How to Lay Asphalt Roofing Shingles

A roof is one of a home's most important aspects and needs to be replaced every 10 years or so. A homeowner can extend the life of his roof by inspecting it regularly and by making minor repairs when necessary. If the structure is leaking or sagging, it will need to be replaced. A crucial part of that process is the installation of the roof's asphalt shingles.

What you will need:

• Shingles


• Roofing cement


• Flashing material


• Hammer


• Tin snips


• Work gloves


• Ladder


• Level


• Roofing nails


• Roofing felt


• Pry bar


• Heavy-duty staple gun


• Mineral surface roofing

1. Determine the amount of shingles you will need by multiplying the width and length of your roof, dividing the result by 100 and adding 10 percent to that number. 


2. Use a pry bar to remove the old layer of shingles and nails from the roof. Afterwards, make sure the roof's surface is sturdy and damage free.


3. Lay down roofing felt over the entire surface, and secure it in place with the staple gun. The felt acts as an extra layer of insulation between the roof and the shingles.


4. Apply roofing cement to the back of each shingle, and attach them to the roof by hammering roofing nails directly into their centers. Start at the bottom of the roof and work your way up, installing each row of shingles so that their bottoms overlap the previous row's tops.


5. Lay down a mineral surface roofing and then an 18-inch strip of flashing. Lay down a sheet of roofing felt, and then apply shingles to the valley where the two sections of the roof meet at an angle. You may have to cut the shingles so that they will fit snuggly in the space.