Easily Installing Roof Shingles

In terms of installing roof shingles experience is helpful, however it could be accomplished by a novice with some pre-planning. This involves reading over every step that is involved in the process before starting the job. Then one must evaluate the needs of their own roof and make notes or adjustments accordingly. The evaluation must take into account any damage that's visible to the siding, the current shingles and the structure itself.

Most people avoid installing roof shingles themselves is because of the fear of the unknown and fear of a sudden downpour after all the old shingles are removed. To aid within the prevention of this, divide the area to be worked on into sections. If possible, use the natural sections of the structure. This would result in as few as twoor as many as 8 sections or even more. If working on a steep incline then first attach roof jacks with planks. This creates a platform to walk on. A good rule of thumb is to tie the ladder to one of the planks, this prevents the ladder from falling. Now start tearing off the old shingles.

Here's when the truth comes out about installing roof shingles. Once the old materials are gone you might evaluate the sheathing. For older houses this could be filled with uneven wood planks, holes or missing planks all together. If the wood planks are uneven due to the thickness of each and every section then those should be replaced to help even it out. Then place plywood or OSB(Oriented Strand Board) in a single layer over the existing sheathing. Plywood is a better option because OSB has a tendency to swell when it gets wet and will rot a terrific deal sooner than plywood.

Clean off the roofing nails and any other problems before moving on. It is preferred to pull out rusted nails as opposed to nailing them in. This prevents the existing wood from cracking over time. This would take a little more time but it's worth it within the long run. It also helps to start at the top when removing old materials and work your way down. Remove a 4 or five foot section at a time and replace with the plywood or OSB. This may help to prevent interior damage in case of an unexpected storm. Place a layer of tar paper on top of the plywood or OSB as you go.

When nailing everything down be sure to use 3 inch nails. This allows the nail to reach the rafter, not just the sheathing. If the nails tend to go through the OSB/plywood then scale back the air pressure on the nail gun. If this doesn't work then it may be necessary to nail by hand. This would take a bit longer but it will be worth it to do a successful job installing roof shingles.

Before installing roof shingles, make sure to install the drip ridge, appropriate aluminum flashing and any extreme weather sheathing. Remember to rearrange the roof jacks and planks to allow for proper alignment of the roofing shingles. Begin attaching the new shingles from the bottom to the top of the roofline. Keep at a consistent level and pattern.