DIY roofing replacements can be a good choice for individuals who are looking to save some money and have the necessary skills to complete the job. But when thinking about replacing your roof yourself, it can be quite overwhelming. The list of materials that are needed can get long, and you don’t want to forget or miss any essential steps during the process. In this blog, we will go through all the materials you will need to successfully complete a roof replacement in Ludington, Michigan. We will also explain why these materials are important and needed.
Before we get into the materials, we want to explain how important safety is when performing a DIY roof replacement. Being on a roof is dangerous itself, now add the task of carrying materials up the ladder and around the roof, being exposed to tripping hazards, walking on weak points of the roof, etc… this is a very dangerous job. On average 400 construction workers fall to their deaths each year from roofs, ladders, and scaffolds. Out of the top 10 most dangerous jobs, roofing lands at number 6. We can’t emphasize enough to prioritize safety and only perform a DIY replacement if you have the necessary skills, tools, and can implement the proper safety measures to do so.
We also want to mention that it is important to get city permits for this job and make sure you are keeping everything up to code.
Now let’s get into the materials you need to complete a roof replacement.
Dumpster
Getting a dumpster ordered and dropped off at the house is an important first step. When you tear off the shingles you will need to place them somewhere out of the way. You can toss them into a truck bed and run back and forth to the dumps but this can take quite a while and probably end up costing about the same amount of money it would cost to pay for a dumpster. With a dumpster you don’t need to worry about anything, they drop it off and pick it up once you’re done using it. We recommend having the dumpster parked in the driveway so you can easily toss the shingles into the dumpster from the roof.
Plywood
Once the shingles are torn off, you will want to inspect all the plywood for any damaged or rotten pieces. If you discover any bad pieces, they will need to be replaced. It is important to ensure you take this part seriously and replace all plywood that is damaged or rotten. The plywood is the last protective barrier between the inside of your home and the outdoor elements. So you want to make sure you have solid plywood all the way around.
Signs of damage you want to look for are:
Cracks – Take your time looking for any cracks in the plywood, big or small.
Moldy Pieces – Moldy plywood indicates that it has been wet, which usually means the piece is rotten and weak.
Soft or Sagging Areas – Walk around the roof and see if you can feel any soft spots, if you do, that piece needs to be replaced.
Dry In Materials
Dry-in materials refer to all the materials underneath the shingles, these materials are very important as they are what effectively keep all elements like rain and snow out of the home. These materials include:
Plastic Cap Nails – Plastic cap nails are what you will use to secure your underlayment and ice and water shield to the decking. They are nails that have a round plastic piece connected to the head.
Ice & Water Shield – Ice & Water Shield is an important aspect of the dry-in material list for homes in cold climates. It is a membrane that is installed along the eaves, rakes, and valleys to protect the home from ice dams and wind-driven rain.
Rakes and eves are the areas that overhang the home and are the most vulnerable to ice dams because they are the coldest part of the roof. If you are curious about ice dams and want to learn more about what they are and the damage they can cause, click here to read a recent article we wrote about ice dams.
Underlayment – Underlayment is the material that will cover most of the roof. This is what is between the plywood and the top layer of shingles. Its key purpose is to keep all water from entering the home and causing water leaks, damage, and mold growth.
Drip Edge – Drip edge is a piece of metal that runs along the edge of the entire home. The key purpose of drip edge is to protect the edges of your decking (plywood) and to help guide the water away from the fascia board and into the gutter system.
Box Vents and Pipe Jacks – Neither of these have to be replaced if they are in good shape but a good rule of thumb is to just replace them anyway because of their relatively low cost. When you are putting on a new roof, you expect it to last for many years to come, and spending a few extra bucks on new box vents and pipe jacks will help ensure your roof lasts its desired lifespan.
Pipe jacks are pre-formed pieces of galvanized metal that go around the pipes that come from the inside of the home and out of the roof. They also have a rubber seal attached to them that protects any water from running down the pipe and going underneath the shingles. Over time, this rubber seal will wear out and that is why it is best to replace those while you can.
Box vents are vents that go over holes that are cut in the decking to help with attic ventilation. The attic can accumulate warm and moist air that needs to be filtered out.
Flashing – There are a few different types of flashing available like step flashing and L metal flashing. You will use these on areas where your roof meets a wall or if you have something like a chimney on the roof. The purpose of flashing is to direct rainwater away from the wall, down the roof, and into the gutter system.
Shingle Materials
Coil Nails – Coil nails are what you will use to secure your roofing shingles to the decking using a nail gun.
Starter Shingles – These are shingles that will go along the edge of the roof before you start laying your regular shingles. The purpose of starter shingles is to help protect against water damage and improve the roof’s wind resistance along the edges.
Shingles – We recommend getting architectural asphalt shingles from GAF because they offer the best wind ratings and warranties out there.
Ridge Cap – Ridge cap is a type of shingle that will go along the ridge of your roof line. This is the last thing you do as it protects the area where the shingles from each slope meet at the ridge.
Sealant – You will want to use some sort of sealant to seal flashing.
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