How to Install Architectural Asphalt Shingles

Three-tab shingles were the industry standard for many years and continue to hold a healthy market share, but the newer architectural shingles are making inroads now, with more single family residential homes using them than the older three-tab shingles. They look better, contain more asphalt, are heavier, stay put in high winds better, and last longer. Also, despite how it may look, it is actually easier to install architectural asphalt shingles than it is to install three-tabs.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chalk line
• Hammer
• Tar paper
• Architectural shingles
• Starter strip
• Ridge cap shingles

1. Remove the old shingles, if needed. For a new roof, skip this step. For an existing roof with only one layer of shingles, this step is optional. Due to the irregular shape of the architectural asphalt shingles, they are able to mask the irregularities of being installed over existing shingles much better than standard shingles. For two or more layers, remove the shingles down to the bare roof deck.

2. Install the tar paper. Start at the lower edge of the roof and roll the tar paper from one side to the other. The next row up should overlap the row below by four inches or so.

3. Nail the starter strip along the bottom of the roof. Snap a chalk line to keep the row straight. Overhang the roof by an inch. Use a starter strip specifically designed for this, or just turn a shingle upside down so that the tabs are facing up.

4. Use a chalk line to snap guidelines to install the architectural shingles. Either snap lines every five inches from the top of the starter strip or every 20 inches. Snapping them every five inches will guarantee straight alignment on each course, while snapping at 20 will save some time, but might mean that several courses are a bit out of alignment.

5. Install the shingles. Start at the bottom and work up to the peak of the roof. The first course should completely cover the starter strip. For successive courses, align the top of the shingle with the chalk lines, where present. Architectural shingles also have alignment marks on the shingles themselves, so just place the bottom of the shingle about 1/4 inch below the line on the shingle below it.

6. Stagger the joints where shingles meet so that joints in one course aren't closer than six inches to a joint in the course below it.

7. Install ridge cap shingles along the peak of the roof. Place a ridge cap at each end and use them to snap a chalk line along the front side of the house. Install the rest of the ridge cap shingles using this line to ensure that they are aligned properly. Ridge cap shingles are sold specifically to match the architectural asphalt shingles.