Roofing How-To Library

177 step by step guides to every part of a roof: how it goes on, how it is flashed, how it fails and how to fix it. Shingles, metal, torch-on, EPDM, TPO, flashing, valleys, chimneys, skylights, ventilation, the tools and the safety setup, written for Fraser Valley weather.

Browse by Category

Asphalt Shingles

Measuring, ordering, starter, courses, nailing, hips, ridges and every weather and pitch variation.

All 18 Asphalt Shingles guides

Metal Roofing

Panel types, ProLock snap-lock, standing seam, exposed fastener, trims, flashings and snow guards.

All 18 Metal Roofing guides

Torch-On Roofing

Two-ply SBS modified bitumen: base sheets, cap sheets, laps, flashings, fire safety and repairs.

All 9 Torch-On Roofing guides

EPDM Rubber Roofing

Single-ply rubber roofing: fully adhered installs, seams, corners, pipes, edges and repairs.

All 8 EPDM Rubber Roofing guides

TPO and PVC Roofing

Heat-welded single-ply membranes: fastening, adhering, welding seams, flashing details and repairs.

All 8 TPO and PVC Roofing guides

Flat Roof Details

Choosing a membrane, planning drainage, tapered insulation, drains, scuppers, coping, curbs and leak finding.

All 8 Flat Roof Details guides

Flashing Details

Step, counter, kickout, headwall, pipe boots and every other place a roof meets something.

All 16 Flashing Details guides

Roof Valleys

Open, closed-cut and woven valleys: prep, install, unequal pitches, dead valleys and leak repair.

All 8 Roof Valleys guides

Chimneys

Chimney flashing, crickets, back pans, counter flashing, crowns, leaks and chimney removal.

All 10 Chimneys guides

Skylights

Choosing, framing, flashing, replacing and fixing skylights, from deck-mount to sun tunnels.

All 9 Skylights guides

Ventilation and Attics

Attic airflow, ridge and box vents, baffles, bath fans, mold and ventilating low-slope roofs.

All 10 Ventilation and Attics guides

Tear-Off, Decking and Underlayment

Planning a tear-off, checking and replacing the deck, then ice and water shield, felt and synthetic.

All 10 Tear-Off, Decking and Underlayment guides

Roof Edges, Fascia and Soffit

Drip edge, gutter apron, fascia, soffit and rake boards: the trim that protects the roof edge.

All 6 Roof Edges, Fascia and Soffit guides

Roofing Tools

How to set up, use and maintain nail guns, torches, welders, seamers, snips, brakes and every other roofing tool.

All 17 Roofing Tools guides

Roof Safety Setup

Anchors, harnesses, lifelines, ladders, power lines and how to walk a roof without falling off it.

All 6 Roof Safety Setup guides

Roof Repair

Leaks, lifted shingles, moss, ice dams and storm damage: what to check and what is safe to fix.

All 10 Roof Repair guides

Specialty Roofing

Cedar shakes, sheds, roll roofing, polycarbonate patio covers and synthetic slate and shake.

All 6 Specialty Roofing guides

Start Here: The Big Picture Guides

About the How-To Library

What does the Fraser Roofing How-To Library cover?

Every part of a roof and the tools used to build one: asphalt shingles, metal and standing seam, torch-on, EPDM, TPO and PVC flat roofs, flashing details, valleys, chimneys, skylights, ventilation, tear-off and decking, fascia and soffit, repairs, specialty roofs, roofing tools and roof safety setup. Each guide gives the steps, the tools, the materials and the mistakes to avoid.

Are these guides written for homeowners or for roofers?

Both. Homeowners can use them to understand what a proper job looks like before they hire anyone, and to handle small repairs safely. Apprentices and handy owners get the full sequence a working crew follows. Every guide is marked Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced or Professional so you know what you are taking on.

Do the guides follow the BC Building Code?

They are written for Fraser Valley roofs and point to the BC Building Code and WorkSafeBC rules where they apply. Product installation instructions always come first, because they set the conditions of the manufacturer warranty. When a guide and the instructions printed on the bundle disagree, follow the instructions on the bundle.

When should I stop and call a roofer instead?

Any time the work needs fall protection you do not have, the deck feels soft, the leak source is not obvious, or the fix involves a torch. Each guide ends with a section on when to call a professional. Fraser Roofing does free roof inspections across the Fraser Valley, so asking costs nothing.

Want someone to look at your roof?

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Serving Hope, Agassiz, Chilliwack, Rosedale, Abbotsford & the entire Fraser Valley

$1,000 off applies to full roof replacements of 3,000 sq ft or more. Cannot be combined with other offers or previously placed orders. Not valid on partial jobs, repairs, or insurance claims.