Reshingling
or reshaking a wooden shingle or shake roof has "if", "and", and
"but" conditions. You can do the job yourself:
- If
the roof pitch is not too steep and you are in no danger climbing
on the roof to re-do it,
- And
if the roof shingles are even and fat on the decking and don't
require removal,
- But,
you can remove the shingles/shakes, if necessary, and the work
schedule can be in a time frame that lets you recover the roof
quickly before rain can damage the decking and contents below
the deck.
Applying
a wooden shingle/shake roof is physically hard work whether the
new shingles go on over the old shingles or you have to strip the
shingles down to the bare decking or sheathing. In skill, the project
is within the range of a do-it-yourselfer. In this article we detail
and illustrate the basics of installing new shingles/shakes over
old ones.
MATERIALS/SPECIAL
TOOLS:
At one time, cedar shingles or shakes were widely used for roofing
because of their inexpensive cost. Today, these shingles are almost
exclusively made of western red cedar and cost more than asphalt
shingles. They are also more difficult to apply than asphalt shingles
and they don't have much resistance to fire. This may be a consideration.
The
overwhelming benefit offered by wood roofing is appearance. Another
is a superior R-factor (thermal resistance). 1/2-inch thick cedar
shingles have an R-factor twice that of a typical asphalt shingle:
.94 as compared to .44 for asphalt shingles. Heavy, hand-split shakes
with a 1-inch average butt thickness have an R-factor of 1.69. This
compares well with an R-factor of .05 for 1/2-inch slate. F2 ]
Shingles
are cut by machine. Shakes are split by hand on at least one face,
and have a rough, rustic look that cannot be duplicated by machine.
Both
wood shingles and shakes come packaged the same as for asphalt shingles.
Each square is designed for ordinary application of 100 square feet.
There are four bundles in each square. Wood shingles come in several
different sizes, with varying exposures. Each bundle covers 25 square
feet.
If
you can afford wood shingles, which cost about twice as much as
the heaviest asphalt shingles, buy the top grade: #1 Blue Label.
These are 100 percent clear edge-grain heartwood.
Although
we present the basic tools and materials in the checklist on the
Booldet cover, this equipment may be needed for the project:
Nail
holder-
Some do-it-yourselfers like to keep nails in pockets or a container,
but a nail apron worn about the waist is best for a shingle re-do.
Nail
stripper-
This tool can save you time. It is not for removing nails but for
lining up wood roofing nails ready for use. The nails are loaded
into the stripper, with the nail head up, so that you can grab a
few at a time as you need diem and without flipping them over. Wit
a nail stripper, you can put down four or five shingles or shakes
at one time. It is worn on the chest with a harness and costs about
$20.
Shingler's
hatchet-
Although you can get by with a hammer and a saw or chisel, a shingler's
hatchet is recommended for wood roofing. Also called a lather's
hatchet, it is often used by the pros for asphalt shingling. You
can hammer nails with it as well as trimming wood shingles or shakes.
If you buy this tool, make sure it has a sliding gauge for fast,
accurate checking of exposure. The gauge is on the blade of the
hatchet and is adjustable. A good hatchet has a cross-hatched, non-skid
head at the blunt end, with a sharp blade and heel at the other.
Nail strips of lumber along the gable edges and the eaves to replace
the shingles, trimming at perimeter of the roof. Replace bad fascia.
At the edges, remove the old shingles and then replace them with
a strip of bevel siding, orienting the thin edge downward. Place
additional strips of lumber inside each valley in order to divide
the old metal from the new valley materia.
Safety
harness-
You can buy this at boat supply stores. The harness straps around
your body and has a built-in hook that may be attached to any solid
spot on the roof or attach it to a nylon rope safety line.
Rubber-soled
shoes-
Don't buy shoes with spikes. The soft rubber soles are good enough
to prevent slipping on the roof
CAUTION:
If the roof has a steep pitch to it and you do not feel totally
comfortable on the roof's surface, please do not climb onto the
roof. Call in a professional roofer.
Can
you shingle over a slate roof?
