How Do I Attach an Antenna to My Roof Without Damaging the Roof?

Whatever you do, don’t put any holes in your roof trying to attach an antenna.

You see, even if you seal your screw holes with roofing cement now, over time the cement can crack. This then becomes a way for water to get into your home (it could also compromise your warranty). We’d rather you be safe than sorry, but that doesn’t mean you can’t mount an antenna to your roof without the help of a professional roofer.

How Mount an Antenna on Your Roof

In order to mount an antenna on your roof without damaging it, you should attach the antenna to the gable, the fascia, or the chimney. You can also buy non-penetrating mounts that use weights (rather than screws) to hold them in place. Whatever you do, do not put holes in your roof to attach your antenna.

On a Gable

This is a really popular spot for an antenna in the Phoenix area. It lets you get the antenna up high and pointed at South Mountain without you needing to drill holes into your roof.

Related: The Anatomy of a Pitched Roof

On the Fascia

Your home might not have a gable end that faces the right direction. You can still attach an antenna to the fascia on the side of your home with what’s called a J-mount.

Note: make sure your fascia is in good condition and you are screwing into solid wood. If the wood is rotted, it’s not going to hold a TV antenna well.

On your Chimney

If you have a chimney, you can buy a kit that lets you strap your antenna to the chimney itself.

A couple of important notes for chimney mounts:

• Smoke and ash can interfere with your signal. So you may only want to use this option if you don’t use your fireplace.
• Your chimney must be in good condition. Any mount is only as secure as what it’s attached to. If your chimney is crumbling, it’s probably best to look elsewhere (and get the chimney fixed).

With Non-Penetrating Mounts

These mounts sit on your roof, but aren’t held in place by screws. Instead, they use the weights (usually cinder blocks) to hold them in place.

There’s also a version for pitched roofs, although that seems a bit risky.

Also, you should be sure that your roof structure can support this weight. Cinder blocks aren’t light.

In your Attic

OK so this isn’t really on your roof. And it’s true that mounting your TV antenna in the attic can reduce your signal strength by 30-50%. But it can work for those of us in an area with a really strong signal.

Of course, if you live outside the city a ways (in Florence, for example) or you have a metal roof, then the attic may not be an option.

Where Not to Install an Antenna: Your Plumbing Vent

We saw this on a home inspector forum. We’ll give the installer credit for not putting holes in the roof. But we’re pretty sure plumbers would tell you not to do this. The mast and the bolts securing the mast can obstruct the vent.

Further reading:

• Position Matters – Choosing Where to Place Your HDTV Antenna (Tablo)
• TV Signal Locator (to find where to point your antenna)