Roofing from the top down.

[Big Builder]

So is it true..............can you roof from the top of the house down???

[Rich]

Absolutely.. takes a little planning is all.

[tooltroll]

Dunno why you'd want to, though. . .

[CThomp]

Do you mean starting at the roofs peak? Sounds like a PITA.

[rabadger]

Wouldn't that take a lot longer?

[tooltroll]

My thoughts exactly. . .

[Pokey]

There are many times working from the top down help. Obviously not on an entire roof, but in situations such as a dormer coming off the main roof. I'd shingle on one side of the dormer until i was above it, then snap a line along the top of the shingles and when i got to the other side work my way back down. Too many times i see a short row of shingles where someone messed up!

[Cole]

You can and takes time to learn how to do it correctly.

[Big Builder]

Pokey hit it right.

If you have a large dormer intersecting the main roof it is sometimes tough
to have the rows line up perfectly. Has anyone done it?

It seems to me when we shingle a very steep roof with roof jacks it would be easier to shingle down

Whats the trick?

My Dad ( Newfie) said they do it that way on the "Rock"

[joostmee]

Top down has been a great way for me to roof steep slopes in the past. This allows you to work down the roof and take off the 2x4's you are standing on as you go down. Just be sure and wear a harness.


I can't imagine this being fast or easy on a low slope roof though.

[grumpydasmurf]

I've seen this discussed before and infact it was even in an article in professional roofing mag I think a few years back. You can do it with good planning, but I can't see how it's going to be faster in any way. However on a very steep roof with very long rafters, I can see how it'll be safer and prevent scuffing for sure.

You're not actually starting on the last course and working down. What you are doing is measuring up from the bottom, then braking the roof into sections maybe 5 courses per section. You'd start at the top section first, but do the bottom course of the top section. You'd have to high nail though on the very bottom courses of each section, because when you install the shingles beneath they'll need to slide in a bit and nailing in the nail line will restrict that. Then you'll need to go back and re-nail those bottom courses.

I am goign to go outside and snap a pic of my neighbor's house which was nailed from the top down, and nailed improperly. You'll see what I mean about the high nails.