How to Apply Asphalt Roof Shingles
Asphalt shingles are designed to last about 20 years, but they won't last forever. You will eventually need a new roof or some roof repairs. Applying asphalt shingles to a roof is hard work but it can be done, even by someone without experience. The key is to prepare and have good instructions for applying asphalt roof shingles. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shingles
- Ridge shingles
- Asphalt roofing cement
- Hammer
- Flashing material
- Chalk line
- Tin snips
- Level
- Ladder
- Work gloves
- Roofing nails
- #15 Felt roofing
- Heavy duty staple gun
- Staples
- #90 Mineral surface roofing
- Pry bar
Instructions
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Instructions
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1
Make of list what you'll need. Measure the length and width of your roof. Multiply that number to get the square feet and divide by 100 to determine the amount of shingles needed. Buy 10 percent more than you'll need. Shingles are sold by the square and you'll need about 2 1/2 pounds of roofing nails per square.
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2
Repair any problems with the roof's structure. Use a pry bar to pull up loose nails and shingles. Put asphalt roofing cement on the back of new shingles, put them on the roof and nail into place. If there are more than three layers of shingles already on your roof they will all need to be removed.
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3
Shingle valleys where two sections of roof join at an angle. Cover with mineral surface roofing, attach an 18-inch wide strip of flashing from the eaves to the roof ridge, nail flashing's outer edges and put roofing cement on center edges. Cover with a 36-inch wide strip of roofing felt. Put two chalk lines down valley edges. Cut shingles to fit and attach with cement and nails.
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4
Apply roofing felt. Start at the edge of the eaves and roll a layer of roofing felt over the plywood roof. Staple it and add another layer of felt, making sure the layers overlap by 2 inches. Continue layering to complete the roof.
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5
Mark the center of your roof with a chalk line. Lay a starter strip on the roof's bottom edge extending over the eaves by 5/8 inch. Make a new chalk line on top of the starter strip and attach a shingle with four nails spaced evenly apart. Hammer nails directly in and continue applying shingles outward toward the roof's edge.
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Put a new chalk line down on the first row of shingles. Attach a new row of shingles like you did with the first row. Repeat for the entire roof. Remember shingle cut-outs should not be placed directly on top of each other, so place the shingle's cut-out over the center of the shingle under it.
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7
Put mineral surface roofing around pipes or chimneys. Cut out flashing to fit around the bottom of pipes or chimney making sure it extends 6 inches outward. Use roofing cement and nails to secure flashing. For chimneys, cut out 7 x 10 inch strips of flashing, bend them in half, and attach to the chimney using roofing cement and nails. Lay shingles over the flashing using roofing cement and nails to secure.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear rubber soled shoes so you won't slip. Pick up loose nails and shingles which might cause you to slip or fall. Don't start roofing when it's cold or wet.
Roofing can be dangerous, so use extreme caution. Be careful when working around power lines or antennas.
