How To Mount Pole On Roof

Before you ever decide to mount something on your roof, you should get to know what type of shingles make up the roof. This will help you determine the type of screws or bolts to use to secure anything that is needing to be mounted on a roof. How to mount a pole on the roof? This requires a specific set of instructions. For your safety, hire a professional contractor.

Let’s take a look below at what this means.

What Is A Roof Pole

A typical roof pole is meant to support a satellite dish or an antenna mount. Roof poles are galvanized steel and they can come in all types of styles, diameters, and lengths. Typical roof poles are mounted on a flat roof. They should not have any obstructions in the area where the roof pole was installed.

How Do I Mount The Pole On My Roof

Mounting a pole on your roof requires a step-by-step process and a roof mount. If you do not follow these steps, you are likely going to do more damage to the roof. Hiring a professional with experience in mounting poles on a roof is a great idea. Let’s take a look below at the steps required to mount a pole on your roof.

1. Measure the width of your home – measure from corner to corner of the roof and include overhangs and porches. You will want to measure the roof’s widest point to determine where to install the pole and bracket.
2. Mark the roof – use chalk line, level, laser level, spirit level, or plumb line to snap a few lines on the roof. This will help you remember the location of installing the mounting brackets.
3. Mark the front of the bracket – marking your bracket on the roof with a sharpie, marker, or chalk will allow you to remember where to drill your holes for the screws and bolts.
4. Drill holes in the bracket – drill an initial hole through the bracket. Use a drill bit that is slightly larger than the screw that you are using. Consider pre-drilling holes in your roof while you are drilling holes in the bracket, to save time.
5. Place lag bolts – make sure that you have the correct size lag bolts for mounting your bracket to the roof. Use a drill bit that is larger than the lag bolt. This will ensure that you install the lag bolts securely without having any wiggle room between the bracket and the roof. A wrench and screwdriver are needed to secure the bolts and the bracket to the roof.
6. Attach the pole mast – now that you have pre-drilled your holes for the pole and mounting bracket. You should easily secure the pole to the bracket using your lag bolts. Hole the pole upright so that it can slide right into place. Aligning the holes on the pole with the holes on the bracket is key. Now you can slide the lag bolts into the bracket and the pole and secure the bolts. Ensure that there is no more than a 1/4″ difference of space around the entire bracket/pole setup. This ensures a balanced and level pole.
7. Caulk gaps – take your caulk and caulk gun and seal any gaps around the bracket and lag bolts between the roof and the bracket. You will want to be sure that all holes are sealed up and the lag bolts are locked in place. Keeping the bracket sealed is vital to protect the interior of your roof.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you understand how to mount a pole on a roof, you can begin looking at other areas on or around your roof. Check the gutters and make sure that all hangers are properly spaced. Getting up on the roof can be scary for some homeowners, so if you do make it up there, you might as well inspect everything.

Next, you should get to know what your roof is made of. Before drilling holes to mount a pole, you might want to know what your roof shingles are made of. This can help when it comes time to seal around the bracket and screw openings. Knowing what materials are used will help you ensure that the bracket and roof are sealed tight.

Lastly, while you are up on the roof, feel free to inspect it. This will give you an early indication of what your local home inspector might find. Bring a roof inspection checklist with you so that you do not forget what to look for.

When Do I Call A Professional

Mounting a pole on a roof is not an easy thing to do. Most homeowners do not have the tools or the balance to get up onto a roof and follow the instructions listed above. To stay safe, you should reach out to a general contractor who has installed poles on roofs before.

Also, if you aren’t sure who to call, reach out to your local home inspection team. Additionally, they can inspect your roof to ensure that it is safe to install a pole on the roof. Also, they can recommend a reputable contractor to complete the project for you.

Conclusion

Installing a pole on a roof can be a very dangerous situation. Not only could weather come in at any moment increasing the danger of handling a metal object so high up, but staying balanced could also be affected. Consequently, it is recommended that you hire a professional to mount this pole on your roof.

Before you begin, get a roof inspection done by your local home inspection team. They will determine the best and safest location for mounting a pole on your roof. Reach out to Liberty Inspections for your roof needs during a home inspection in the Western, KY, Fort Campbell, KY, and Middle Tennessee areas.