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Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Roofing

Guide Home
Chapter
  • Tools and Materials
  • Roof Replacement and Reroofing
  • Roof Ventilation
  • Waterproofing
  • Installing Asphalt Shingles
  • Installing Other Types of Roofs
  • Roof Maintenance and Repair
How-To

How To Install Shingles and Step Flashing

Watch as these roofers lay out materials, set a starter course, and cut and nail down flashing and shingles.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Narrator: The first step in shingling is loading the roof. Despite what you commonly see, it’s bad practice to bend the bundles severely by draping them over the ridge. Instead, the roofers arrange them so they lay relatively flat.

Once the material is up on the roof, they can move on to the starter course. Shingle installation begins with starter shingles that are installed along the eave and rake edges.

Tom Melillo, residential project manager, Roof Services:  The main reason for a starter course is to fill the gaps between the keys on the shingles. Without the starter course, water would run through the gaps in the shingles, eventually causing damage to the underlayment and sheathing.

Narrator: First they measure so the starter course will overhang the drip edge by 3/8-in. and snap a line. They line up the course using a complete starter shingle (not split), so it goes up the roof twice as far as normal.

Tom Melillo: We’re using a full starter in this case because of the exposure of the shingle that we’re using. It requires a full starter because the keys are so deep. On standard architectural shingle we would use a half of a starter. Starter shingles come with a perforation on the back that allows you to snap it in half.

When you’re looking at a finished roof you’ll notice a pattern. Well that pattern isn’t accidental. Shingles need to have a proper offset from each other to create that pattern.

Narrator: Because the garage roof butts into the exterior wall, we’ll need step flashing at the transition. Conventional step flashing would allow water to run down the siding and cause damage, so we’re using this kick-out flashing at the edge of the roof to direct water away from the house. Then the roofers install the first shingle on top of the starter course and kick-out flashing. Once the shingle is inlace, they will continue with traditional 4×6 aluminum step flashing that they bend by hand nailing only through the vertical leg as high up as possible.

To maintain the proper offset, they lay the next shingle upside down and use the notch on the previous shingle to locate the cut.

Working from left to right, they continue with the starter course and full shingles until they have enough coverage to continue up the roof with full shingles. The shingles in this project have yellow marks to show correct nail placement. Not all shingles have these markings, but you can find instructions for nailing on the shingle wrapper.

Again, they lay the shingles upside down to mark the next cut, and they use a knife with a hooked blade to prevent damage to underlying shingles. They are careful not to nail through the step flashing as they nail the shingles. Architectural shingles have two or three layers, so it may take several passes to cut through them.

They repeat the process over and up as they continue shingling the entire roof. Nails should be driven flush with the shingle. Over-driven nails can lead to shingle blow off in high winds. Under-driven nails can wear through  the shingles on top of them leading to leaks.

Once shingling is complete, only two steps remain. They will have to cut the overhanging rake shingles and install the ridge vent.

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Videos in the Series

  • Introduction: How to Replace a Roof

    Get an overview of the entire process before watching our how-to series on re-roofing an existing building.

  • roof sheathing

    Replacing a Roof: How to Strip Old Shingles and Patch Sheathing

    A pro roofing contractor demonstrates how to keep a job site clean, remove worn-out roofing, and replace damaged board sheathing before installing a new roof.

  • How to Install Drip Edge When Replacing a Roof

    A pro roofing contractor shows how to install these crucial water-management details before the shingles go on.

  • How To Install Shingles and Step Flashing

    How To Install Shingles and Step Flashing

    Watch as these roofers lay out materials, set a starter course, and cut and nail down flashing and shingles.

  • Step-by-Step Ridge Vent Installation Instructions

    The last phase of this project includes cutting through the sheathing at the ridge, fastening down vent material, and nailing down roof-cap shingles.

Previous: Setting Up Roof Jacks Next: Fastener Placement

Guide

Roofing

Chapter

Installing Asphalt Shingles

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Roofing

Roofing

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Tools and Materials
  • Roof Coverings
  • Roofing Materials
  • Power Tools
  • Handy Helpers
  • Staging and Ladders
  • Safety Equipment
Roof Replacement and Reroofing
  • Preparing the Old Roof
  • Sheathing
  • Installing the New Roof
Roof Ventilation
  • Venting Basics
  • Installation
Waterproofing
  • Underlayment
  • Drip Edge
  • Flashing Adjoining Walls
  • Dormer and Skylight Flashing
  • Chimney Flashing
  • Vent Flashing
  • Gutters
Installing Asphalt Shingles
  • Calculating Shingles
  • Layout
  • Installation
  • Valleys
Installing Other Types of Roofs
  • Cedar Shingles
  • Metal
  • Low-Slope Roofs
  • Slate and Tile
Roof Maintenance and Repair
  • Assessing the Problem
  • Repairing Asphalt-Shingle Roofs
  • Other Roofing Repairs

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