How to Build a Roof
No building can be considered complete until it has a roof. The roof is the upper horizontal layer of bricks or wood which gives protection against rain. It is important that the roof of a building is properly fixed - otherwise there may be many accidents.
Required Materials
- exterior plywood
- pre-fabricated roof trusses
- scaffolding
- drip edge
- metal flashing
- asphalt shingles
- 12 GA nails for roofing
- tar paper
- fasteners for metal products
- rafter ties
- clips
Required Tools
- claw hammer
- tape measure
- framing hammer
- canvas nail belts
- framing square
- combination square
- wrenches
- nail puller
- carpentry level
- screwdrivers
- drills
- hacksaw
- ladders
- chalk line
- felt-tipped pens and pencils
- saw horses
- string
- hand saw
- plumb bob
- finish hammer
- clam
- staple gun
- nail gun
- chisel
- caulking gun
- tin snip
- nail set
- insurance
- blueprints
Instructions
- Lining Up - Make sure the tails or rafter ends are in a straight line; the rafter tails will not be in a straight line if the walls are crooked. Begin by placing the construction map in front of you alongside your laid out tools, then organize the work.
- Applying Sheets - Work your way up to the ridge of the roof; the sheets must be applied from the bottom upwards. If the roof is not raised in 4’ increments, cut the last sheet to fit. The sheathing line must be perpendicular to the rafters.
- Nailing - Use a code for the nailing. This will help you to decide where to put the nails.
- Adjoining Sheets - Avoid nailing down the rafters at the roof’s edges until you have the adjoining sheets in place. This will allow you to move specific rafters if you need to.
- Adding Stability - The joints of the sheathing for all the courses should be staggered. Cut a panel into 2 halves, then use these sheets. If you want even more stability, add metal clips to the splices.
- Checking Alignment - Alignment needs to be checked every now and then so that you can check for consistency in the roof. One slope should be dealt at a time. Repeat the procedure for all the slopes on the roof.
