How to Replace a Tar & Gravel Roof With Composite

Removing Tar & Gravel

• 1

  Put on work boots and work gloves.

• 2

  Set up a ladder for easy access to the tar and gravel roof.

• 3

  Bring a circular saw to the roof, using the ladder for access.

• 4

  Cut a shallow slit in the surface of the tar and gravel roof using the circular saw. Place a tear-off shovel into the slit. Pry the shovel up to open the slit wide.

• 5

  Visually inspect the opening to determine whether the slit cut with the saw goes all the way through the tar-and-gravel layer. If not, make the cut deep enough to penetrate the top layer of roofing. If so, place the tear-off shovel into the opening and wedge it beneath the tar and gravel. Scrape the shovel away from you to begin tearing the roofing off.

• 6

  Continue scraping the tear-off shovel across the roof until you remove all tar and gravel from the roof surface.

• 7

  Remove the underlayment below the tar and gravel with your hands by pulling it up. The underlayment for tar and gravel usually consists of a type of roofing paper, such as felt paper.

• 8

  Locate any flashing, or metal roof strips, not removed by the tear-off shovel. Work a pry bar beneath the seam of flashing and rip the flashing off the roof.

• 9

  Sweep the roof to remove all debris before proceeding to composite installation – the roof must be clean for successful installation of new roofing.

Installing Composite Roofing

• 10

  Obtain an installation manual from the manufacturer of your composite roofing shingles by contacting the manufacturer of the material. The way in which composite shingles install depends completely upon the brand – a composite tile can range in composition from rubber to wood to stone.

• 11

  Carry underlayment to the roof using the ladder. Underlayment consists of a membrane that provides a backing material for a roof's surface. With shingles, such as those used in composite roofing, underlayment usually consists of a type of roofing paper. Use underlayment recommended by the manufacturer of the composite roofing.

• 12

  Attach the underlayment to the roof sheathing using a roofing nailer and roofing nails. Follow manufacturer's instructions for nail spacing, which usually requires a nail every 6 to 12 inches in vertical rows for optimal underlayment performance.

• 13

  Bring the first row of composite shingles to the roof using a ladder. Shingles install starting at the bottom of a roof and working up.

• 14

  Line up the first composite roof shingle with one of the bottom corners of the roof. Affix the shingle to the roof using a roofing nailer and nails recommended by the manufacturer of the shingles. Base the placement of nails on instructions provided by the installation manual.

• 15

  Install the second composite roof shingle by lining it up with the first one and affixing it to the roof in the same manner. Continue this process until you finish the first horizontal row of shingles.

• 16

  Bring the second row of shingles to the roof. Install the first shingle of the second row by laying it partially over the first shingle in the first row -- the manufacturer's instructions should tell you how many inches to lay the second row of shingles over the first. In most cases you'll stagger the second row buy using a half shingle as the first shingle in the row. Composite shingles usually contain two distinct sections, a bottom section that is exposed to the air and a top section through which you drive nails to attach the shingle to the roof.

• 17

  Continue installing shingles in the manner prescribed by the composite roofing manufacturer in the installation manual until shingles cover your entire roof.

• 18

  Apply a weatherproof caulk or sealant recommended by the composite roofing manufacturer in the seams between shingles.

• 19

  Apply roofing adhesive to the apex of the roof.

• 20

  Apply a long strip of flashing to the apex of the roof to cover the exposed top section and juncture of the top rows of tiles from different sides of the roof. Place the flashing on top of the roofing adhesive as recommended by the manufacturer of the flashing. Install any required nails using a roofing nailer.