It would seem that it could be easier than dismantling the old roof? It has long been known that breaking is not building. Perhaps that is why in many sources you can find information on how to close the roof, what materials to choose, how to better equip it, but there are practically no articles on how to properly disassemble the roof of the house.
When dismantling is needed
The process of removing the roof cover that has become unusable, as well as replacing the frame, is quite complicated and it is carried out in the following cases:
- Overhaul of the roof. There is nothing eternal, and no matter how high-quality the roof is, in time everything becomes worthless.
- Demolition of a building. It is not always possible to use heavy equipment. Sometimes you have to sort the roof manually. This work is rather traumatic and requires appropriate skills - this explains the high cost of dismantling.
Depending on the goals, two methods of dismantling the roof are used:
- Full. In this case, alternately, usually using equipment (cranes), the roof covering is removed, then the roof and floors are removed. This method is most often used when dismantling concrete structures.
- Selective. With this method, part of the old roof frame is preserved, and replacement is made through window openings. In this case, all work is carried out manually, the equipment is used only as a vehicle (lifts).
The roof can be flat and pitched, and depending on this, the method of dismantling is selected.
Flat roof dismantling
Most often, a flat roof has a soft roll coating. To repair such a roof is quite difficult due to the fact that under the influence of sunlight in the summer and frost in the winter, it is seized by a monolith, which is almost impossible to separate from the base of the roof.
There are several options for how to disassemble such a roof:
- Using a shtroborez - a special tool with which you can cut the old coating into tapes to make it easier to remove. This method of dismantling the soft roof is used in cases where the coating thickness does not exceed three centimeters.
- Using a roofing ax (with an extended handle). It is used in cases where it is necessary to remove a thick layer of the old coating, or if it is not possible to use more complex and expensive mechanisms and devices.
This method of dismantling is possible only in dry, warm weather, since at temperatures above 20 degrees the bitumen that is part of such coatings begins to melt. It is clear that such work is carried out only by hand and require a lot of time and effort.
If there is such an opportunity, and we are talking about the overhaul of the roof, then they try to lay a new coating on top of the old one, which allows to slightly reduce the cost of dismantling. In cases where this is still impossible, observe the following rules for dismantling a flat roof:
- When cutting strips and their subsequent removal, it is necessary to move from the center of the roof to the edge. Strips should also be removed standing facing the edge of the roof.
- If possible, use safety belts or install temporary fences along the perimeter of the roof.
- If the roll cover is laid on a wooden formwork and secured with the help of linings from wooden battens, it is first necessary to free the entire roof area from these battens and only then roll up the roll coat.
- At the end of dismantling, a layer of waterproofing and insulation should be restored, which is usually violated during the disassembly process.
Dismantling a pitched roof
Buildings with such a roof option usually have a fairly good service life, and dismantling is required only for a partial replacement of roofing materials or in the case of an extension of the additional floor or expansion of the building.
The dismantling of the roof with a slope is carried out in the following order:
- Outdoor equipment is removed - antenna, chimney, etc.
- Additional elements are removed - skates, planks, cornices, etc.
- The old roofing material is removed (work is carried out from the ridge).
- The layer of hydro and thermal insulation is removed.
- The rafters and support bars are dismantled.
When dismantling the roof frame, make sure that the remains of the old roof do not stick out of the walls anywhere. Disassemble such a roof in series, layer by layer, to prevent the collapse of part of the frame. It is also worth fencing the building so as not to injure casual passers-by from the debris falling from the roof.
Dismantling a steel roof
When dismantling such roofs, the coating is first removed near the protruding structures - pipes, fire barriers; then near the dormers and manholes. After that, the ordinary covering, valley, external overhangs, etc. are alternately removed.
Steel is removed using a roofing hammer and a chisel, in some cases, previously the sheets are cut with roofing scissors. In cases where the dimensions of the sheets are small, they are picked up with a hammer-screwdriver or crowbar and turned over to adjacent ones. Then they go down in separate sheets.
If there is a parapet grate on the roof, then the roof is dismantled to the place of its installation, and after the grate is disassembled, the remains of the roofing material and the hinged elements are removed from the attic floor.
Dismantling rafters
First, all bolts, nails and twists are removed, after which the cuttings are disassembled. Dismantle the rafters in such a way as not to cause the collapse of the remaining part of the structure. For this, the free-lying element is successively removed, slinged and lowered.
The parsing order is as follows:
- struts;
- rafter legs;
- upper support bar;
- racks;
- lower support bar;
- Mauerlat.
Conclusion
They usually try to hire unskilled labor to carry out such works, but due to the high risk of injury and the need to work at high altitudes, it is still better not to save on the dismantling of the roof and hire professionals.