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Do-It-Yourself Roofing Tips
Roofing is a job better left to the professionals, primarily due to the inherent dangers and problems associated with potential falls, sun and damage resulting from an incorrect installation. However, if you are determined to install your own shingled roof, here are a few simple tools that can help make that experience a little less stressful, a little more productive and absolutely correct... When installing a shingled roof, the manufacturer will have some basic directions on the shingle packaging, urging the use of the shingle bottoms to install a roof. Today, few roofers utilize this process. Most will snap lines to locate where the shingle tops should be aligned and then place the shingles along those lines for nailing. To remove any human error from that measuring process, Roofing Layout Tapes by THOR Systems, Inc. of Larksville, PA, USA are recommended. |
Simply fold the tape at the "Eave Start Here" mark, forming a clip just like that on a tape measure, which is then
placed on the drip edge at one side of the roof line. The tape, which is a disposable unit, is then nailed or
stapled permanently to the roof, from eave to peak. This process is then repeated on the other side of the roof,
thus providing all of the required markings for the tops of the shingles with computer accuracy. These tapes
also provide a built-in, 3/8" shingle overhang of the drip edge, without any manual measurements.
Remember, pull tight, but snap light for chalking without walking, yielding 8-12 lines per load. |
However, since the Double Chalker line holds so much chalk, chalk over-spray is experienced when using this
tool, so we further recommend the use of Magichalk, a yellow, non-staining chalk powder specifically formulated
to reduce the risks of stains and blemishes in the workplace, caused by the use of chalk powders. THOR Roofing Tools
have received rave reviews in "Journal of Light Construction" magazine,
July 2000, page 74, "Fine Homebuilding" magazine, May 2000, page 128, "Today's
Homeowner", April 2000, page 25 and "NW Builder" magazine, March 2000, page 51, for additional reference.
Once the lines have been snapped across the roof from eave to peak, the actual installation of a perfect roof has
been formatted and ready for execution. Remember, every other course of shingles must be offset by six inches to
provide the overlap needed to eliminate leakage, which is also laid out by the THOR Tapes, too.
If plumbing vents or chimneys or other roofing obstacles are encountered where the lines can not be struck between the two original tapes, simply place a piece of leftover tape on each side of that obstruction, aligning the tape’s markings to the last line struck, to be able to easily and perfectly navigate around that obstruction, whether it is a dormer, skylight, chimney, plumbing pipe or anything else that blocks the snapping of lines between the two tapes. |
 Simple, fast and accurate shingled roofing installations are
now made possible with these new roofing tools.
This garage roof took two men two hours to install the felt and shingles! For further information about these and other new roofing and hand tools, visit THOR Systems, Inc. "The Helper Of Roofers" at www.thortools.com. |
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Ron Hungarter |
This tool offers several advantages, including a
woven, 100% polyester line, which will yield 8-12 lines per chalk load; a large chalk capacity of over 16 ounces;
and two independent dispensers that eliminate the dangerous and time consuming activity of walking back and forth
across the roof just to put fresh chalk on the line.
