How To Install Shingles On A Roof

If you can grasp basic concepts, learning how to install shingles on a roof should be fairly easy. There are just a few rules to be remembered and some basic tools to use. If you can understand why you use the specific things that you do, then actually performing the task will be relatively simple.

To install shingles on a roof, you will need:

• Tar papered roof
• Shingles
• Roofing hammer or nail gun 
• Roofing nails
• Ladder
• Utility Knife
• Nail pouch

1. Set up. Before you actually begin to shingle, it's wise to set up the area. Place the bundles of shingles at the peak of the roof or at least far enough of away from the bottom ledge of the roof so that they are not in the way of your work but are easy to get to. Fill your nail gun or nail pouch with roofing nails. Make sure you have the proper tools. Roofing nails are made so that they do not sink through the shingles and cover the holes they make. A roofing hammer has a straight claw on it so that you can use it to sink into the roof in case you begin to fall.
2. Lay your first row of shingles. Your first row of shingles is the most important row because it sets the pace for the rest of the roof. Start the first row by following the line on the tar paper. If the line is off, use a chalk line to create new one for you to follow. When you are sure that you have a line to follow, Place your first shingle at the bottom corner of the roof, using the line on the paper to make sure your shingle is even. Attach the shingle to the roof by nailing it above the drip line. The drip line is a tar line on the shingle. This line will be covered by the shingle above it. Repeat this process with about two more shingles, placing them beside the original one.
3. Stair step the shingles. Notice the groove that is in every shingle. It divides the shingle in half. Once you have laid a few shingles on the first row, you can begin to stair step the shingles by laying the second row. Place the first shingle of the second row on top of the first shingle on the first row. Place the left half of the shingle on top of the shingle below it by putting the middle of the shingle on the second row on top of the groove of the shingle on the first row. Some of the second row shingle will hang off the edge. Nail the shingle. Repeat this process until the roof is covered.
4. Shingle the peak. When you get to the peak of the roof, cut your shingles in half. Start at one end of the peak and lay each half on top of the one  preceding it, nailing as you go.
5. Trim the excess. When your roof is covered, trim the excess shingles with your utility knife. To do this, start at the peak of the roof and slide your knife down the edge of the roof, cutting shingles as you go.