How to Install Asphalt Shingles on Low Pitch Roofs
Asphalt roof construction is typically made up of three layers. A solid plywood or chipboard deck serves as the foundation. A layer of asphalt-infused heavyweight paper, known as roofing felt, is the middle layer. It serves to help waterproof the decking and adds shock absorption. The top is made up of a layer of textured asphalt shingles that are typically split with two or three slits to create three or four tab shingles. The pitch of the roof has little bearing on the installation technique, although low pitches are easier to work on. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Roofing felt
- Utility knife
- Roofing nails
- Hammer
- Edge flashing
- Asphalt shingles
Instructions
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Cover the decking of the roof with a layer of roofing felt. Felt is typically manufactured in rolls approximately 3 feet wide. Lay the first row along the bottom edge of the roof. Nail the felt in place with galvanized nails with nylon washers. Use one nail every 12 to 16 inches. Cut the felt to length with a utility knife.
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Lay the second row of felt overlapping the first 4 to 6 inches to provide adequate coverage. Continue adding felt up the slope of the roof in rows as far as possible. When the distance to the peak is less than the width of the felt, start at the bottom edge of the opposite side. Fold a row of felt in the center for the peak. Overlap the felt on both faces of the roof.
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Cut pieces of edge flashing to fit the edges of the roof and nail them in place along each edge using 1 1/4-inch galvanized roofing nails.
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Lay a row of starter shingles along the bottom edge of the roof on both faces. Nail them in place with a nail every 10 to 12 inches. Cut the shingles to length with a utility knife.
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Start at one corner of the bottom edge on one face of the roof. Spacing them out evenly, nail the shingles in place with 6 nails per shingle, nailing the top corners and just below the tar line.
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Butt the next shingle up to the first and nail in place. Continue adding full shingles as far as possible. Cut a shingle to fit the space between the last full shingle and the end of the roof with a utility knife and nail in place.
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Start the second row with the cut end of the shingle cut to fit the end of the first row. This allows the slits between tabs to be staggered providing better weatherproofing and a more aesthetically pleasing pattern. Add full shingles as far as possible and cut a shingle to fit the end of the roof.
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Continue adding rows starting the third row with a full shingle, the fourth row with a cut shingle and so on. Add rows to within a few inches of the peak. Install the shingles on the opposite face of the roof in the same way.
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Fold ridge shingles over the peak, install them starting from both ends and working toward the middle overlapping each shingle as you go. At the center, fold one shingle over the gap, where the two rows of shingles meet, overlapping on both sides. Nail it down at all four corners
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References
- Photo Credit folding utility knife image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com
