How to Install Red Cedar Shingles
Roof shingles made from red cedar will add beauty and value to your home. A red cedar roof can last up to 40 years, so despite the cost of the materials, it is a worthwhile investment for your home. Installing a roof of red cedar shingles can be a do-it-yourself job for many homeowners. No special equipment is required.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Building roof paper
- Red cedar shingles
- Galvanized or stainless steel roofing nails
- Roofing hammer
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1
Install building roof paper on roof deck. Follow manufacturer's instructions.
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2
Start at the bottom of the roof. Place a shingle so the fatter, narrow edge is flush with the edge of the roof.
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3
Drive two nails into the shingle. Place them 6 inches up from the bottom edge and 1 inch in from each side.
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4
Line up the bottom of the next shingle with the edge of the roof, as with the first shingle. Leave approximately a ¼ inch gap between the two shingles. Nail as in Step 3.
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5
Continue until the entire first row of shingles is installed. Trim the last shingle in the row if it hangs over the edge of the roof when correctly placed ¼ inch from the previous one.
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6
Install second course. Stagger the shingles so their centers fall directly over the gaps between the shingles in the previous row. Lay the shingle so that the fat, narrow end is 5 inches from the bottom of the shingles in the previous row (this is called the "reveal"). Insert two nails, as before, 6 inches up from the bottom and 1 inch in from the sides of the shingle.
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7
Place another layer of paper over the final course of shingles on each side of the peak of the roof. Then lay a second course of shingles directly over the paper. Cut them to length so that the shingles from both sides of the peak meet at the summit.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Use a scrap piece of wood, cut 5 inches square, to measure the distance from the bottom of one shingle to the bottom of the one installed in the course above it. This helps ensure that you install the red cedar shingles with a consistent reveal.
Use galvanized or stainless steel nails when installing red cedar shingles; regular steel nails will rust and stain them.
