If you are planning on putting asphalt shingles on your roof, you have to know that you are not alone. Asphalt shingles have become the favorite material used on roofs all over the United States.
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And this has happened for several reasons: they are budget-friendly and come in a wide variety of textures and colors, which makes it easy to use them on most homes, no matter what the architectural style of the property is. As youtube ready to start the installation, here are some useful tips.
Safety First
Before attempting to install asphalt shingles or perform any other job on your roof, take the necessary precautions to do it safely. Start by using a ladder that is stable and set it up on the solid, level ground. Place plywood under it if necessary. Raise it to extend at least 3 feet above the roofline.
Also, check the weather forecast and do not start a roofing project if the next few days you are going to get rain. Hot and humid days can also make the job more difficult by softening the shingles and making them more likely to get damaged.
Finally, wear the right shoes that will provide you some grip on the roof, and use a tool belt to have everything handy. You may also want to consider wearing a safety harness.
Start From Bottom to Top
Starting at the bottom left corner of your roof’s surface, work towards the right, moving upward from the eave towards the roof’s peak. If your roof has valleys and seams, pay particular attention to those sections since almost all roof leaks happen in areas in which two planes of the roof meet or around chimneys. Carefully install roof flashing in these strategic points before starting the installation. Asphalt shingles call for aluminum flashing to obtain the best results.
If you discover that these areas already had flashing installed, make sure is it still in good condition before installing shingles over it. Leaving an old flashing that may be leaking could mean many headaches down the road.
Work With One Bundle Before Opening the Next One
You will notice that the colors of the shingles have a slight variation between bundles. Avoid having too many color variations by using up one bundle before starting with the next. Ask your roofing supplier to sell you bundles that come from the same lot to avoid too many variations in color.
Confirm That the Deck is Solid
Install your shingles over a firm, solid roof deck. If it is a new roof, use sheet material that is approved to be used as roof decking. Plywood should be labeled PDX.
Take Care of All the Details
To get a perfectly installed roof, every detail is important. This starts from the moment you use proper nails that meet building codes and are made of galvanized steel to prevent corrosion. Also, be sure to attach each cap shingle with two nails, one flanking each peak. Finally, each shingle should be attached with four nails unless you are in an area where high winds are common. In those cases, six nails are needed.
There are many specific steps that make for a successful roof installation. If you want to learn more, go to https://portlandroofing.com/products/malarkey/.