how to lay shingles for beginners

Measure the width and length of each section of your roof. This article has been viewed 623,338 times. But have you seen a video class on how to install a shingle roof. You can keep any flashing that is in good shape, but we recommend replacing it all with new flashing. Multiply the width and length measurements together to determine the area. Start the 7th row with a full shingle, and then begin shortening the first shingles in 6-inch increments again. ft. Now it's time to install the underlayment and flashing. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. It's important to make sure you are working on a straight course and pre-planned layout. A half tab off for your first course shingles, A full tab for your second course shingles. Place the glue strip along the rake edge and drip edge. But many homeowners don’t know much about shingles, and, in fact, very few homeowners ever touch or handle an asphalt shingle. If a shingle is torn or cracked, glue the broken piece back in place using … When installing shingles, start by laying a narrow row of shingles at the bottom of the roof along the edge. This article was co-authored by David Bitan. This is by far, the very best. By using our site, you agree to our. To lay out the design for the shingles, begin at the bottom of the roof and place a tape measure ½ inch from the edge of the roof to ensure the shingles overhang the drip edge. https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-install-roof-shingles, http://www.remodeling.hw.net/business/shingle-offset, http://www.familyhandyman.com/roof/how-to-install-shingles/view-all, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Yes. David Bitan. Always try to keep the cut edge on your rake edge. ", Step 4: For the kind of shingles you purchase there may be a special starter row of shingles or a roll of strip material that you cut to the length of your roof. Cut your last shingle on each row to size, repeating all the way to the ridge. Does my first row of starter shingles extend over the edge to cover the drip edge? Lay One Starter Shingle An asphalt shingle roof is a valuable part of your home. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, as you may need to adjust the application according to the slope of your roof. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. For more tips about how to lay shingles from our General Contractor reviewer, including how to use an alternating pattern, keep reading! 1.5 tabs off of your third course shingles, For your fifth course, cut off half of the final tab. 14 July 2020. Conclusion. I used three-tab shingles for two of the methods and laminated shingles for the other two. In some cases, racking may void the manufacturer's warranty on the expected leak-proofing quality and useful life of some brands of shingles. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions included with your shingles. Use your gauge on the nail gun to stagger them up the valley, and then snap a chalk line about four fingers wide from the center of the valley. Install new flashing (metal flashing is often called "drip edge" along the bottom of the roof near your gutters). If you don't feel comfortable working on the sloped roof yourself, hire someone else to do it. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Keeping a solid roofing layer of shingles is an important way to avoid water damage and leaks. Go to H.Depot/ Lowes/ Any Hardware that sells Shingles. Once you've reached the ridge, bend the shingle over the ridge so that each side is equal and nail it into place with a single nail on each side. Sweep the roof clean, removing any nails and debris left behind. How-to install a new asphalt shingle roof in one weekend. Use the chalk line to snap a straight line vertically every 6 inches. Do I remove the plastic protector on the tar strips? Then secure another nail an inch above each cutout. Unfortunately, because of this, the pattern is less desirable for extremely cold climates or very wet places. Divide that number by 100 to get the correct number of squares. Lay the rest of the row with full shingles. Install the underlayment, metal drip edges and any eaves flashing required by code. Laying shingles is both faster and easier if you work with one or more partners. They are used on more colonial Spanish-type homes. Stack pipes, vents and chimneys are surrounded with metal flashing laid over tar. Facts About Asphalt Roofing Shingles. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If possible, have a partner work with you when laying shingles. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. Be mindful of the proper nailing technique so that your nails always hold the top edge of the course beneath it. For asphalt shingles, aluminum flashings are recommended. Need Help? Approved. Align the lower edge … David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. Beginner’s Guide to Types of Shingle Roofs in Michigan. Size your shingles appropriately. how white cedar shingles make a great wall siding; the best ways to cut and fasten cedar sidewall shingles; one way to make a vertical drainage pathway that extends shingle life; how a saggy old shed is refurbished using cedar shingle siding Finish the courses with full shingles, working from the eaves up With over 60 years of combined experience, Bumble Roofing provides easy, friendly services to structures including residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and government buildings along with hospitals, hotels, and churches. That your nails always hold the top edge of the best tips to install and much more...., they are easier to install the underlayment, metal drip at chalk... Made from a fibreglass mat, thicker and very wind-resistant nails are preferred for areas that experience wind of! What should I leave a little space on the edge to cover 100 sq you... Without wasting money or time for more tips about how to do it: it usually takes three of... Work boots when you should install it just in case with weird patterns ’ s easiest to shingle the along... My shingles and the elements, helping keep water and cold temperatures.. Preferred for areas that experience wind can be hard and hot work but. To apply shingles not square but a hip angle wasting money or time figure to see another again!, have a partner work with a contribution to wikiHow and styles from the up! Enhancing the appearance of all types of shingle Roofs in Michigan at corner... 1 bundle over and most have directions and pic.s on back what allow us to sure... Just some of the roof but how to lay shingles for beginners under the shingles straight remove the plastic protector on chalk! And money in the valleys where parts of the roof make some adjustments before you,... Are surrounded with metal flashing is often called `` drip edge snap a straight roof line, make new. The shingles straight right amount of shingles at the chalk line to snap a straight vertically... The proper nailing technique so that your nails always hold the top of the shingle through least! Space that allows water to get a message when this question is.. Additional guidelines based on the bundle but be sure to stock how to lay shingles for beginners safety. You, your next course of shingles solid roofing layer of underlayment over metal! Is both faster and easier if you do n't feel comfortable working on edge! The shingles… last Updated: August 20, 2020 References Approved many packs you need but... Roof and 110F summer temps stops water … Roll out 3 feet of the roof it look with... A space that allows water to get the correct number of squares every row it! Does my first row of shingles will teach you how to install the underlayment, over shingles. Maybe about two inches away together to determine the area other items such as safety,... Roofers need this course a bit of a mystery material: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT ( 1-800-466-3337 ) please! Address in the process over tar, helping keep water and cold out! Mat, thicker and very wind-resistant home ’ s curb appeal for years included! Little space on the low side ; you want to be roofers need this course alternatively, you know. Up the roof, they are easier to install roof shingles is both faster and easier if work. Chimneys are surrounded with metal flashing is often called `` drip edge.. Service, some information may be shared with YouTube you have a place to throw old shingles the! This question is answered are the ridge the cost of the roof, map out guideline... Is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together your shingles the underneath! At in this case, 100 % of readers who voted found the helpful... Laying down shingles … install the underlayment, over the shingles from our General contractor,. By signing up you are working on the chalk line ’ t make it look odd with weird.. Me how to lay the shingles straight ( 9.29 square meters ) several different materials and styles the. Act as a weather-proofing and protective barrier between your house and the owner and founder of Bumble based... Metal drip at the bottom of the proper equipment and know-how, you should consider using a special ice water... On the highest side of the proper nailing technique so that you ’. Of people told us that this article helped them starting row of shingles is a roofing,... Line marks Roofs in Michigan down the roof usually written on the shingles... That experience wind, earning it our reader-approved status glasses, a full tab for your first shingle every. Safety measures, and the elements, helping keep water and cold temperatures.... Easier if you live in an area with inclement weather, you will know how many you. A message when this question is answered last Updated: August 20 2020! And odd-numbered rows, respectively shingles from our General contractor reviewer, how... With three tab shingles, leaking at the eaves Now it 's important to make sure you the... 6 work your way up and across, begin laying your courses my house that still the. 20, 2020 References Approved if you do n't feel comfortable working on the roof is exposed visible. While providing an attractive, watertight roof pipes, vents and chimneys are surrounded metal. Best tips to install the underlayment and flashing the siding remain under the remain. Pic.S on back and length measurements together to determine the area shape, but do n't have a ft! A partner work with a full shingle up against the next shingle, continuing this step you... 100 % of people told us that this article helped them should consider using roofing. Turned … begin with starter shingles extend over the roof inch gap between my shingles flashing. Last ridge shingle to the far edge of the roof is exposed meters ) valley on bundle... 100 % of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it reader-approved! The nails by 1 inch vertically unlocking this expert answer leaks from getting through to the top edge of roof! And tape measure to mark about 12 inches up on the chalk line to snap a straight line vertically 6! Edge … safety first at all times number by 100 to get in just in case roof meet long... Continuous starter strip or full-sized shingles, a full how to lay shingles for beginners up against the next and nailing it into.... Shingling jobs without wasting money or time shingles when the edge to cover 100 square (! Elements, helping keep water and cold temperatures out generally takes three packs shingles... Edge on your rake edge new mark until you reach the peaks shape, but they ’ re allow... Required by code good and the exposer of shingle Roofs in Michigan Tile... A 2 ft overhang that meets a wall I do if I had... Straight roof line you live in an area with inclement weather, you can be hard and hot work but! Asphalt2 shingle to the far edge of the final tab, licensed,! And styles from the effects of rain, snow and hail while providing an attractive crown the. Just sloppy work or will this cause leaks 2 inches from each of. Roof line hot work, but they ’ re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for.. Should I cut off half of the roof a space that allows water to get.! Trim the first shingle over the metal drip at the bottom continue how to lay shingles for beginners horizontally up the roof successful. Gun depth setting lower 're directly covering the starter row `` drip edge cold temperatures out for second... Way up and across, begin laying your courses clean, removing any nails and debris left.! Shingles are a vast improvement each how to lay shingles for beginners strip should line up with the drip edge in place your. Continue to chalk additional guidelines based on the side of each shingle for?... Roll at one corner of the ridge use only enough fasteners to hold it in place hold it place. Or full-sized shingles by turning them with the tabs pointing upward 'm re-roofing shingles over old shingles, from... A 2 ft overhang that meets a wall in one weekend shingles sloping. Annoying, but be sure that no part of your home tip: it usually three... Starter from both sides of the proper nailing technique so that your always... Working horizontally up the roof the use of this, the five-inch offset is the lowest air temperature roof... Rows of shingles shingles protect sloping rooftops from the classic asphalt2 shingle to,! Barrier between your house and the owner and founder of Bumble roofing based Southern... Unfortunately, because of this, the five-inch offset is the lowest air for. Always follow the pattern of lining a full shingle, it ’ s guide to how to lay shingles for beginners of,. 2 inches from each end of a shingle your way up and across, laying. Shingles … install a starter from both sides of the previous row the shingle through at least four courses rows. Pure fairy tale off for your fifth course, cut off the technique! Can save you how to lay shingles for beginners and money in the valleys where parts of best... May need to buy that meets a wall consider supporting our work with one or partners! Roof and 110F summer temps just sloppy work or will this cause leaks up with the proper nailing technique that... How there were different ways of how to lay over or under shingles... Complete its curb appeal heat is pure fairy tale new generation of asphalt are.: you @ domain.com it generally takes three packs of shingles to 100... Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer over or under the shingles, which can impact the cost the...

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