How to Install Shingles?

Any homeowner knows the importance, for both home value and for weather resistance, of properly installing and maintaining a shingle roof, especially in an area with the brutal range of weather that Chicago brings. While shingle replacement and shingle installation is often a job that most property owners trust to reliable roofing companies in Chicago, if you are interested in doing it yourself, here is a helpful guide to doing it yourself:

A 12 Step Process for Shingle Installation

1. These project guidelines are for low roofs that allow easy access, such as those on porches, sheds, or doghouses. For larger roofs, hiring professional roofing contractors in Chicago with proper fall protection is advised.
2. Line up aluminum drip edge flush with the edge of the roof and make a pencil line at the top on each end of the house.
3. Using the chalk line, snap a line between the two marks to get a straight edge.
4. Pull the drip edge down about a half-inch from that line to create a gap between the drip edge and the fascia board.
5. Nail the drip edge in place using 1¼-inch galvanized roofing nails and a hammer.
6. Repeat steps for gabled ends, installing the drip edge up the roof along the gable.
7. Lay out 30-lb. asphalt roofing felt paper and nail it in place using 1¼-inch galvanized roofing nails.
8. To lay out the design for the shingles, begin at the bottom of the roof and place a tape measure ½ inch from the edge of the roof to ensure the shingles overhang the drip edge.
9. Mark 12 inches up on the roof for the first course of shingles, then mark every 5 inches all the way up the roof to set your reveal. Do this on both sides of the roof.
10. Using the chalk line, snap a straight line on each 5-inch increment.
11. Use the chalk line to snap a straight line vertically every 6 inches.
12. Install a starter course by cutting off the three tabs on a shingle, leaving only the top tar section.

Seems like a lot? It is, so if you have the funds and the time, we recommend reaching out to professional roofing companies in Chicago like Nico to let the experts handle this difficult work safely and professionally for you.