How to Build a Roof

HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING

In this video, Mat Woodyatt, Training Manager at Redland Roofing demonstrates how to put together a full metric roofing system.

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[nialloconnor]

This, is exactly what youtube should be for. Pure easily accessible information!!

[julietobasuyi]

I love this video. The basic structure is vital as this does not only bring the beauty of the roof out upon completion but prevents condensation and leakages in the long term. Thanks for this 👍🏾

[ardiusfidelis]

Great video. Very clear and detailed. I can probably do my own roof now.

[DaddyBear]

As someone who knows a fair crack about roofing, this is a belting video lads! Nice work 👏🏼

[PranishBhaskaran]

Thank you for such a brilliant explanation. This 30 mins video gave me good insights into roofing techniques. Though I never did or looked closely at the structure, now I got a good understanding of the overall process, thanks to you!

[thebricklayer]

This video was very detailed and very accurate. As a bricklayer, understanding the construction of the roof was very informative and helpful. Great video.

[martaoneill]

Wow! I have enjoyed the entire video. You have explained it really well. This must be the best roofing video! Thank you. Marta Jersey UK

[choppy]

I was a roofer all my adult life nearly and we hated these plastic dry verge systems . They really are crap and difficult to work with unless you have the absolute perfect conditions to start out with, like he does here, where the roof is pre made as an example to exactly illustrate the system and every measurement is already planned, neatly and precisely as in this show room . In reality though most roofs are NOTHING like this . For a start you may have to have a cut tile on the right hand verge as the tiles do not fit exactly across the roof . With cut tiles it is very difficult to get them to sit straight under the dry verge as they were not designed very well to accommodate this . There is a certain amount of tolerance in the dry verge unit but often it is not enough for a nice snug fit as in this example . Also many, many roofs you work on are not entirely square, that is they may be an inch or so wider at the top than at the bottom . I have known some roofs to be even two or more inches out . Obviously this is not meant to be but it happens and rather than go to the expense and considerable time and effort needed to re build it, they expect the Tiler to get around it, which we do . However this again can cause problems when reaching the left hand verge unit because it can be touch and go whether the tiles will all sit correctly as they are supposed to do in principle . Another factor is that quite often in practice you actually have the rafters ( or trusses as most roofers call them ) at slightly different heights near the verge . This will give a slight bowing effect to the Batten’s and tiles so that the last tiles under the d/v unit will sit uncomfortably . Again the rafters shouldn’t be out at all but sometimes they are, and the builders will ALWAYS expect the Roofers to get around this . So I am afraid that unless you have a perfectly pre prepared ideal roof shape ( in reality most times you don’t ) then these plastic dry verge units really are CRAP . Even on an ideal roof you find that they discolour terribly after a few years and being plastic of course they warp and bend in time with blazing hot sun on them and then freezing ice throughout the year . They usually end up looking GHASTLY after a couple of years . No Rooftiler on the planet would put these things on his own house that he was building . Not unless he didn’t give a damn about how it looked . Much better than this system is the traditional wet cement verge which looks a thousand times better and can if done properly last even longer . If you really want to have a dry verge system then the old Redland Cloak dry verge is much better . I don’t know if they still make them as I have retired now, but the Cloak dry verge has a normal cement tile on the verge which cloaks over the side, is heavier than the normal tile and so sits quite neatly and securely once fixed . These don’t look bad at all . But really these plastic dry verge units shown here are cheap and nasty and cause problems after a few years . Generally they end up looking awful even if they are fitted correctly . Another problem is strong high winds and gales which buffet them around and shift them off axis no matter how securely they are fixed . Take a tip from an old roofer, if you are thinking of having your roof done then stay away from this plastic dry verge system . They are cheap and nasty and end up looking like an eye sore . You will be much better off with a nice traditional cement verge . They can have their problems too with extreme gales etc but they are easily repaired and made good if need be and will last decades usually . Many of the cement verges I did over 40 years ago are still looking just as good and sound as they did the day they were built . Natural cement tiles and verges age well and add character and value to the building I have always found whereas if you take a look at some of these plastic units after even ten years you will be shocked as to how ghastly they look . All tatty and wonky, discoloured and uneven . A complete eyesore.

[tylerguitar]

Brilliant tutorial, very well explained and useful to know. Thanks :)

[andycooper]

Awesome video giving a very concise explanation of how a pitched roof is constructed.
Well done Matt and Redland

[mitchellhouston]

Thanks you’ve just saved me 4 years of apprenticeship 🙌

[ewankolangful]

Easy to understand detailed information. Thank you.

[RavenAung]

Best video ever for installing clay tile roof. 👍👍

[jablot]

Great video. Maybe you could teach those who do new builds!

[bgnikstov]

Easy Accessed and Perfectly Explained, Thank you for this video!

[takudzwachifamba]

In South Africa we use what we call a Counter batten which is 38x50mm timber which is the last batten from the eves to give that last batten the same sloping plane as the rest of the battens, our normal size for the rest of the roof is a 38x38mm size timber.

This video was very informative 🙏

[nedzadridjic]

Brilliant product and good video demonstration. 👍👍

[nachvidal]

Great video, very informative!
So much so, that I am now a qualified roofer!

[peterdelacruzramlall]

Hi my name is Peter De la Cruz Ramlall I am from Guyana I have watch and listened to this project you have shown from start to finish and I have enjoyed it I have never done a roof like that before but if I have to do it with a por the other roof I could do it myself

[victorluna]

I am trying to learn some constructive procedures that aren´t so common in my country, and this video helped me so much to understand how to build a pitch roof!!! thanks so much and I will watch your other videos!!!