How to Install a Metal Shingles Roof – DIY Guide

If you are the type of homeowner who wants to embark on the installation of a new roof, a metal shingles roofing system will be the easiest to install.

Most metal shingle systems feature a four-way interlocking design, and the panels are usually small enough to be easily installed without using any complicated tools.

Deck Prep:

The first step is the preparation of the roof deck. In a new construction, metal shingle roofing can be installed over any type of solid sheeting such as plywood or wooden planks / boards that do not have spaces in between them.

Alternatively, a metal shingles roof can be installed over the old asphalt shingles, if you do not want to tear it off, provided there is only one layer of existing shingles on the roof.

Installing Underlayment:

The next step in preparing your roof deck is to use a special product called roofing underlayment. It is made out of breathable synthetic material and designed to provide an additional level of protection from condensation, as well as to allow the roof deck to breeze in order to prevent any rotting of the wood.

When installing the underlayment, you will always want to have about half an inch of the membrane over the eaves and gable of the roof deck. First, the membrane gets secured at one side/end of the roof, it is then rolled out horizontally until it reaches another side of the roof where it also gets secured with special nails that have colored (usually bright orange or green) plastic caps.

As you move up the roof deck towards the ridge, each consecutive level/stage of the membrane material should overlap the preceding raw by about six inches.

Installing Metal Flashing and Trim Details

Once the roof deck is prepared, you should install a starter flashing or a drip edge. This is installed against the fascia board. There should be a spacing of half an inch, and your starter/drip edge flashing should be secured / fastened with suitable nails (aluminum nails, if it is aluminum shingles you are installing) with appropriate washer-heads, approximately 12 inches apart.

Please note that if you are installing steel shingles, you will have to use galvanized steel nails to avoid any corrosion due to the use of incompatible metals/alloys.

Gable flashing should now be installed against the gable rake. Spacing is also half an inch for this. The gable flashing must overlap the flashing of the drip edge flashing at the edge.

A wall flashing, the chimney and the rest of the roof should now be prepared. The ridge vent spacing may be pre-cut, leaving approximately two to three feet of uncut ridge surface at either end of the ridge.

Thus, the opposite sides of the roof along the ridge should have approximately two feet of uncut/solid (roof deck) ends. If you plan to install vent pipes, then any appropriate openings can be cut out in the deck to allow for vent pipes and/or any other penetrations.

Installing Metal Shingles

Finally, the installation of metal shingles can proceed.

To ensure that these are installed in a straight fashion, you can make use of horizontal chalk lines as a guide. You should start your metal shingles installation with half a shingle (or in accordance with your metal shingles installation manual, which should be system specific.) starting from the left of the starter flashing or gable.

Experts recommend that you work diagonally and raising each row of shingles gradually. The first row is followed with a full shingle, finishing the initial row. The second row should be started with a full shingle all the way to the end. Once the roof ridge is reached, the ridge vents can be installed. The ridge would then be covered with interlocking ridge caps.

Ventilation:

You will also want to install a proper ridge vent if there are soffit vents available on the roof.

Valley Flashing Details:

Chimney Flashing Details:

End-wall Flashing:

Snowguards:

Passive Vent Flashing with Metal Shingles:

What the Finished Product Looks Like:

Aluminum Shingles:

Steel Shingles:

Quick Overview of Benefits:

There are many benefits to installing a metal roof.

Contrary to a popular, but a somewhat misinformed belief, metal roofs have approximately the same noise level when it rains as most other types of roofs. They are very reliable and long-lasting and can sustain extreme weather for many decades.

Did you know? Some insurance companies will offer reduced home insurance rates to homeowners who would like to insure a home protected by a metal roof.

Many modern styles of metal roofing are rated (and have been proven) to withstand winds of hurricane strength, while many also carry Class A Fire retardancy ratings.

Safety Considerations:

Your personal safety should be your main priority. The ladder should be placed in such a way that it will not to slip away or move under your weight, even if you tried.

Therefore, it should be properly secured at the base, as well as at the roof access point. You should also be familiar with and use a proper fall arrest system that is properly anchored to your roof studs.

If you hire professionals to install your new metal roof, then make sure that they are properly trained and have some solid experience installing the type of system you have chosen, as well as licensed (if your state requires licensing) and properly insured (general liability, plus worker’s compensation insurance) to do so.

Bottom Line:

Whether you choose to go the do-it-yourself route or decide to hire a pro, installing a new metal roof can be a sound and worthwhile investment in your home.