Installing roofing shingles in not an inherently complicated job, but it is labor-intensive and time consuming. For those up to the challenge, installing them yourself can save you a lot of money.
To get started you’ll need to know the area of the entire roof space. Measure the length and width of each section, multiplying the two numbers to get the square footage. Add all of those numbers together and you’ll have the total area of the roof. Take that number to your home improvement store and purchase your shingles, hopefully you won’t need an entire wood pallet’s worth! You’ll need roughly a half-pound of galvanized roofing nails for every bundle of shingles. Use shorter nails for a new roof, longer nails if installing over an existing roof. You’ll also need to put down roofing felt first if your project is a new roof.
Begin with a starter strip at the bottom edge of the roof. It can be a pre-made strip purchased at your home improvement store, or you can cut the tabs off the singles and use them to create the strip. Let the strip overhang the eave by a quarter inch or so, applying the nails to the top edge of the strip. If using shingles for the starter strip place four nails in each shingle. One nail at each of the outside edges, and one each where the tabs met.
Once the strip is installed, lay the first course of shingles directly on top of the starter strip with the same quarter inch overhang. Nail them in place with the same four-nail pattern used in the strip. Install each successive course by snapping a chalk line approximately four or five inches above the top edge of the previous course. Line the top edge of the new course up with the chalk line, allowing the bottom half the new shingle to overlap the one below. Take this pattern all the way to the peak and use hip shingles to finish the job. Remember to stagger the edges where two singles meet so that they don’t meet in the same place in successive courses. This helps prevent leaks.
For repair jobs, use a crowbar or roofing scraper to remove the nails from the damaged shingles. If you cannot get the nails out, use a sharp knife to cut way the shingles, then remove the nails or drive them into the roof below. Apply a small amount of roofing cement to the underneath edge of the new shingle and slip it into place. Use four roofing nails to secure it, making sure that they will be covered by the overlapping shingle above. Apply a small amount of roofing cement to the nail heads.
Because of the danger of working on a roof, always make sure it is warm and dry. Wear shoes that will grip the roof, avoid loose-fitting clothing, and always enlist the help of others. If the pitch of your roof is fairly steep, consider building, renting, or purchasing roof braces that will give you extra footing.
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