How to Cedar Shingle a Roof
Cedar shingles can last anywhere from 15 to 40 years, and they usually require very little maintenance after installation. If you're comfortable working on a roof, installing cedar shingles may be something you can do. Shingling a roof requires precision and patience, so make sure to leave yourself enough time to finish the job. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Apply building paper to the entire roof deck. To do this, unroll the paper over the bottom strip of the roof deck, and insert two rows of nails to hold it down. One row should go across the top of the strip, and the other row should go across the bottom of the strip. Apply a second strip of building paper above the first, and slightly overlapping it, continue until you reach the peak of the roof.
-
2
Measure the height of a shingle, and mark the height at either end of the roof deck. Then snap a chalk line to connect the two marks by holding the string of the chalk line at either end, lifting the center of the string, and then letting go. The chalk line should snap against the roof deck, leaving a straight mark. This mark shows where the top of the first course of shingles should fall.
-
-
3
Position the first shingle at a lower corner of the roof deck, using the chalk line as a guide. Insert two nails into the shingle, one at each upper corner, making sure that each nail is at least one inch from the edge of the shingle.
-
4
Continue installing the first course of shingles using this method, leaving about 1/4 inch between each pair of shingles. Cedar shingles can expand due to moisture, so this extra space will ensure that they will not crack when expanding.
-
5
Snap a second chalk line above the first, and install the second course of shingles. Continue until you reach one course away from the peak of the roof.
-
6
Install additional roofing paper over the peak of the roof, and install the last course of shingles over the paper. This will reduce shingle damage at the peak and encourage air circulation.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Inspect your newly-shingled roof often to check for damage.
Do not work on the roof during inclement weather. This includes rainy, snowy or windy conditions.
Do not shingle a flat roof, or one with only a slight slope, with cedar shingles. This can lead to water damage due to settling of water and snow on the roof.
