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How to Install Roof Shingles

Aparna Jadhav
Installation of roof shingles is ideally done by professionals. However, if you have the knowledge of the process, then you can do it on your own. Here, we give a step by step guide to the same.
Shingles are coverings which can be installed on the roofs and usually consist of individual overlapping elements. The elements are generally flat, rectangular shaped, and are laid in rows without their edges overlapping each other. These are also water resistant in nature and thus, they are used to protect houses which are situated in heavy rain regions.
They are made from many different materials like wood, asbestos-cement, slate, and ceramic. There are fiberglass-based asphalt shingles and paper-based ones too. They are very easy to install, but it is a time-consuming procedure. Take a look at the following steps which show you how to install roof shingles in an easy way.

Requirements

When you decide to install shingles for your home, choose the type of shingles you want. After selecting the type, also find out which are the more inexpensive ones, if you are on a low-budget. You will also need to get your hands on a few materials like,
  • Tar paper
  • Shingles and nails
  • Measuring tape
  • Chalk line
  • Heavy duty shears or vinyl cutters
  • Hammer

Steps for Installation

1. You will need to take a tar paper to scheme out the installation properly and skillfully. So, start laying the roofing felt paper first at the bottom of the roof and then build it up to the top with overlaying sheets. You can do this, by using nails and galvanized screws.
2. Installing asphalt shingles instead of metal, wood, or slate, will surely be an easy job. Once the felt is secured, you can start nailing the shingles into the tar paper. The first layer has to be the strongest so it is done by cutting off the tabs and nailing to the bottom.
3. You have to make sure that the valleys don't leak and so, the first layer has to be strong to hold up the rest. For this reason, make a chalk line measurement for every horizontal and vertical arrangement that you make.
4. After the first row is installed, the second row will go quickly, as the measurements taken are to be chalked well in advance. Continue doing this for the all the next rows till you reach the top of the roof. Once the last row is fixed, you will have to install the ridge roll. Nail all the shingles to the ridge and nail the ridge to the base of the roof.
5. Since these are fixed to give the house protection from rain and snow, it is necessary to use nails and tar paper, which are also made of good weatherproof materials. For extra strength to the roof to stand, they have to be nailed in a particular place.
6. Thus, the installation is an easy job. The only thing you have to take care of is, to make sure the base is fixed well. This is because, the rain and moisture can make the base weak from the top to the bottom leading to loss of resistance.
You can follow the aforementioned steps for the installation, but make sure to use a schematic representation of the roof and the shingles.