Roofing is a fundamental part of modern-day building practice as we know it. Helping to protect the property from the cold and harsh British weather, a roof helps to create a watertight seal on the property which keeps all internal aspects of the property dry.
Something that may come as a surprise to you is that the process of installing a roof on domestic and commercial properties remains fairly similar. Commercial projects often utilise different materials on a larger scale but the basic theory behind installing a roof on these two types of property remains the same.
In this article, we aim to take you through everything you need to know about installing a roof. The goal of this article is to help you better understand how it’s done and why it should be left to a professional at all times.
Installing The Ventilation System
When installing any roof, airflow is essential. To install tack into the wooden rafter and work your way along the roof. Make sure that the shape is kept and that there is room for the air to flow without pulling the draping too tight. This ventilation will help to prevent dampness from occurring in the roofing and may also prevent mould from forming in the insulation.
Adding The Supporting Trays
Now it’s time to add the supporting trays to the rafters. Simply position the first tray flush to the edge of the bargeboard and line the lugs up over the fascia board. Now it’s a case of securing the different fixings in place and interlocking the trays across the roof. Don’t be afraid to trim the trays if needed to meet your project’s width requirements.
Applying The Roof Underlay
Now the ventilation and support trays have been supported into place you can proceed with the roof underlay. To do this, unroll the underlay material and spread it evenly over the roof rafters. Pull tight to prevent it from dropping into the gaps in between the rafters and secure in place. This underlay helps to prevent any water from reaching and damaging the rafters.
Installing The Roof Battens
Often made out of timber, battens are now fixed to the roof using a simple hammer and nail technique. Line up the top of the batten correctly and proceed to add the battens one by one as you work your way down the roof. The battens are essential for fixing the tiles or other roofing material at a later point so make sure these are secured properly throughout.
Laying The Roofing Material
The roofing material throughout most domestic projects tends to be tiled. They are very affordable and thanks to their highly durable design, they tend to last a long time. To attach the tiles Lay the first course of tiles in their entirety across the roof. Make sure you have a minimum of one fixing (nail or clip) per tile and two fixings per tile.
Installing The Roof Ridges
Now it’s just a case of finishing up the roof to give it that sleek design that adds to the overall aesthetics of the property. To do this lay the breathable ridge membrane in a straight line across the ridge batten, fixing under the verge system and one end of the roof, before rolling out. Once secured along the ridge, it’s time to screw the ridge tiles to the ridge batten.
Summary of How Roofing Is Done
Now we have a finished roof! This process can be changed to better suit the needs of your project but this is the very basic knowledge behind how most roofs in the UK are installed. If this sounds to be beyond your level of DIY expertise you can leave it to a local roofing company to take care of.
Need to enquire about roofing repairs, roofing contracts or roofing supplies? Located in Melksham, we offer our services throughout Wiltshire and the whole of South West England. So if you were looking for reliable roofers in Bath or roofing contractors in Bristol, get in touch now.