How to Replace Rolled Roofing on a Clapboard House

Set up scaffolding to safely access the roof of the house. Connect the scaffolding poles together so they are firmly socketed to one another and form a stable frame that extends from the ground to the roof. Set up ladders on the scaffolding to allow you to climb it easily and gain access to the roof.

Pull out the clout nails from the rolled roofing using a claw hammer. If any nails are in good condition, put them to one side so they can be re-used. Discard any bent or poor condition nails. Roll up the roofing felt and carry it down off the roof via the scaffolding. Dispose of the old roofing felt in accordance with local building codes and waste disposal regulations.

Check the wood underneath the rolled roof to make sure it is sound. If it is not, this is the time to cut it out and replace it. Roll out a new sheet of roofing felt along the lowest part of the roof so it overlaps the edge of the roof by 2 inches. Cut the roofing felt from the roll using a craft knife or heavy duty scissors.

Bend the ends of the felt around the sides and lower edge of the roof. Nail the ends to the sides of the roof using clout nails. Fold the overlap under the edge of the roof. Nail the overlap to the underside of the roof using clout nails. Nail the top edge of the felt to the roof using clout nails.

Roll out more roofing felt across the roof above the first sheet, with a 1-inch overlap on the first sheet. Nail this sheet to the roof in the same manner as the first, including nailing the overlap to the roof through the first sheet. Continue to roll out roofing felt over the roof with 1-inch overlaps on the felt sheet below the current one until you reach the top of the roof.

Cover the other side of the roof in the same manner as the first side. Cover the sides of the roof in the same manner. Roll out a sheet of roofing felt across the ridge of the roof with a 3-inch overlap on each edge of the felt.

Cut along the middle of the overlap on the sides of the roof using the craft knife or scissors. Fold the cut overlap so it fits to the sides of the roof without leaving a bend or ridge in the felt. Nail the felt to the roof on all sides, using clout nails.