How to Install Rolled Roofing on a Flat Roof

Rolled roofing is an inexpensive roof cover material that is relatively easy to install. Its relative inexpensiveness is due to its short lifespan, ranging from 5 to 10 years on average. However, it does offer sufficient roof protection, keeping the weather elements from degrading the roof structure. The biggest advantage is rolled roofing can be installed by any ambitious homeowner, even on a flat roof. With a few common roofing tools, you can cover your flat roof with rolled roofing.

Electric burner
Tar
Ladder
Mop
Rolled roofing
Roofing nails
Hammer
Utility knife

Instructions

- 1
  Plug in an electric burner into an electrical outlet in a garage or outside. Set the burner to a low to medium setting and place a metal bucket filled with tar on top of the burner to heat the tar so it is spreadable.
- 2
  Place a ladder against the home's exterior to gain access to the flat roof. Bring the warmed tar and a mop along with roofing nails, a hammer and rolled roofing up to the roof.
- 3
  Start spreading tar with a mop beginning in the middle of the roof going from one side of the roof to the other down the middle of the roof.
- 4
  Lay out rolled roofing over the warm, spread tar on the middle of the roof. Fasten the rolled roofing to the roof with a hammer and roofing nails, spacing the nails every few inches.
- 5
  Spread more tar with the mop on one side of the rolled roofing, then lay another row of rolled roofing over the tar, overlapping the rolled roofing already installed on the roof by 3 to 4 inches. Nail the second roll to the roof thereafter.
- 6
  Continue to spread tar and lay out rolled roofing, overlapping the already installed rows. Once the flat roof is covered, spread tar over the overlapping seams and let dry to finish.

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