Re-Roofing. Any hints/suggestions/warnings?

[Beaches' Bee-Haven Apiary]

My Dad is re-roofing our house. He's putting architectural shingles over the old worn shingles. He and I lifted and moved over 7,000+ pounds of shingles yesterday up onto the roof before we had to return the rented fork lift, and now he's going to start taking off the ridge caps laying the shingles. Has anyone out there had any experience with re-roofing and can give some suggestions, hints, or warnings?

Thanks

-Nathanael

Our plans have changed quite a lot. Read all the posts below (If you haven't already.)

Go here for pictures:

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210875

[ScadsOBees]

Hire somebody else.

I don't know your experience level, so will assume that it is low.

If you have more than one layer of old shingles, take them off.

Make sure to use a chalkline. If you don't have a pneumatic nailer, rent one.

Finally, don't fall off.

There are a thousand others that I don't have time to mention.

Rick

[peggjam]

"Finally, don't fall off."

I'll second that one, and add "or through". They both suck either way .

[Beaches' Bee-Haven Apiary]

My dad and I got all (or most) the tools we need and figured out how to start off the shingles (various books, talking to people, and the directions on the shingles bag). So we get ready to tare off the ridge caps and Dad finds a hole in one of the shingles and rotten boards underneath. We'll have to go get replacement boards, felt and tear off the shingles in that area. Other than that things seem to be going very smoothly.

<If you have more than one layer of old shingles, take them off>

We actually have two layers. They say not to exceed three layers of shingles. And if we mess something up we've got a little backup.

<Make sure to use a chalkline.>

Yes we're using a chalkline

<If you don't have a pneumatic nailer, rent one.>

It was less expensive to buy one. We got a CRAFTSMAN

<Finally, don't fall off.>

Goes without saying!


Also, this job would have cost $8,000+ if we hired someone. Who knows what they would have tagged on for the rotten boards. So far it's been below half that amount. I think we can do it (famous last words, right?). I'll post more updates on this thread later.

-Nathanael

[Barry]

<If you have more than one layer of old shingles, take them off>

We actually have two layers. They say not to exceed three layers of shingles. And if we mess something up we've got a little backup.

-Nathanael

In my neck of the woods, you have to tear off down to the sheathing if you have two layers on and are needing a new roof. You can't have three layers. I would also check the warranty of the new shingles to make sure it will still be valid if over old shingles.

- Barry

[Barry Digman]

http://www.websoft-solutions.net/roo...tion_s/250.htm

[the kid]

dont know about where you are but here (MN)two roofs max and if you put the limenated shingels ( so called 40 or 50 year roof ) on the next time you do
the roof its a tear off They are a one layer shingel (TEAR OFF EACH TIME )

three roof s are a lot of weight 240 per sq ( 10 foot by 10 foot )
x3
------
720 pounds pre sq ( 10 by 10 )
if your roof is 40 feet long and 12 foot eve to ridge on each side of the house

40 x 12 = 480 x 2 = 960 this is 96 squares if you have three layers of shingels 96 x 3 = 288 squares of shingels on the roof .,,,,
288 x 240 = 6912 you will have 6912 pounds of shingels on the roof
now if you live were it snows add the weight of a foot of snow ......
do you want all this weight on your roof ???????
the kid

[dcross]

<Finally, don't fall off.>

Goes without saying!




-Nathanael

It needs saying. Don't fall off!

[Sundance]

I have done more than my share of roofing.....

My advise would be to tear off any previous shingles even
if there is only one layer. The effort for tear off is not all
that bad and the added life to the new shingles is substantial,
not to mention the roof load reduction.

The new membrane that runs along the drip edge is a great
idea as well.

What is the pitch?? (sorry if that was asked earlier)

[xC0000005]

I've roofed before. Use Pneumatic stapler, stagger a segment and work from side to side (don't do one line at a time - you'll kill your knees). Knee pads. Always remove the old shingles. Never trust the decking.

"Why do you keep walking up and down in those lines?"
<crack, smash>
"Because I think that decking is rotten. You need help getting up?"
Replace your decking NOW if you think it might need it soon.
Reseal all vents. You don't want to find out later you had a leak. The laterer the worserer. As sundance says, re-do the edges.

[Barry]

In my experience, roofing nails hold better than staples.

- Barry

[Beaches' Bee-Haven Apiary]

Okey-Dokey! Here's today's update! Dad an I headed off to LOWE'S this morning (7:00 am) to get the replacement board and roofing felt/tar paper. We got the rotten board cut out (11:30) and it started raining. We got everything covered and will continue with any little time tomorrow (in-between church) and Monday. Things have really slowed down.

What is the pitch?? (sorry if that was asked earlier)

Our roof is 5,500 sq. feet with a rather steep pitch.


Thanks for y'all's suggestions! Dad and I have a lot of time to consider these things while we watch the rain come down!

-Nathanael

[Sundance]

Have plenty of those cheap, big blue tarps on hand. You
can cover the opening up in a hurry if a rain cell sneaks
up on you.

I too prefer nails to staples.

[Beaches' Bee-Haven Apiary]

First we've learned not to re-roof during Tropical storm season. "Is that thunder?" "Yep. I can start feeling rain drops, let's get this thing covered up again!"

We have decided to go all the way on this roof. We're stripping off the old shingles, replacing the gutters, taking out the old vents and installing new ridge vents, as well as a few sun tunnels.

As of now we have one small section of the house stripped. Maybe we can start putting on shingles tomorrow.

Sundance, we just went out and bought a lot of tarps!

-Nathanael

[Ann]

Those sun tunnels are awesome, my in-laws have them in the house in Tennessee, they really do brighten things up! Good for you doing it right, you'll be much happier with the results!

[Church]

if you rip the roof off you may be required to put down solid sheeting as per code; OSB is cheaper but weights a lot more than plywood. You may want to check with your building dept. since they will consider it a new roof. A lot of people delay that extra cost by double layering on spaced slats.

and for the next roof, most roofing supply companies and even home depot will deliver to your rooftop with the materials. Save your back.

[okb]

Roofing for Dummies . Its right next to Beekeeping for Dummies at the book store . I saw it.

[Beaches' Bee-Haven Apiary]

if you rip the roof off you may be required to put down solid sheeting as per code; OSB is cheaper but weights a lot more than plywood. You may want to check with your building dept. since they will consider it a new roof. A lot of people delay that extra cost by double layering on spaced slats.

and for the next roof, most roofing supply companies and even home depot will deliver to your rooftop with the materials. Save your back.

We have solid plywood sheeting under the shingles.

We got our shingles from LOWE'S and they just dropped it right off by the house. I don't think they would have put it on the roof. Anyway, it's up there now.

Thank you all for your suggestions and help, we can still use more!

-Nathanael

[Beaches' Bee-Haven Apiary]

Go here for pictures.

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210875

-Nathanael

[ScadsOBees]

It is a lot more work, but I'm glad to hear that did a tear off. It lowers the life of the shingles to over layer them . Plus there may be other spots of plywood that might need to be replaced that you don't find otherwise. I did the same a couple of years back and ended up replaceing upward of 8 or more sheets of plywood that I wasn't expecting to.

I did the tearoff and hired somebody to do the roofing. Was still 3-4k but the tearoff would have been 1-2k more and doesn't require so much figuring and expertise.

Sounds and looks like you have things under control though

Rick