How to Install Dimensional Shingles
Dimensional asphalt shingles are a good choice for your roof because they are easy to install, can last 30 years or more and withstand winds up to 120 miles per hour. Also known as laminate or architectural shingles, they are called dimensional shingles because they give your roof a three dimensional look. Their attractiveness and durability make them a popular choice for homeowners. The right instructions will help you install dimensional shingles on your roof. 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
- Utility knife
Instructions
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Buy supplies to install shingles. There are several items you'll need but dimensional shingles are the main one. Shingles are sold in what's called a square which includes enough shingles to install 100 square feet of roof. How many squares you'll need depends on the size of your roof. Take the length and width of your roof, multiply them and divide the answer by 100. Add 10 percent and that's how many shingles you need to buy. Also get 2 ½ pounds of roofing nails for every shingle.
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Make repairs if necessary. Your roof might have structural damage which needs to be repaired. If you already have a layer or two of shingles on your roof you need to check for loose nails and loose, damaged or missing shingles. Get a pry bar and pull up nails and shingles that need to be removed. Get them out of your work area so you won't trip over them. Replace missing shingles by putting down felt if you're installing them on the roof's structure. Installing them on other layers of shingles will require you putting roofing cement on the back of the replacement shingle before putting it down. Once in place, take 4 nails and hammer them directly into the shingle to secure it to the roof. If you have more than 3 layers of shingles already on your roof they will all have to be removed before installing dimensional shingles.
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Roll roofing felt out. Start by the roof's eaves and roll one layer across the roof. Staple it in place and roll out another layer. Make each layer overlap the previous one by 2 inches. Cover the entire roof in felt. If you are installing dimensional shingles over an existing layer of shingles you will not need felt.
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Put down a starter strip. Mark the center of your roof with a chalk line. Put down a starter strip and let it hang over the eaves by 5/8 inch. If starter strips didn't come with your shingle square purchase you can make them by cutting off the bottom tabs of several shingles.
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Make another chalk line at the roof's center. At that point install your first dimensional shingle. Hammer 4 nails directly into the shingle and continue working outward to the roof's edge. After completing one row start another row. Place the bottom cut out tabs of shingles over the middle of the shingles on the row below it. Staggering shingles will help prevent leaks.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear shoes that don't have a slippery sole. Get someone to help you install shingles.
Be careful around antennas, power lines and conduits.
