How to Install Roof Shingles | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva reveals the best ways to secure shingles to a roof. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)

Shopping List for How to Install Roof Shingles:

Tools List for How to Install Roof Shingles:

Steps for How to Install Roof Shingles:
1. These project guidelines are for low roofs that allow easy access, such as those on porches, sheds, or doghouses. For larger roofs, hiring a professional roofing crew 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 1 1/4-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 1 1/4-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 1/2 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.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Install Roof Shingles | Ask This Old House

[davem]

The knowledge Tommy has is immeasurable. We need more guys like him.

[brian]

Tommy reminds me of my father. Gosh I miss him and how much he knew. Every day was a learning opportunity. Thanks This Old House. Another excellent instructional video.

[mcdonaldaaron]

I'm a roofer, I like how you make it simple and easy to understand. Good work.

[radpatriotmom]

Thanks for saving some money. I was going to buy a whole roll of starter for an overhang. I have to re-roof. I didn’t realize you could use some of the shingles cut down in place. Very helpful.

[psynurse]

I just watched another YouTube channel on how to install roofing... Then came here. The explanation was much much better and easier to understand. Only thing I liked about other channel was explaining how certain areas of country require more nails per shingle due to wind and why you offset shingles to of course overlap but also making sure nails are covered.... This video hit the nail on the head for me. I think I can do it

[BlackLocustPatriot]

I have watched this video 5 times while I have been shingling the doghouse. It has helped out quite a bit.

[Pallidus_Rider]

Would be nice to see a follow up video on doing a sectional patch - replacing a few bad shingles 🙏

[maxomara]

This video was very useful!! I’m trying to learn to fix the roof of our shed that got busted in a storm and this is the first video I’ve actually understood. Everything was explained very clearly and concisely!

[jaycie]

Just shingled for the first time last week. On a garrage. And just a patch. Even still I was thankful I didn't have to leave the ladder. TOH is a big part of why I felt confident enough to patch a squirrel hole for my mother.

[alsacs]

Thanks for this tutorial Tommy. I just built a shed and used your instruction to shingle the roof.

[jwlivingston]

everyone should always come to this old house first, now i got to go undo some stuff, thanks

[pointblank]

I really appreciate you guys for making these how to videos. Very informative and professional. Thank you so much!

[johnbaptist]

No roofing people do such a beautiful job as you do .For real ∞ ❤👌🙏👍👏󾓦✟

[ReadwithChimey]

We need to fix our shed's roof, and the knowledge shared here should definitely help us. Thank you kindly.

[marspierce.]

My name is Darrell Pierce, Milwaukee, Wisconsin iv been doing masonry restoration for 27yrs. Me and my buddy Scott used to always say wouldn't it be great to learn from Tommy now it awesome he has apprentices i wish i was 20 yrs.younger cuz i would love to learn from him, keep up the great work to all you guys at toh if Mark your Mason is ever in Milwaukee again i would love to show him around the buildings i worked on, some over 150 years old.

[gdblackthorn]

I never used the drip edge. I always just flipped a row of shingles over on the edge and then went back over with another row over top as he shows here! I have never seen anyone draw chalk lines vertically across the roof! The drip edge does seem like a good improvement! I highly recommend drawing chalk lines to keep your rows straight! If you are not experienced you may get out of line and it will be crooked!

[timmackinnon]

Simple and straightforward. Excellent video.

[rorto]

When the weather is better, going to re-board my shed roof and instead of the crappy bitumen or whatever it was I'm going to shingle it. Should last a lot longer.
This video will come in handy.

[michaelechivester]

To someone who doesn't do this type of work for a living, or isn't paying attention to detail, or doesn't have common sense as some would say. Make sure you are backsetting or offsetting, or more simply make sure you are cutting each course on the rake side or outside . If you cut on the inside they will not line up correctly. I was cutting the shingles from the backside with exposure towards me then when I flipped the shingle from right side to left side the cutouts were lining up on top of each course. Not sure if I explained it correctly, but I guess maybe I helped someone like me that don't have to much experience or know how in this field. So when I was doing the cuts I was cutting on the left then when I flipped the left to right the cut edge was on my right. The offset looked correct (6 inch offset), but the cutouts of each course was lining up to the previous course.

[paulsccna]

straight forward explanation of how to install shingles.