DIY: How to Shingle a Shed

Roofing a shed is the final step in adding that important storage unit to your home. You can choose several types of roofing material, but asphalt or composition shingles are the traditional covering and usually can be obtained to match the shingles of the house. Don't try the job alone; shingling will require using a ladder and working on a roof and is best done with at least two workers. Use conventional three-tab shingles, so called because they have three flaps or tabs on one edge, to resemble three separate shingles.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Roofing paper
• Construction stapler
• Roofing cement
• Metal drip edge
• Step ladder
• Utility knife or big shears
• Metal straight edge

Instructions

1. Measure the roof with a tape measure to get square footage to order shingles. Buy 10 percent extra to allow for damage or mistakes. Get cap shingles, if possible, to avoid having to cut them. Buy metal drip edge to put around the edges of the roof; this is bent at a 90-degree angle so one side fastens on the roof and the other overlaps down the side to seal the edge from moisture. Get shingle nails and roofing cement.

2. Install drip edge on the outside eaves of the shed, flush against the wood decking. Put a bead of roofing cement on the roof, place the metal edge on it and fasten it to the decking with a hammer and shingle nails, on both ends and about 18 inches apart between. Use a step ladder to get above the roof line.

3. Lay roofing paper horizontally the length of the roof, starting with a layer at the bottom edge. Overlap layers at least 6 inches. Staple the paper to the decking with a construction stapler. Cut one 12-inch wide strip to overlap the peak; staple it down both sides. Add drip edge on the gable ends on top of the roofing paper.

4. Cut the tabs off enough shingles to cover the bottom edge of both sides of the roof. Use a utility knife with a metal straight edge or big shears to get an even cut; the cut should be roughly half the width of the shingle from straight top to tab bottom.

5. Nail on the first course or layer of shingles upside down, with the cut edge on top. Position the straight uncut edge along the bottom of the roof, slightly overhanging the decking and drip edge. Drive at least four shingle nails per shingle with a hammer. Cut shingles to fit as needed at the ends, allowing a slight overlap on the edges of the roof.

6. Cut one tab width off a shingle to start the second course, so seams do not line up. Add courses up the roof, nailing shingles at the top with tabs overlapping the previous layer. Use a ladder to get on the roof and work kneeling down to reduce the chances of slipping. Keep the shingles straight and even. Cut shingles to fit the last layer to the peak.

7. Cover the peak with cap shingles if available. Make cap shingles if necessary by cutting off the tabs of the shingles and cutting them along the tab lines to make rectangles (you may be able to use the tabs you cut off the first course). Fold those over the peak and nail on both sides, overlapping caps to cover the nails securing the previous shingle. Cover the nails on the last end shingle with roofing cement.

References

• Garden Plans: Installing Roof Shingles
• Shed King: How to Build a Shed Roof
• Roof 101: How to Install Asphalt Shingles
• Workbench: Roofing Basics