Tips for Replacing Roof Shingles for Newbie and Inexperienced Roofers
Coming straight from college with no prior experience to start a roof contracting business can be overwhelming to most newbie roofers. The feeling is made worse when the first client you get wants you to replace their roof shingles. While mistakes for newbie roofers are part of the much-needed experience, avoiding most of these errors when replacing shingles is critical.
One of the reasons is that the best shingles are made from expensive materials such as asphalt, and as such, you do not want to cause any damages. With this in mind, you must do your best to make your first shingle job a success so that your new client can refer other customers to your business. The following are tips you can employ when replacing roof shingles
Avoid Extreme Temperatures -- On of the greatest mistakes you can make when replacing shingles is doing so in extreme weather conditions. If it is too hot, the adhesive you are using to bind the shingles will dry out too fast; hence, not giving you sufficient time to prepare the materials. On the other hand, replacing the shingles in cold weather will make the material too brittle and easy to break.
If your first client seeks services during extreme weather conditions, you need to be honest and explain why they should wait for the right conditions. Refuse the urge to jump into your first job when conditions are not right because most clients will prefer to wait than have a roof that would get damaged after a short while.
Use Chalk Line -- Other than the protective functions of roof shingles, they have the capability of adding aesthetic value to your house. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the shingles are as flush as possible. One trick is to use a chalk-line as a guide when laying the shingles. It might come as a surprise to you, but seasoned roofers do not need a guide when installing roof shingles. Due to experience, the roofers are capable of carefully placing shingles in their exact right position. However, as a newbie, a chalk line will prevent crooked installation.
Rack the Shingles -- Choosing the right method to lay your client's shingles will dictate how fast you finish the project. Since you want to complete the job within the agreed period, it is critical for you to stagger or rack the shingles. Staggering shingles allows you to arrange them in a straight line thereby making the spotting of an out-of-place shingle easy. As a result, you will finish your job much faster and cleaner.