealed clips or an integral fastening flange.
• Soldering Sheet Metal RoofingSoldering joins copper, terne-coated stainless, zinc and similar roof sheets with molten tin-based alloy to make watertight seams, especially on low slopes.
• Spray Polyurethane Foam ApplicationSPF roofing is applied by spraying two liquid components that react and expand into a seamless foam layer, then protecting it with a coating.
• Standing Seam InstallationStanding seam installation fixes long metal panels to the deck with concealed clips and joins them along raised seams that are snapped or mechanically seamed.
• Starter CourseA starter course is the first row of roofing material along the eaves (and often rakes) that seals and backs the first visible course of shingles.
• Step Flashing InstallationStep flashing is a series of L-shaped metal pieces woven into each course where a sloped roof meets a sidewall or chimney side.
• Tear-Off vs OverlayTear-off removes the existing roof covering down to the deck; an overlay (recover) installs a new covering over the old one where codes permit.
• Tension LevelingTension leveling stretches metal coil slightly beyond its yield point to flatten it and release built-in stresses, reducing oil canning in roof panels.
• Thatch RidgeA thatch ridge is the separate covering laid over the apex of a thatched roof to bind and protect the main coat; it is renewed more often than the roof.
• Thatching ProcessThatching lays bundles of water reed, wheat straw or similar plants in thick overlapping coats, fixed with sways, spars and liggers and finished with a ridge.
• Thermal Movement in Metal RoofsMetal roof panels lengthen and shorten with temperature; systems must let them slide, or seams, fasteners and flashings will fatigue, buckle or leak.
• Through-Fastened Panel InstallationThrough-fastened metal panels are screwed directly through the sheet into purlins or decking with sealing washers, with side and end laps sealed against water.
• Tile BattensTile battens are horizontal timber strips fixed across the rafters or deck that set the spacing of tile or slate courses and provide their fixing point.
• Tile ClipsTile clips are metal fixings that hold the tail or side of a roof tile down against wind uplift; in storm-prone areas they are often called hurricane or storm clips.
• Torch-Applied Modified BitumenTorch-on application bonds modified bitumen membrane rolls by melting their underside with a propane torch as the roll is unrolled over the roof.
• Underlayment InstallationUnderlayment installation is the laying of a secondary water-resistant sheet over the roof deck, lapped shingle-fashion, before the main roof covering.
• Valley InstallationValley installation is how roofing is laid where two roof slopes meet in an internal angle, using open, closed-cut or woven methods over a valley lining.
• Ventilation and Condensation Under Metal RoofsSome metal roofs, notably zinc and lead, need a ventilated or drained space beneath them so condensation cannot corrode the metal's underside.
• Warning Line SystemA warning line system is a barrier of rope, wire or chain on stanchions set back from the edge of a low-slope roof to warn workers of the fall hazard.
• Waste FactorThe waste factor is the extra percentage of roofing material added to the measured roof area to cover cutting, trimming and breakage.
• Wood Shake InstallationWood shake installation lays split cedar shakes in spaced courses with felt interlay between each course, two nails per shake and offset joints.
• Wood Shingle InstallationWood shingle installation lays sawn cedar shingles in triple-coverage courses with small gaps, two nails each and exposures set by length and pitch.
• Work at Height Regulations 2005The Work at Height Regulations 2005 are the main UK law on preventing falls, requiring a hierarchy of avoid, prevent and minimise for all work at height.
• YealmingYealming is the preparation of wetted long straw into neat, compact layers called yealms that a thatcher can carry onto the roof and lay.