First Row For Roof

To begin installing the first shingles on your roof cut off the three tabs on the shingle.

First row for roof.

The height distance up the roof of the starter slate must be at least 3 inches greater than the vertical exposure on the first course of slate. 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 installing the paper you will overlap the felt paper per local building code usually 2 4. The exposure on the first course of slates may be reduced by dropping the chalk line for the top of the second course of slates in order to increase the headlap on the starter course.

Most asphalt shingles are 3 feet 91 4 centimeters in length. Lay the starter row of metal shingles at the drip edge and affix to the roof with metal roofing nails. Make sure you keep this first row straight using the ice and water shield as a guide. To make your own use the flat solid part of the shingles.

You can either purchase starter strips or make your own by cutting shingles to size. The first row of shingles is called a starter strip. Lay the first row of shingles directly covering the narrow starter row. Start at the eave area just over the ice and water shield with a three inches of overlap about 3 and work your way up.

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. Using a utility knife cut them off at the bottom of the adhesive strip. Begin your first row at the lower left corner of your roof. This will help determine how the shingles will lay on the roof width.

Ask this old house general contractor tom silva reveals the best ways to secure shingles to a roof. Make sure this row has a slight overhang 1 4 to 3 8 in beyond the drip edge. Snap a horizontal chalk line over the starting row to use as a guide. Following the manufacturer s directions.

If your roof s width is not an even multiple of the shingle s length you will have a partial piece on one end of each row. Cut six inches off the length of the first starter shingle nailed on then use the rest of them full size. This should leave you with about 1 2 of the shingle left. Measure the length of a shingle as it lies across the roof.