Proper Steps to Shingle a Home Roof

Proper Steps to Shingle a Home Roof

A good, watertight roof is absolutely essential to your residence, however the asphalt shingles that protect your roof in the components don’t last forever. The most effective shingles will last up to fifteen years, and then they have to be replaced. With the right tools and substance and cooperative weather, the project can be completed in a few days. But carefully consider the condition, location and pitch of your roof prior to deciding to do the endeavor, which presents significant safety risks into the do-it-yourselfer.

Preparation

When there is more than one layer of old shingles, or if the only layer is broadly warped or damaged, tear off the older coating of shingles and sheathing and remove them properly. Start at the top ridge and work your way down, removing all the old nails. Attend to any harm to the roof planks underneath, replacing any warped, rotted or damaged timber.

Sheathing

Before laying down shingles, you need to guard the roof with sheathing. Roll out a single layer of roofing felt or tar paper, which functions as a moisture barrier. Begin this coating in the base of the roof and put in it in horizontal rows, with a slight overlap to stop leaks. Rather than laying down the whole layer of sheathing simultaneously, lay it gradually above every completed row of shingles. Attach the sheathing with galvanized nails. Use a double layer along the top ridge line.

Flashing

Add a sheet of thin metal flashing to places where segments of roof join (“valleys”), around vents and chimneys and around other obstacles. Install a drip edge at the base edge of the roof to defend the wooden and fascia structure underneath. Use tin snips to cut the metal into the appropriate shapes and dimensions.

Shingling

Beginning at the base of the roof, lay down a single starter course shingle, allowing about an inch to clean the edge of the roof. (Starter-course shingles don’t have any tabs and can be cut with a utility knife or simply bought individually.) Lay out an whole row prior to nailing to make sure that the shingles are straight. Offset the rows so the vertical cutouts don’t line up. Lay down the shingles so the bottom edge just overlaps the vertical cutouts. Work your way up the roof, nailing the shingles down with four claws, starting at one side and nailing across, just over the seam at the middle. Use a chalkline throughout the roof to maintain your shingle rows directly.

Ridge Caps

Use ridge caps to complete the ridge or top of the roof. These could be purchased to match your regular shingles on the rows under the ridge. Do not try to create your own by cutting up ordinary shingles. Function from the edge of the roof below the middle on either side, with the tabs facing outside (away from the middle).

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