Ways To Lay Out First Row Of Roof Shingles

Nail down the shingles as you go along.

Ways to lay out first row of roof shingles.

Many pros shingle in a vertical line up the roof because it s much faster. Known in the trade as vertical racking or staggering this how to lay shingles method enables the roofer to install a single column of shingles all the way to the peak without the wasted back and forth motion necessary to fill several rows of stair steps. Securing the first shingle using four roofing nails or up to six in high wind areas secure the starter shingle to the surface of the roof. Nail the shingles just above the tab slots.

Cut six inches off the length of the first starter shingle nailed on then use the rest of them full size. Their tab slots should not line up with the tab slots of the starter course if there are any. Lay the next row of shingles directly on top of the first row making the row two tiles thick. This row should project half an inch 1 27 centimeters over the eaves.

Lay the first row of shingles directly covering the narrow starter row. Shingle the other side and allow these pieces to overlap the ridge by no more than 4 inches. Lay the first shingle on the roof with the adhesive section at the bottom of the roof. Use your chalk and tape measure to mark about 12 inches up on the roof for the first set of shingles.

For the first row of shingles called a starter course or strip you cut the tabs off three tab shingles and apply them with the self sealing adhesive strip facing up along the eave. When you reach a peak or hip shingle all the way up the first side until the reveal portion of the shingles is within 4 inches of the peak and cut the 3 tab shingles just below the ridge. To prepare the tabs and lay the starter course shorten the first starter shingle by 6 inches or about a half of one tab. If you are making your own starter shingles cut the tabs off for the starter course bottom row of shingles.

Continue to chalk additional guidelines based on the width of the shingle through at least four courses rows across the roof. Before you install your first shingle use your utility knife to cut 6 inches off of the side then lay it on your roof allowing the architectural shingles to hang between 1 2 to 2 inches over the edge. Starting at the bottom of the roof map out a guideline with chalk. It should overhang the drip edge about 1 4 inch.

Lay one row of shingles starting from the lower left corner of the roof. Snap a horizontal chalk line over the starting row to use as a guide. Rip cut the shingles for the first course so they butt up against the third course of existing shingles and are even with the front edge of the starter course.