How to Cap Shingle a Hip Roof

In roofing the ridge-cap shingles, also known as peak shingles, are the finishing touch on the roof. Cap shingles cover the seam between opposing roof slopes and proper installation is absolutely necessary for protection from leaks, as the peak is the initial point of water run-off. Install peak shingles once the main slopes of the roof have been shingled. Purchase ready-cut cap shingles or create your own cap shingles but cutting down multi-flap shingles into individual shingles. Cut ridge-cap shingles so that both edges of the upper, overlap portion of the shingles are angled inward.

Things You'll Need

• Cap shingles
• Roofing nails
• Hammer
• Utility knife
• Roofing tar

Instructions

1. Position the first shingle so the end of the shingle is flush with the edge of the roof.

2. Secure the shingle with roofing nail. Nail one roofing nail on either side of the roof peak. Nail just below the self-sealing strip on the shingle.

3. Overlap the first shingle with a successive shingle. The end of the successive shingle should go at least 2 inches past the self-sealing strip.

4. Continue nailing successive shingles until you get to the opposite end of the roof. At this point you will be left with one uncovered shingle.

5. Use your utility knife to remove the overlap portion of a cap shingle so you just have half of a shingle. Use this to cover the overlap portion of the last attached shingle. Nail one nail again on either side of the roof peak.

6. Cover up those last two exposed nail heads with a roofing tar to keep water from seeping into the nail hole.

Tips & Warnings

• Install ridge cap shingles so that the ends of the shingles face away from the common incoming direction of prevailing winds in your area.

• Make sure you are using roofing nails that are long enough to go through all the roofing materials and to adequately penetrate the roof sheathing.

References

• biytoday.com: How to Install the Ridge Cap