How To Start Installing Roof Shingles

Ask this old house general contractor tom silva reveals the best ways to secure shingles to a roof.

How to start installing roof shingles. See below for a shopping list tools and steps subscr. Inspect the underlying roof sheathing for damage and make any needed repairs. This step by step tutorial shows how to install 3 tab roof shingles using the racking method. Regardless of the asphalt shingle type or style you ve chosen the process is basically the same as mentioned earlier you start at the bottom and overlap as you work your way across and up the roof.

Hammer down any large nails that are exposed by the removal. Start from the top of the roof and remove the old shingles along with the flashing underlayment and vents. Some roofers install shingles so the cutout lines describe a slight angle as you look from the bottom to the top of the roof. It generally takes three packs of shingles to cover 100 square feet 9 29 square meters.

Once you ve done that cut your shingles to size if they re not already. The top ridge cap shingles will overlap the hip ridge cap so start with the hips. Architectural shingles are another option and are installed the same way as 3 tab shingles but give your roof more of a 3 d effect due to their varied shapes. Measure your roof so you can be sure you buy the right amount of shingles.

Installing roof shingles in 11 steps. Install a layer of roofing insulation as recommended by the roofing manufacturer. Many pros shingle in a vertical line up the roof because it s much faster. Once everything that goes beneath the shingles has been properly prepared and installed it s finally time to learn how to shingle a roof.

Using the chalk line snap a line between the two marks to get a straight edge. Known in the trade as vertical racking or staggering this how to lay shingles method enables the roofer to install a single column of shingles all the way to the peak without the wasted back and forth motion necessary to fill several rows of stair steps. However most people prefer the cutout lines to be aligned so they make straight vertical lines. Once all your shingles are installed you ll need to cover cap the ridge and hip ridges if you have a hip roof.

To install asphalt shingles start by installing underlayment and new flashing on the roof.