How to Install Metal Roofing yourself

For most homeowners metal roofing installation is not a do it yourself project, but for those few who dare this will be a useful guide on how to install metal roofing.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A roofing hatchet or a carpenter’s hammer.
• Utility knife
• break-away-knife
• Carpenter’s pencil
• Sheet Metal Snips
• Tape measure
• A tool belt.
• Sheet metal hand seamer / folder.
• Drill/Driver
• Wood cutting: For minor wood repairs, a cordless sawzall by Hitachi will be more than adequate.
• Safety rope, anchor and harness.
• Pre-cut Metal Roofing panels
• special screws and flashing details for your roof.

1. Take pictures of your home from different angles, then measure your roof and draw a diagram that you can take to roofing supply warehouse.

2. 
   Roofing Diagram

   Order metal roofing panels called standing seam at the roofing supply warehouse. They will ask you what length of panels you will need and how many. You should give them diagram with dimensions as well as show the pictures of your building and they will be able to see how many panels and what type of flashing you will need. You can also buy all the necessary metal roofing installation tools and safety equipment at the same warehouse. In addition you will need to buy roofing underlayment. I recommend that you spend a little extra money and buy breathable synthetic underlayment that will be installed underneath the metal roof.

3. 
   Roofing Tear off done, and safety rope anchored securely into the roof studs on the roof ridge,

   Now you will have to prepare roofing deck, once you have all the necessary tools and metal roofing materials ready. It is generally recommended that you perform a tear off of the existing roof so that there would be a solid sheeting underneath the metal roofing panels. It will also give you an opportunity to replace any rotten wood or plywood.

4. 
   Roofing underlayment installation completed

   Install roofing underlayment in horizontal fashion. You will start at the eave and nail down the firs raw of roofing underlayment. You will then continue upwards using six inch overlap on all your consecutive horizontal raw until you reach the ridge of the roof.

5. 
   Metal flashing installation.

   Now it is time to install metal flashing at the eaves, it is called starter trim. You will have to follow manufactures recommendations but generally you install the starter flashing leaving 1/4 of an inch of space from the eave and securing it in place with special screws every 12 inches on center. Then do the same for gable flashing.

6. 
   Installation of metal roofing panel.

   Once all the necessary flashing is installed, we can begin installing our first panel. we will have to cut and bend about an inch of the panel underneath so that we can hook it into the starter trim. Then the panel will be secured by there special screws at the top. After that we will install the special screws along side the panel using special screws and brackets that attach to the panel every 12 inches or so. The follow on panel will be installed in a similar fashion. We will have to lock the follow on panel into previous panel using the locking mechanism called the seam. We will basically have to hit it with the palm of our hand starting at the ridge and going down until the entire panel is connected. Then repeat the whole process again until you reach the gable on the right side.

7. 
   Installation of the gable flashing that attaches metal roofing panel to the gable.

   You will now want to use specially formed gable flashing to cover the panels. and then cramp down with the cramping tools.

8. Now all that is left is to install ridge flashing, which varies depending on the manufacturer that you use. And you should be all done!

Tips & Warnings

• I recommend that you first practice on a small structure such as shed or a garage before taking on the house. It would also be helpful if have another person who has experience to help you out and make sure you do things the right way.
• Major danger with any kind of roofing is falling of the roof. You will want to use the shoes with rubber soles, properly secured ladder, and safety equipment such as rope and the harness.

Resources

• How to install metal roofing guide
• DIY Metal Roofing
• Standing Seam Metal Roofing
• Roofing Installation Blog
• Metal Roofing Manufacturers

[aleksandrb]

on 7/18/2009 Expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $600 per square, for metal roofing materials, trim, screws and roofing under-layment (preferably synthetic.)and Don't attempt to work on a roof alone you, will need somebody just to give you things when you need them and call for help in case an accident happens, hopefully not, but it is always good to be on a safer side...