How to Fasten a Rubber Roof

Roll out the tar paper across the roof by the eave. Cut the tar paper down so it hangs roughly 1 inch off the ends of the roof. Peel the backing from the paper and press down on the tar paper to secure it to the roof or staple the paper every 6 inches around the perimeter about an inch in from the edges.

Continue applying tar paper upward across the roof in rows. Place each row of tar paper so that it overlaps the roof below by at least 4 inches. Once you move up both sides of the roof, center a piece of tar paper over the peak and press it into place.

Center V-shaped flashing in the valleys and corners of the roof and nail the flashing into place with a metal nail every 6 inches. Secure straight flashing to the eave and edges of the roof so it hangs off the roof by 2 inches. Apply roofing cement to all of the nail heads for additional waterproofing.

Apply rubber adhesive to one side of the roof along the eave with a paint roller. Apply adhesive to the back of a rubber tile with the paint roller as well. Press the rubber tile down on the roof, spreading your hands across the surface to force out any air bubbles.

Move across the roof, installing rubber tiles in a straight line across the eave. Once you lay the first row, lay a second row just above the first so that the bottom 6 inches of the second row of rubber tiles overlaps the top of the first row. Cut the first tile of the second row in half before laying it, and then lay the next tiles directly beside it to ensure the seams are staggered between rows.

Continue up the roof until you reach the top and then go to the other side and lay tiles from the eave to the peak. Once you have both sides tiled, install a rubber ridge cap to the roof peak with adhesive.