How to Lay Steel Roofing

Preparation

• 1

  Unroll the builder's felt about 5 feet; have a helper hold the roll of felt at the bottom of the roof at a gable end while you do this. Staple the felt to the roof decking with 4 or 5 staples in a vertical row. Finish the first row with this method. Return to the gable end and cut the felt from the roll with a utility knife. Staple the felt to the end of the sheathing.

• 2

  Overlap the first row by 2 inches as you unroll the next roll. Continue to unroll the felt and fasten with staples. Work your way up in rows until the felt covers the roof.

• 3

  Place an 8 foot long 1-by-4 board horizontally at one corner of the eave. Nail it to the sheathing with 8d nails spaced about 2 feet apart. Set the next board flush with the first one and nail in place. Finish the row the same way. Cut the end board to length with a circular saw and nail it in position.

• 4

  Start the next row of 1-by-4 furring 24 inches above the first row. Construct it as you did the first one. Cut the first board of the second row to a length of 4 feet so the joints do not align. Finish the installation using this method, staggering each row.

• 5

  Set a piece of flashing, the metal strips that help prevent leaks, on the end corner of the roof. Ensure that it fits over the builder's felt. Nail the flashing to the sheathing with roofing nails spaced about 1 inch apart. Place the second piece of flashing along the eave so it overlaps the first. Nail it in place. Finish installing the eave flashing. Cut the last section to length before installing.

Panels

• 6

  Set a steel panel at one corner along the eaves. Set the panel so it overhangs the roof by about 3/4 inch. Drive self-tapping screws through the panel and into the furring strips. Place two screws between each of the ridges of the panel.

• 7

  Position the next panel against the first one. Ensure that one ridge of the corrugated panel overlaps a ridge of the first panel. Drive a row of self-tapping screws vertically up the ridges, spacing them about 12 inches apart.

• 8

  Fasten the second panel to the roof as you did the first. Continue adding panels along the eave. Cut the end panel of the first row to length with a pair of metal snips. Apply the panel to the roof as you did the others.

• 9

  Set the starter panel for the second row on the roof. Ensure that it overlaps the panel on the first row by 12 inches. Install it with screws as you did with the other panels. Place another panel so that it overlaps the second row starter panel by a ridge. Connect with screws at the ridge. Complete the panel installation.

• 10

  Set the gable end flashing over the edge of the end panel on one side. Apply butyl tape sealant to the underside of the flashing. Screw the flashing to the roof with self tapping screws placed in a vertical row.

• 11

  Apply sealant to the second piece of gable flashing and let it overlap the first. Screw it to the roof. Continue installing panels up the gable edge. Cut the last panel to length and install.

Ridge

• 12

  Finish the other roof slope as you did the first.

• 13

  Set a generous amount of caulk on the underside of a ridge cap. Place the cap on the roof at one end. Ensure that it overlaps the vertical panels. Drill roofing screws into the bottom of the cap. Space the screws about 1 foot apart.

• 14

  Caulk the second cap and set it so that it overlaps the first cap. Screw in place. Finish installing the ridge caps. Cut the last cap to length with a pair of snips.