How to Install Shingles on Your Roof | RichNSpect

Not many of us are brave enough to install shingles ourselves, but for those who are, below you?ll find some helpful tips and a simple guide on shingle installation.

Supplies You?ll Need

Of course, you?ll need roofing feltand shingles; your local home improvement or roofing supply store can assist you in finding the product which will best suit your needs. You will also need other items such as plastic cap and standard roofing nails, tar paper, vents, flashing and roof sealant.

Equipment You?ll Need

To shingle your own roof, you?ll need some basic equipment such as:

• Hammer
• Chalk line
• Utility knife
• Level
• Caulking gun
• Scaffolding
• Ladder

A pneumatic nail gun is optional but highly recommended.

Before You Begin

Before installing new shingles, the old ones need to be removed. Once the shingles are gone, you can inspect your roof sheathing for any defects. Both of these tasks are fairly easy to do, but basic roofing knowledge and the right tools make for a much easier job.

The Steps in Shingling a Roof

Installing shingles is a multi-step process, and each step must be done in the correct order to ensure the water-tightness and firm attachment of the roof.

1. Lay out the roofing felt or paper. It should cover the entire roof, and should be attached with roofing nails to keep it in position without damage. Begin at the roof?s bottom edge, overlapping edges by a minimum of two inches. Leave an inch at the sides and bottom (don?t worry, they?ll be neatened later).
2. Attach the drip edging. This is a metal piece affixed to the eave?s side and it covers the edges of the roofing paper. Its purpose is to keep water from seeping in and causing damage, and it?s easy to install. All you need to do is lay it atop the paper in the appropriate position, and nail down every foot (be sure to overlap).
3. Start attaching shingles. Your first row should be installed upside down, with the tabs pointing toward the roof. The second row goes right on top in a slightly staggered fashion, with the tabs facing down. Once the double row is installed, you can use it to lay out a line of chalk every 10? from roof bottom to top. Doing this will keep shingles evenly spaced and straight.
4. Install the main area?s shingles. After the first row is laid out, shingling the rest of the roof will be fairly easy. Remember to overlap joints horizontally, staggering the shingles & leaving a 1/16? gap. To accomplish this goal, you will have to halve a few shingles on alternate rows. Each shingle must be nailed at its top with no less than four nails, and the bottom of the next row of shingles should cover the nails. If installing an exhaust vent or rooftop Velux window, it should be put in before the shingles are installed.
5. Add hip or ridge shingles. Where roof surfaces touch, shingles should touch but they shouldn?t overlap. Here, you?ll be using special shingles to cover the joints and provide a finished look to the job. As with the regular shingles, you?ll begin at the roof bottom, adding a dual row and working your way toward the top.
6. Seal the roof. Your shingling job is almost complete, but you?ll still need a spatula, caulking gun or other similar tool to add a sealant to exhaust vents and joints which aren?t covered by hip or ridge shingles.

Safety is key when toting roofing materials up to the job site. Heavy materials, power tools and heights can all add up to disaster; take your time and don?t try to do work beyond the scope of your knowledge. When the work is done, don?t forget to pick up all tools and check for stray nails. Keeping the above tips in mind will ensure that your roofing job is finished safely and adequately.

This post was wrtten by Crispin Jones on behalf of Ashbrook Roofing who can supply all manner of building supplies for your project. Visit their site for more info. Photo: Dana Dean

Source: http://www.richnspect.com/how-to-install-shingles-on-your-roof

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