How to lay these architectural shingles?
(New to Breaktime, new to roofing…)
I am building a small playhouse, and decided to roof it with GAF Timberline Architectural shingles mostly because we like the color (Patriot Red).
It is a simple gable roof with eaves 107 inches long.
The shingles are “English Size” 36 15/16″ with a 5″ exposure.
I intended to follow the manufacturer’s recommended pattern:
working from left to right, trim 6 inches from the (left) rake end of the 2nd course, 11 inches from the 3rd course, and 17 inches from the 4th course, then start with a full shingle for the 5th course, etc.
However, I see that after 3 shingles (31″ + 37″ + 37″ = 105″), the 2nd, and 6th courses end up about 2 inches shy of the (right) rake.
I understand that it is not ideal to use a 2-inch wide shingle at the end of a course, but I don’t know how else to pattern these.
The cutouts are complex — sort of random, and the 6 – 11 – 17 offset seems to align them nicely.
Should I stick with the GAF recommendation, or is there another way to do this that both looks good, and handles rainwater properly, etc.?
Thank you,
P.
Replies
Start with a full shingle then, your next course will be a 3/4 shingle, then a full shingle on top of that, keep stepping them until you get to the ridge.
Then start all over at the bottom with full shingles.
You will be shingleing straight up the roof instead of diagonally across it.
if it's falling out bad on the far rake.. don't start on the opposite rake
snap a centerline right up the middle from eave to ridge
then 3" to one side.. start your first shingle here, then follow the suggested stagger
or adjust your layout so as to avoid the 2" ending. You don't need to start with a full shingle... just be sure to stagger joints as instructed.
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein
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Timberline shingles are random patterned. It doesn't matter what size you start with as long as the joints in the next row are offset at least 6" from the previous row. It is best to avoid 2" starters or finishers. You don't have to have your rows start at the same point with random architecturals. You could use the left over cut from one row to start the next as long as the joints are staggered. You can even cut the next to last shingle so you won't have a small finisher. That's one of the beauties of architectural shingles, no pattern or notches in the shingle to line up. Actually, the more random the better the appearance. I hate seeing all the joints line up with these type of shingles. It shows a uniform pattern on an otherwise random look.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
P.,
Welcome to Breaktime!
"The cutouts are complex -- sort of random, and the 6 - 11 - 17 offset seems to align them nicely."
If you want to be anal about it (and I might well be if it were me)...
Instead of cutting off 0, 6, 11, and 17 inches, cut off 2, 8, 13, and 19 (or whatever added measurement has all the rows ending up with a decent sized shingle at the end).
Then when the playhouse is completed, come back and post a pic!
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.