How To Lay Roof Shingles

Before you reshingle a roof read our step by step guide for adding new shingles over old ones.

How to lay roof shingles.

Asphalt shingles can be laid over cedar shakes or shingles however this is a roofing project best left to pros. Beveled wood pieces called horsefeathers must be laid along the thick edges of the shakes to make a fairly flat surface. Most asphalt shingles are 3 feet 91 4 centimeters in length. If your roof s width is not an even multiple of the shingle s length you will have a partial piece on one end of each row.

Many roofers recommend using laminated or dimensional shingles for re roofs because they re thicker than. Multiply the width and length measurements together to determine the area. Re roofers have tricks to lay new roof shingles over old so that the same step ups between courses are maintained but if any old shingles are cupped curled or otherwise misshapen those defects will telegraph through to the new layer. Measure your roof so you can be sure you buy the right amount of shingles.

Place nails in the three tab shingles about 3 4 inch 1 8 centimeters above the cutouts near where the tab meets the upper part of the shingle. To lay out the design for the shingles begin at the bottom of the roof and place a tape measure inch from the edge of the roof to ensure the shingles overhang the drip edge. Measure the width and length of each section of your roof. Lay a starting row at the bottom of the roof along the edge.

Some roofers install shingles so the cutout lines describe a slight angle as you look from the bottom to the top of the roof. However most people prefer the cutout lines to be aligned so they make straight vertical lines. Mark 12 inches up on the roof for the first course of shingles then mark every 5 inches all the way up the roof to set your reveal. This step by step tutorial shows how to install 3 tab roof shingles using the racking method.

Do this on both sides of the roof. How to measure for roof shingles. In this video we secure the shingles to a hipped roof. A step by step guide teaching you how to lay and secure shingles to your dunster house roof.