How to Cap Hip Roof Shingles

A hip roof is shaped similar to a pyramid. The roof has four sides, as well as four sloping ridges, know as hips. The hips extend from the outer four corners at a 45 degree angle that comes to a point at the top. When the flat surfaces have been shingled with three tab shingles, the hips must be capped.

Supplies:

• Nail gun (or hammer and nails)


• Marking pencil


• Chalk line


• Roofing cement


• 1 bundle of three-tab shingles per 30 feet of hip length


• Razor blade (utility knife or roofing knife)

1. Take three tab shingles and cut them into three pieces. A bundle of three tab shingles are enough for 30 feet of hip length.


2. Put the first two hip roof shingles on the lowest end of the hip in order to create a starter shingle. Secure the starter shingle with two nails in the adhesive part. A nail should be on either side of the hip. The shingle should overlap the three tab shingles on the left and right.


3. Put a ridge shingle at the top of the hip. Make marks on sides where the shingles sit. The marks and the first shingle from bottom of the hip will be end points for snapping a chalk line on each side.


4. Put the first shingle on top of the starter shingle on the bottom of the hip. It should overlap the adhesive part of the starter shingle. Use a nail to secure the second shingle on both sides.


5. Repeat until you get to the top of the hip, doing steps two through five for each.


6. Cut the last shingle for the peak. You will cement it in place and use four nails to secure it. The cement will set during this time.