Installing Cedar Shingles

Cedar shingle roofing adds warmth and beauty to almost any home--plus cedar shingles offer years of maintenance-free protection and have excellent insulation properties. Cedar shingles can also often be installed right on top of your current shingles, especially if your roof is covered with asphalt shingles. And roofing with cedar shingles is almost as easy as roofing with traditional asphalt shingles.

Things You'll Need

• Cedar shingles Nail gun Hand plane Chalk line Tape measure Saw Roofing felt

Instructions

1. Determine the size of the roofing area that you need to cover. Measure the length of your roof and multiply that number by the width of the area you are covering. For example, a roof that is 40 feet long and 20 feet wide (measured from the edge of the roof to the peak of the roof), would require enough cedar shingles to cover 800 square feet (40 x 20 = 800). Figure the area of each section of roof and then purchase enough cedar shingles to cover that many square feet; since cedar shingles are sold in "squares," each covering 100 square feet, for 800 square feet of roof you would need eight squares of cedar shingles. Buy approximately 10 percent more shingles than your calculations indicate you need as a contingency to cover broken or damaged shingles and for any miscalculations you may have made. Remember, unopened squares of shingles may be returned to the store for refund or store credit.

2. Determine whether or not your roof is currently in good shape. Is it structurally sound? Do you have fewer than three layers of shingles already on your roof? If you already have three layers of shingles on your roof then you will want to buy or rent a roof shovel and remove all layers of shingles. This will undoubtedly require you to rent a Dumpster as the amount of old roofing material (and its weight) will be substantial. Repair any spots that are structurally weak in your existing roof before applying your new cedar shingles.

3. Lay a row of cedar shingles along the lower edge of your roof, with approximately 1 1/2 inches of the shingle overhanging the edge of the roof. For this layer of shingles you will place them with the thick edge of the shingle facing the peak of the roof. Space shingles 1/4 inch apart so there will be space for them to expand and contract with changes in temperature. Drive two nails into each shingle, one nail 4 inches from the top (thick) edge of the shingle and 1 inch from the right edge and the other nail 4 inches from the thick edge and 1 inch from the left edge of the shingle.

4. Lay a second row of shingles on top of the first row, but this time point the thick edge of the shingles toward the edge of the roof. Lay this second row of shingles so they cover the gaps between the underlying shingles.This row of shingles will also have a gap between shingles of 1/4 inch.

5. Measure 5 inches from the edge of the first double row of shingles and snap a chalk line all the way across the roof. Place your third layer of shingles along this chalk line, with the wide edge of the shingles touching the line. Be sure to lay the shingles of this row so they cover the space between the shingles underneath and, once again, leave 1/4 inch between all singles on this row.

6. Measure up 5 inches from the thick edge of the newest row and then place your next row of shingles with the thick edge touching this line, placing 2 nails in each shingle as previously described. Make certain that each new row of shingles covers the space between the shingles in the row beneath it. Use a saw to cut shingles at either end of the row so they fit. Continue going up the roof until you reach the peak. Lay roofing felt over the peak of your roof before you lay the final row of shingles that forms the peak. A hand plane may be needed to round the top edges of the shingles at the peak for a pleasing look.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear gloves and eye protection when nailing (or using a nail gun).