For Housing

Installing Shingle Roofs

When you are installing a shingle roof system and your roof structure contains valleys, valleys must be installed before underlayment is applied.  If there are no valleys, begin with underlayment.

Underlayment:  A variety of roof underlayments are for sale today, such as 15# or 30# asphalt felts or snow & ice shields.  Snow and ice shields should be considered in areas with recurrent high winds or on roofs with excessive ice damming.

1)       Start underlayment over metal drip edge at eaves, overlap each continuing sheet of underlayment by 2” on         main roof sections; overlap ends 4” and stagger side laps 6’ apart.

Asphalt Shingles: When selecting your shingles keep in mind your weather conditions and climate.

1)      Install aluminum drip edge on eaves and rakes; make sure you leave a small gap from the eave to rake joint to allow for gutter installation.  If your plywood is installed correctly you should be able to keep a good straight edge by pulling the roof edge tight to the plywood.

2)      Install a starter strip at the eave.  Remove tabs off starter shingles; cut a 9” solid portion of the shingle and install in line with your eave, extending the shingle ¼” over the rake and eaves; make sure the starter shingle has the adhesive edge to the roof perimeter.

3)      Measure to the center of your roof at the top ridge cap and at the bottom edge of the eave; chalk a line from top to bottom; check with a large square to make sure your line is square to the eave; measure 18” to each side of line.  This will give you spacing for your shingles.  Note: some shingles may require different spacing.

4)      Start the 1^st row of shingles on the center line and the next row on the 18” line.  This will keep your shingles in line; keep your exposure at exactly 5”.  After installing the 3^rd row, check shingles for a good straight horizontal line; adjust as necessary; keep checking shingle lines vertically and horizontally.

5)      When you have completed each row, cut your rakes with ¼” overhang; chalk a line from top to bottom ¼” over the rake and cut; shingle snips are available at construction hardware stores.

Valleys:

1)      Install 18” wide valley tin along the complete length of the valley.

2)      Install Snow & Ice Shield, a minimum of 18” wide covering over the valley tin and along the complete length of valley.

3)      Chalk a line from the top to bottom of valley and cut top shingle; be careful, do not cut lower shingles.

4)      On the lower pitch area of your roof run the shingles completely through the valley; do not nail shingles in a valley.

5)      On higher pitch portion, run shingles on top and through valley.

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