Ways To Lay Out First Row Of Roof Shingles

Snap a horizontal chalk line over the starting row to use as a guide.

Ways to lay out first row of roof shingles.

Starting at the bottom of the roof map out a guideline with chalk. Many pros shingle in a vertical line up the roof because it s much faster. Lay the next row of shingles directly on top of the first row making the row two tiles thick. Use your chalk and tape measure to mark about 12 inches up on the roof for the first set of shingles.

Lay the first shingle on the roof with the adhesive section at the bottom of the roof. Their tab slots should not line up with the tab slots of the starter course if there are any. Shingle the other side and allow these pieces to overlap the ridge by no more than 4 inches. 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.

Nail the shingles just above the tab slots. It should overhang the drip edge about 1 4 inch. If you are making your own starter shingles cut the tabs off for the starter course bottom row of shingles. 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.

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. This row should project half an inch 1 27 centimeters over the eaves. To prepare the tabs and lay the starter course shorten the first starter shingle by 6 inches or about a half of one tab. 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.

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. Make sure this row has a slight overhang 1 4 to 3 8 in beyond the drip edge. Continue to chalk additional guidelines based on the width of the shingle through at least four courses rows across the roof. Cut six inches off the length of the first starter shingle nailed on then use the rest of them full size.

Place the glue strip at and all along the drip edge and the rake edges as well. Lay one row of shingles starting from the lower left corner of the roof. Lay the first row of shingles directly covering the narrow starter row.