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Methods for Putting Down Shingles

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    Having your roof replaced might help you save money on your energy bills. It protects your home and gives it a more appealing appearance. You may save both time and money by learning how to put shingles on your roof. In a few easy stages, this manual will show you how to properly instal roofing shingles on your home’s roof.

    Don’t go into your project without first reviewing this checklist. Doing so guarantees a smooth and risk-free roofing installation.

    Cut the lawn. Roofing debris is simpler to see in a tidy yard.
    Take the patio set outside and away from the house.
    Make sure you document the driveway in photographs before you have roofing supplies and/or a dumpster delivered.

    Pre Installation Checklist

    • Take a stroll around the property and take stock of the garden. Red-flag issues include outside illumination. Fixtures that aren’t permanently installed should be turned off or covered as well.
    • In order to cut decking or ridge vents, you will need to find a power source in the outside environment.
    • Locate a suitable holding place for the delivery of supplies (driveway, side of house, garage).
    • Leave vehicles in the roadway while work is being done (unless there is a truck hooked to a dumpster).
    • Keep the garage stocked with anything you could need (cars, bikes, toys for children).
    • Keep the air circulating so that you don’t overheat your house.
    • The length of the ridges and hips may be used to determine the size of the ridge caps. How many bundles of normal or hip-and-ridge shingles are required may be found by dividing the total number of shingles needed for the roof by 35.

    Measuring The Roof

    • Take a tape measure up on the roof and measure the length and breadth of each individual part.
    • The area may be calculated by multiplying the width times the length.
    • In order to get the total area, add up the areas of the individual parts.
    • To acquire the right number of squares, divide it by 100.
    • Finally, multiply this total by 3 to get the required quantity of bundles.
    • Estimate an additional 10% to 20% for spoilage and waste.

    Put Safety First

    Gather all necessary protective equipment before starting. To be safe on the roof, you should use protective gear such a harness, hard helmet, work gloves, safety glasses, long pants, and a tool belt. Additionally, if you are on the ground, they will prevent you from being injured by objects that have fallen from the roof.

    When working on a roof, it’s best to have a helper or a few. When installing roof shingles, be sure to read and follow all manufacturer guidelines.

    Prep the Roof

    It’s important to work on a straight course and pre-planned layout. 

    • Lay tarps on the ground to catch debris coming off the roof. Begin by removing shingles using a roofing fork/shovel. Use caution so you don’t damage windows or siding in the process. Use a hammer to pry up the nails. 
    • Remove metal flashing if needed. 
    • Sweep the roof deck clean to remove leftover nails and debris.

    Tip: It takes about three bundles of asphalt shingles to cover 100 sq. ft.

    Install Deck Protection & Starter Shingles

    The moment has come to secure the roof deck. These roofing materials provide an effective barrier between your home and the outdoors, preventing water and cold air from penetrating.

    • Eaves with a drip edge. First, protect the decking (plywood/OSB) by installing shingle underlayment on top of it. To plan where to place them, draw lines using chalk.
    • Attach the deck covering to the roof using the cap nails. Make sure there’s a 3–4 inch overlap between rows. A particular leak barrier protector is worth considering if you reside in a rainy region.
    • Then, place starter shingles and new flashing (metal flashing is commonly referred to as “drip edge” around the bottom of a roof near your gutters).
    • Use the hammer and roofing nails to secure the drip edge. Valleys where two roof planes meet should also have flashing installed, as should the region surrounding a chimney.

    The best way to ensure that the deck protection is installed correctly is to start from the ground and go up to the roof.

    Install Your Roof Shingles

    It’s time to learn how to instal roof shingles now that you’ve mastered underlayment and drip edge and planned your route.

    • First, you’ll want to start at the bottom and work your way up and across. Keep in mind the right manner to nail so that the nails always keep the top edge of the course under it. For instance: Nail a shingle with one nail every two inches. After that, hammer in a second nail one inch above each opening. The following row of shingles should extend down beyond the previous row by one inch to hide the nails.
    • Continue the procedure of nailing down whole shingles one by one, aligning them up against the next shingle in the row. Each kind of shingle has a unique cutting pattern, so it’s important to adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions.
    • To get the perfect fit, trim the last shingle in each row until you reach the crest. When you get to the ridge, you’ll want to bend the shingle over it so that the two sides are parallel, then nail it into place.
    • Repeat this process with the following shingle until you reach the far end of the ridge.
    • In determining the length of the final ridge shingle, be sure that no exposed roof is left.

    It’s important that nails be driven straight, not at an angle. It is recommended that four nails be used for each shingle. In windy places, it’s best to use six nails.

    Roofing shingles may be easily installed with the help of the tools and supplies available at The Home Depot. Browse our many different shingle designs and colours to find the perfect one for your home at a price that won’t break the bank. The Home Depot has a mobile app, so you can check on stock from your device.

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