How To Lay Shingles

Whether there’s a hole in your roof or it’s time for a full remodel, it is very useful for a homeowner to know how to lay shingles. Roofs are a key aesthetic and functional feature of any house. From a real estate standpoint, a considerable value is placed on the quality and looks of a home’s roof. Use the following guide to improve both the appearance and performance of your roof by laying new shingles.

1. Decide exactly what you want to do with your roof. When laying new shingles, you have the option to remove the old ones or layer the new ones over them. If you’re simply repairing a hole, for example, it is generally recommended to layer the new shingles. This decision will determine how you go about remodeling your roof. Additionally, there are a few different options concerning which type of shingle you use. The most popular by a long shot is asphalt.
2. Begin by installing the underlying layer, called roofing felt. Roofing felt is a multi-layered product that serves as a final protection from the elements. Work from bottom to top, using a nail gun to fasten the roofing felt to support beams.
3. Start the installation by laying shingles on the bottom edge of your roof. They should be measured to be exactly parallel to the roof’s edge. The key to weatherproofing is to let the shingles overhang the edge of the roof by a little under an inch in most cases. Nail it down with four nails, each one slightly off a corner to keep the shingle stable and secure. This, in roofing terms, is called a starter strip.
4. Measure your roof lengthwise to find its center, and mark it with chalk. Start installing the shingles, with the same four nail pattern, from the center working outward. Make sure they slightly overlap the starter strip laid down earlier.
5. Continue, row by row, until you reach the top of the roof. Install each layer of shingles with the same overlap and nailing pattern. Though the work is tedious, it will pay off with a stable, solid roofing layer. As each side is covered, the last step is to use special shingles – called ridge caps – to cover the apex of your roof. When the installation of these is complete, you’re finished.