How to Install Shingles on Your Roof
Learning how to install shingles is a great way to add a beautiful look to the outside of your home. Even if you have a wonderful home, shingles that are falling apart or are out of date can make it look shoddy.
Get yourself together and start installing those new shingles today! You’ll receive so many complements that all of your hard work will be worth it.
The first thing you’ll need to do is choose your shingles. If you’re doing a total reinstall then you’re free to choose anything you want.
If you’re just replacing some shingles here and there you’ll need to find an exact match to your existing shingles.
A very important step is to find a friend or family member to help you. Working on the roof is very dangerous no matter the length of time you’ve spent learning how to install shingles.
It would be a very bad situation if something was to happen and no one was around.
Get some roofing felt if you need to re-do the roof entirely. Remove old shingles by using a pry bar or knife. Once the old shingles are removed, you can begin.
Find the center of the roof and mark it. Then you can put the first shingle down as a starter strip. Out your first shingles on the chalk line and nail it down.
It is a great rule of thumb to use four nails per shingle so that they stay put. Do not nail them at an angle or you might crack the shingle.
Whenever you place a new shingle remember that it should start at the center shingle. Continue on until you have covered your roof. Remember that each manufacturer and roof is different.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to get the best results. Remember that different shingles are different shapes and sizes, so you might have to make special accommodations.
One consideration you might need to make is vent pipes. You can buy a boot that fits onto the pipe if this is something that affects you.
Another special case is if you have a chimney. You can use what is called aluminum flashing around these areas. You will need to cement and nail the flashing down.
Learning how to install shingles is a fairly complex thing. However, it is a great thing to learn if you want to be able to take care of your roof without hiring a professional. The end result will be well worth the effort.
