How To Lay Wood Shingles On A Roof

Generally cedar is the wood of choice.

How to lay wood shingles on a roof.

Beveled wood pieces called horsefeathers must be laid along the thick edges of the shakes to make a fairly flat surface. As with the roofing shingles make sure to leave a gap of 1 8 to 1 4 between each shingle to allow for expansion. Using this chalk line method extend the first row around the entire shed. When you install wood shake roof shingles place one shingle on the left of your guide line and a second shingle on the right side.

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. Attach the shingle to the roof with two nails driven in near its top edge. Attach each shingle with two 1 1 4 roofing nails driving the nail heads flush with the wood but not into the wood. When you are looking for the wood shingles be sure to choose a wood with a serious treatment so that it can hold up to the climate.

If you hit a stack vent or chimney interlace the shingles with the flashing to allow water to run down the roof. Most asphalt shingles are 3 feet 91 4 centimeters in length. Make sure that you find a durable wood for shingle use. Measure the length of a shingle as it lies across the roof.

Thisoldhouse asktoh subscribe to this old house. Ensure the second shingle overhangs the edge of the roof by the same amount as the first shingle. Drive a roofing nail directly through the corner of each shingle. Put the next shingle about one eighth to one quarter of an inch away from the edge of the first shingle.

This leaves room for the shingles to contract and expand. Step 2 roof safety check. Asphalt shingles can be laid over cedar shakes or shingles however this is a roofing project best left to pros. Continue laying your shingles horizontally up the roof.

Ask this old house general contractor tom silva reveals the best ways to secure shingles to a roof. When you reach the peak either bring the ridge edges together with a ridge capping layer or cut regular shingles into 3 tabbed equal pieces and bend them so they fit on the roof peak. This will help determine how the shingles will lay on the roof width. The first thing you need to do when figuring out how to put shingles on a roof is to determine which type of roofing shingles you need.

The shingles should be no more than five eighths of an inch apart. 3 tab shingles are the most common type of shingle they are typically 36 inches long in total.