Asphalt Shingles Installation Guidelines

There are many benefits to having an asphalt shingles or tile roof, however before you can be happy with a job well done you will need to do a good deal of prep work. The following tips will give you the basics of what you can expect during your next asphalt shingles roofing installation project.

Guidelines for Installing Asphalt Shingles

The following are all the guidelines you should take into consideration when installing asphalt shingles.

Underlayment

You should begin by making sure you have the proper layer of underlayment and the roof edging. Without them you will not be able to create a good, stable and waterproof roof. Make sure you are as thorough as possible or otherwise you will experience a great deal of problems further down the line.

Permit

Once you have a proper permit if you needed to obtain one, you should strip your floor clean and then nail the drip edge flashing along the eave of your roof.

Research

The heavy rains of sudden storms or persistent melting snow can eventually force water down between even the best of shingles. The worst you can ever experience in most cases are the so-called ice dams. These are essentially areas of frozen water or snow which stick around on the edges of the roof. These can absolutely destroy the lower shingles of the roof, thus allowing water to drip inside your home. You should guard against it by applying some waterproof underlayment which acts like a barrier against the ice. You can easily find them at roofing supply stores or centers. There may be specific rules about its installation, so check up with your local building inspector to ensure you’re doing it right.

Layering

Make sure you cover the rest with a asphalt-saturated felt underlayment. The layers must overlap each other by 2 inches at least. You should follow this by nailing a drip edge on the rakes of the roof and the top of the underlayment. Much like it is with the flashing, you should always make sure the pieces overlap each other at all times. The felt you’re installing will help keep the roof dry before you apply the shingles and will protect you against heavy rain and storms.

Shingling

Find the center of the roof at the eave and the top and then put a vertical chalk line. You can use that to begin the shingling, working to the left and right at the rakes. Manufacturers of shingles often recommend you start working at the left edge. Make sure to check out the packages and what they say about it.

The first few rows of shingles on the roof need a line of shingles with cut tabs. You should apply them on the eave with adhesive strip. Make sure the row is overhanging a bit and beyond the drip edge. This so-called starter course will protect the roof by filling in the joints of the following row of shingles below them.

Once you’re done with this you should nail the first of the rows of shingles right on the top of the starter course. Use four nails per shingle or as it is explained on the package, depending on the amount of wind in the area.