QA

How To Install Roof Shingles Yourself

How do you shingle a roof step by step?

Roll out the self-stick underlayment. Stick on the underlayment. Cover the roof with felt paper. Roll on the felt paper. Overlap the ridge. Waterproof your valleys. Fold flashing over the peak. Install the shingles. Working around vents and stacks. Shingle over the vent flashing.

How much does it cost to shingle a roof yourself?

According to some roofing experts, a 2,200 to 3,400 square foot roof with asphalt shingles could run between $2,000 and $6,000 if you do it yourself, whereas a professional roofing company will charge around $10,000 or $12,000 for architectural asphalt shingles.

How many nails do you need for shingles?

General Guidelines for Nailing Shingles Install the recommended number of nails per shingle. For Duration® Series shingles, Owens Corning recommends using either a 4- or 6-nail fastening pattern depending on the roof’s slope and building code requirements. In most cases, 4 nails are adequate.

What underlayment to use for shingles?

What Is Roofing Underlayment? Roofing underlayment is what lies between the shingles and the roof sheathing, or roof deck, which is typically either plywood or OSB. It’s installed directly on the roof deck and provides a secondary layer of protection from the elements, including rain, snow, and wind.

Do you install drip edge before tar paper?

The best way is to install the roof drip edge only along the eaves first, then place ice-and-water barrier (in the snowbelt) or felt paper (underlayment) over the drip edge.

How many layers of shingles can you put on a roof?

In most states, you’re only allowed to have 2 layers of shingles on a roof for fire safety reasons. However, you’ll still see roofs that have 3 or 4 layers today. If you already have 2 or more layers, a contractor will recommend a full replacement.

How do you keep shingles straight?

Keeping the Roofing Line Straight e shingles aligned vertically and horizontally. A chalk line can keep your line straight over long distances and large areas. A chalk line can help eliminate short exposures, waviness and additional antithetical issues.

Are 50 year shingles worth the money?

It’s one of the most common questions people ask when it’s time to replace their roof: Are 50-year shingles worth the money? In most cases, 50-year shingles won’t improve on resale value of a home over 25- or 30-year shingles.

How much does it cost to shingle a 1000 sq ft roof?

When all of those factors are taken into account, the average cost of roof replacement service for a 1,000 square foot roof using shingles comes out to between $5,000 and $11,000.

How long does it take to roof a house by yourself?

On average, your typical residential home in the United States will have an area of 1600 – 1700 square feet. In most cases, your average roof will be reshingled in a span of 2 – 3 days. A roof with double the area that needs to be reshingled will usually take more than a week.

Is it OK to put shingles on top of shingles?

You might be able to lay new shingles over existing shingles and avoid the cost of tear-off. If conditions are right, new shingles laid over old shingles can be just as attractive and durable as shingles laid on bare sheathing. But you must take care to install shingles correctly so they lie flat.

Is it a good idea to put new shingles over old shingles?

The answer is yes, you can lay new roof shingles over old ones. You can’t do it with wood or slate, for example, and you should never mix materials, such as laying asphalt shingles over cedar shakes. Also, the old roofing has to be in pretty good condition.

Is it OK to have two layers of shingles?

Two layers of shingles trap more heat, which in turn damages the shingles and shortens the life span of the roof. Adding a second layer could compromise the structure of your roof. Problems fixing leaks: A second layer of shingles only complicates the job when a roofer is trying to fix a leak.

Can roofing nails be too long?

Yes, they can. If they are too long, they will protrude through the sheathing at the roof overhang and be visible.

Do I need a membrane under shingles?

The underlayment on a roof is a membrane that is applied to the plywood or ‘deck’ of your roof as an extra layer of water penetration protection before your shingles are installed. Underlayment isn’t always necessary, but should be applied to low-sloped roofs, as well as specific high water risk areas of your home.

Do you have to put felt under shingles?

Answer: Roofing felt is a layer of tar paper installed beneath the shingles to provide a backup waterproof membrane in case of leakage. Felt, otherwise known as underpayment, is required when asphalt shingles are installed as a first layer of roofing or when they are applied over wood shingles or a built-up roof.

Can you shingles without underlayment?

Technically, no, underlayment isn’t 100% necessary underneath asphalt shingles. Building codes vary from one region to the next, and most all building codes require felt or synthetic roofing underlayment.

How far should shingles be from drip edge?

Shingles should not extend more than 3/4” (19 mm) past the drip edge. If shingles overhang the edge of the roof by more than 3/4” (19 mm), then they are not supported and may crack and break off. In addition, the wind resistance at the roof edge may be compromised.

Does drip edge go over or under shingles?

Drip edge can be installed after shingles have been put on. Simply lift up the lower ends of the shingles to place the drip edge. But make sure to put the drip edge underneath the felt underlayment along the eaves so water cannot get below the drip edge.

Is 3 layers of shingles OK?

No, you can’t put three layers of asphalt shingles on a roof. In most states, you’re only allowed to have two layers of asphalt shingles on a roof for fire safety reasons. But that doesn’t mean you won’t still see roofs with three or four layers today.