How to Cap Hip Roof Shingles

The sloping ridge in the center foreground is a hip.

A classic hip roof is a pyramid. It has four sides and four sloping ridges called "hips" which extend from the outer four corners of the roof at a 45-degree angle toward a single point at the top. Once you have shingled the flat surfaces of the roof with three-tab shingles, the hips must be "capped" or covered with cap shingles (otherwise known as ridge shingles, hip shingles or peak shingles.) The cap shingles will overlap the adjacent three-tab shingles. You will top it all off with a single cap shingle at the highest point.

Things You'll Need

• 1 bundle of three-tab shingles per 30 ft. of hip length
• Razor blade (utility knife or roofing knife)
• Nail gun (or hammer and nails)
• Marking pencil
• Chalk line
• Roofing cement

Instructions

1. Cut three-tab shingles into three pieces each to make hip roof shingles (otherwise known as ridge caps, cap shingles or peak shingles). One bundle of three-tab shingles is enough to cover 30 feet of hip length.

2. Apply the first two hip roof shingles to the lowest end of the hip as a double stack, together called a "starter shingle." Secure this starter shingle in place with two nails through the adhesive part, one nail on either side of the hip. The shingle will overlap (cap) the three-tab shingles to the left and right.

3. Lay a ridge shingle at the top of the hip abutting the ridge, but do not nail it yet. Just make marks where the sides of the shingle sit. Use those marks and the first shingle at the bottom of the hip as end points for snapping a chalk line along each side of the hip. These are your guidelines for capping the rest of the hip roof shingles.

4. Lay the first single shingle on top of the starter shingle you laid at the bottom of the hip, overlapping the adhesive portion of the starter shingle. Secure the second shingle in place with a nail on each side of the hip.

5. Repeat step 4 until you reach the top of the hip.

6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 for each hip.

7. Cut the last shingle to fit the peak. Cement it in place, and secure it with four nails while the cement sets.

Tips & Warnings

• Shingle on a warm, still day to assure maximum shingle flexibility and security.

• Have a partner hold end of the chalk line in step 3 to help you snap guidelines along the sides of the hips.

References

• Israel Kurd: Installing Asphalt Shingles

Resources

• Fine Homebuilding: Don't Fall Short on Shingles: How to Estimate Materials for Roofing Projects