02/04/2026
Hints and tips we’ve picked up over the years. (In no particular order)
1. Plain your gutter trim edge to allow the trim to sit flush, this reduces the risk of pooling water.
2. Pre tack all your trims on, don’t hammer the nails in until they are all in place. This allows you to alter trims without damaging them trying to remove tacks.
3. Ensure there are no sharp edges you need to laminate over. Your laminate will almost definitely bubble up if not done.
4. Sand the entire deck and all joins before starting.
5. Don’t be afraid to add extra nails or screws, once you start laminating it means you accept the condition of the deck.
6. Add more tacks if you need to, sometimes it just doesn’t want to sit flush, nails don’t give it a choice 😅
7. Always fix your trim Faces on with adhesive, this stops them warping over time.
8. Add a wall plate return, you can then seal your trim to this face and it gives the extra extension to carry the lead out past the roof edge.
9. Double check those board joins. Steps here will show in your roof.
10. Pre Cut small squares for all your trim joins and corners, do these first before you start the main roof.
11. Pre cut your rolls of Matt and plan your laminating process so you know exactly what goes where.
12. Double up around skylights, these are prone to leaking, we tape all the joins and double up the glass every time as standard.
13. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
14. Laminate your dismount area first. You need to catalyse correctly to ensure this has set by the time you reach it. Ideal on bigger roofs, tricky on smaller ones. Make sure you finish into this with a ripped edge.
15. The tape we use around our skylights as standard. Pretty sure this is standard practice but we’ve seen jobs being done without it.
16. Once the decks laminated, give it a good sand with 80grit. We use an orbital sander and Hoover, because 1, it’s quicker and easier and more efficient, 2 we don’t get itchy using the vacuum.
17. Take time on your corners, it’s the first thing customers and passers by will notice. First impressions leave a mark.
18. Sexy corner.
19. Any hints and tips you care to share?