Re-roofing is very common among homeowners. You can always add up a new roof on top of your existing one. And You may do that to achieve some extra benefits such as better air conditioning, insulation, heating facility, water sealing, and many more.
Adding a new roof to your existing one needs a careful inspection of the old one’s situation. For instance; tying the new shingles on top of the old ones requires it to be done carefully.
How to tie into existing roof shingles is a common query for beginners in this case. If you are interested to know this process in detail, let’s have a brief discussion below.
What to look for
When the top is worn out, the old roof is in such a condition that the framing of the roof is intact and does not have any massive damage.
Then, as a homeowner, you can decide to re-roof with an extra layer of shingles. It will help you avoid the cost of tearing off the old one. Again, you can also handle the waste material disposal along with the hassle of dealing with damaged materials.
Necessity of Tying
Tieing is important because it helps to minimize any possibilities of leaking into your roof. But it needs to be done properly. Otherwise, air and moisture can get in. This can cause mold growth, mildew, or other structural damages.
The appropriate tying into existing roof shingles can create a watertight seal preventing different types of water damages.
Required Elements
Before starting the process, you need to have access to several pieces of equipment. Some tools such as a ladder, nails, adhesive, hammer, stripline, measuring tape, nail puller, etc are needed.
Again, to re-roof, you would especially require some valley liner, roof vast, shingles, and many more items.
How To Tie Into Existing Roof Shingles: Step by step
If you are thinking about doing some renovations in your roof area, then you can follow a couple of steps that might be helpful.
Inspection and Identification
After ensuring the availability of necessary equipment, then firstly, start the process by doing an inspection and identifying the most damaged areas.
Ensuring Even Surface
You can make the roof surface even by removing all broken and damaged shingles. If these remain on your roof, they can create leakage and other hazards.
Supporting Structural Element
Next, you will need to install a truss or structural element that can support your roof. Your truss should be strong enough to hold up the weight of the shingles that you are going to add. Otherwise, the whole structure can collapse.
Valley Board Installation
Secure the valley board with the help of roofing cement. This board provides a base for nailing evenly and helps in the time of jack rafter installation.
The use of roofing cement ensures leak prevention causing water to seal properly.
Tying New Shingles
Now, new shingles are ready to be nailed down. Draw a line and make sure to cut the below area along with the shingles. Either seal with the new shingles after you remove the old ones or add a layer of new shingles with the existing ones.
But, always keep in mind that proper tying is very necessary for your new shingles.
Safety Measures
While doing any type of household chores, the safety of a person must be the first priority.
Working on a roof is always very risky, so make sure to maintain proper precautions such as:
- Have a rope in your waist in case of handling a fall situation,
- Wear a helmet to secure your head,
- Use a ladder to climb up,
- Wearing a proper pair of shoes that has sufficient grip,
It is best if you can get help from a partner as it reduces unwanted accident cases.
Tips and tricks
Some exceptional tricks can make tying a roof very simple. If you are a beginner, then these tips and tricks can change your attitude towards tying.
A good adhesive and roofing cement is a day saver, without it, your hard work can be a failure.
A good trick is to never mix your materials and never re-roof a damaged one because this will be of no use. And, it will cost you more to repair the old that lies beneath the new roof.
Final words
So, it can be said that the addition of new shingles into the existing ones is not as difficult as it seems. With a little bit of guidance, you can do it yourself quite efficiently. But, if you have any queries, it would be better to consult for professional help.
Hopefully, this article on how to tie into existing roof shingles has given you a clear concept. So, now it is your turn. Apply these steps properly and have strong roof shingles.
