How to Reshingle a Roof
Remove old shingles., Remove leftover debris from the roof., Secure loose boards, and nails that may have worked up (and are sticking up)., Cover large holes in boards., Install the roofing felt., Install the drip edge., Secure new shingles., Secure...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Remove old shingles.
Place a pitchfork, flat garden shovel or shingle scraper under the shingle.
Pry the shingle from the roof.
The nails in the shingle should come up with the shingle when you pry it off.
Remove all of the shingles on the roof. -
Step 2: Remove leftover debris from the roof.
Use the split end of a claw hammer to pry out nails still holding bits of shingles onto the roof.
Slide the split ends of the hammer under and around the nail.
Lever the split end of the hammer up to pull the nail out of the roof.
Refrain from pulling out the structural nails that are not flush to the surface.
Sweep or brush off any parts of shingles remaining on the roof.
Wear work gloves, if brushing off the roof with your hands. , Hammer (set) any nails that are loose in the roofing boards. , Use tin snips to cut a piece of aluminum flashing large enough to cover such holes.
Use a hammer tacker to nail aluminum flashing over the hole.
Leave small holes uncovered.
If you cannot fit your finger through a hole, it is small enough to leave uncovered. , Lay strips of felt horizontally across the roof.
Lay a strip of felt at the bottom of the roof and move towards the top of the roof with each new strip.
Ensure that each higher strip slightly overlaps the strip below it.
Use a staple gun or hammer tacker to staple the felt to the roof.
Place staples 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to
20.3 cm) apart in the felt. , Place the drip edge horizontally against the edge of the roof to mark a distance.
The curved-out edge should fit over the roof overhang.
The "flat" part may have embossed grooves/beads to add strength to the strip.
Use chalk along the inner/upper edge of the drip edge to mark where the drip edge lays on the felt.
Set the drip edge aside.
Measure 3/8 inch (~ 1 cm) downward from the chalk marking towards the roof edge.
This is to space the drip edge out from the roof edge that distance, evenly and consistently.
Mark this distance with chalk.
Align the inner edge of the drip edge with the marked lines on the felt.
You are not aligning the edge against the roof edge, but by following the marked line Nail the drip edge to the felt and roof with galvanized roofing nails. , Nail a horizontal row of shingles over the drip edge.
Hammer the nail into the top part of each shingle.
The shingles should jut out from 1/4 to 3/8 inch (.7 to 1 cm) over the drip edge.
Continue to nail horizontal rows of shingles onto the roof.
Each row should overlap the one below it by 1/4 inch (~ .7 cm), not less.
The center of each shingle in each row should lay directly above the edge of the shingle in the row below it.
You will have an offset pattern in the shingles, so that the edges of the shingles do not line up vertically. , Place the ridge cap shingles over the roof ridges.
The cap of each shingle should fall evenly in half over each side of the ridge.
Nail each side of the cap shingle into the roof.
Place and nail the shingles from the bottom of the roof to the top.
Ensure that each cap overlaps the one below it by 1/4 inch (~ .7 cm). , Place old shingles and nails in a garbage can or dumpster. -
Step 3: Secure loose boards
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Step 4: and nails that may have worked up (and are sticking up).
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Step 5: Cover large holes in boards.
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Step 6: Install the roofing felt.
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Step 7: Install the drip edge.
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Step 8: Secure new shingles.
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Step 9: Secure the ridge cap.
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Step 10: Dispose of the debris.
Detailed Guide
Place a pitchfork, flat garden shovel or shingle scraper under the shingle.
Pry the shingle from the roof.
The nails in the shingle should come up with the shingle when you pry it off.
Remove all of the shingles on the roof.
Use the split end of a claw hammer to pry out nails still holding bits of shingles onto the roof.
Slide the split ends of the hammer under and around the nail.
Lever the split end of the hammer up to pull the nail out of the roof.
Refrain from pulling out the structural nails that are not flush to the surface.
Sweep or brush off any parts of shingles remaining on the roof.
Wear work gloves, if brushing off the roof with your hands. , Hammer (set) any nails that are loose in the roofing boards. , Use tin snips to cut a piece of aluminum flashing large enough to cover such holes.
Use a hammer tacker to nail aluminum flashing over the hole.
Leave small holes uncovered.
If you cannot fit your finger through a hole, it is small enough to leave uncovered. , Lay strips of felt horizontally across the roof.
Lay a strip of felt at the bottom of the roof and move towards the top of the roof with each new strip.
Ensure that each higher strip slightly overlaps the strip below it.
Use a staple gun or hammer tacker to staple the felt to the roof.
Place staples 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to
20.3 cm) apart in the felt. , Place the drip edge horizontally against the edge of the roof to mark a distance.
The curved-out edge should fit over the roof overhang.
The "flat" part may have embossed grooves/beads to add strength to the strip.
Use chalk along the inner/upper edge of the drip edge to mark where the drip edge lays on the felt.
Set the drip edge aside.
Measure 3/8 inch (~ 1 cm) downward from the chalk marking towards the roof edge.
This is to space the drip edge out from the roof edge that distance, evenly and consistently.
Mark this distance with chalk.
Align the inner edge of the drip edge with the marked lines on the felt.
You are not aligning the edge against the roof edge, but by following the marked line Nail the drip edge to the felt and roof with galvanized roofing nails. , Nail a horizontal row of shingles over the drip edge.
Hammer the nail into the top part of each shingle.
The shingles should jut out from 1/4 to 3/8 inch (.7 to 1 cm) over the drip edge.
Continue to nail horizontal rows of shingles onto the roof.
Each row should overlap the one below it by 1/4 inch (~ .7 cm), not less.
The center of each shingle in each row should lay directly above the edge of the shingle in the row below it.
You will have an offset pattern in the shingles, so that the edges of the shingles do not line up vertically. , Place the ridge cap shingles over the roof ridges.
The cap of each shingle should fall evenly in half over each side of the ridge.
Nail each side of the cap shingle into the roof.
Place and nail the shingles from the bottom of the roof to the top.
Ensure that each cap overlaps the one below it by 1/4 inch (~ .7 cm). , Place old shingles and nails in a garbage can or dumpster.
About the Author
Debra Harris
Specializes in breaking down complex creative arts topics into simple steps.
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