The Complete Guide to Replacing Asphalt Shingles

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Window in Metal Textured Roof
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Replacing asphalt shingles can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance, you'll be able to tackle it like a pro.

First, it's essential to prepare the necessary materials, including new shingles, underlayment, and roofing nails. You'll also need a utility knife, a hammer, and a ladder.

Before you start, inspect your roof for any damaged or missing shingles, which can be a sign of underlying issues. This is crucial to avoid further damage and costly repairs down the line.

To ensure a smooth replacement process, it's recommended to replace all shingles on the roof at once, rather than patching individual areas. This will help maintain a uniform appearance and prevent future problems.

Preparation

Before you start replacing your asphalt shingles, it's essential to prepare your roof. This means considering the age of your roof, as it's generally recommended to replace it every 20 to 25 years.

You'll also need to gather the right tools and materials, including a ladder, hammer, roofing nails, and underlayment. Make sure to measure your roof to determine how many shingles you'll need, as it typically takes three bundles to cover 100 square feet.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Install Roof Shingles | Ask This Old House

Clear your front and back yards of anything that might get damaged by falling debris, including patio furniture, outdoor grills, and lawn decorations. This will ensure a safe working area and prevent any damage to your belongings.

Here's a checklist of what you'll need to do before starting the project:

  • Measure your roof to determine how many shingles you'll need
  • Clear your front and back yards of any debris
  • Gather the necessary tools and materials
  • Check the weather forecast and choose a clear day

Remember to start from the bottom edge of the roof when shingling, as this will allow the shingles to overlap properly and prevent dirt and debris from getting trapped.

Preparing the

Preparing the roof is a crucial step in the shingle installation process. You'll need to get the right number of shingles for the job, which is generally three bundles to cover 100 square feet.

To determine how many shingles you'll need, measure your roof and buy accordingly. Asphalt shingle bundles are sealed in packages, and it's essential to get the right quantity to avoid running out or having too many left over.

Detailed close-up of a corrugated concrete roof showcasing texture and pattern.
Credit: pexels.com, Detailed close-up of a corrugated concrete roof showcasing texture and pattern.

Before installing the shingles, you'll need to remove old shingles and flashing. Start at the peak farthest from the trash container or the corner you want to collect the shingles in. Use a garden fork or a roofing shovel to pull them off quickly, and be sure to protect the sides of the house and windows during this process.

You'll also need to clean the roof, sweeping it as clean as possible and removing any nails that didn't come up earlier. Reattach loose boards in the sheathing, and examine the sheathing for damage and rotted boards, replacing the damaged sections as needed.

Here's a rough guide to help you prepare the roof:

Remember, a little bit of prep work goes a long way to make the job easier and ensures you won't have to take more than one trip to your local hardware store.

Deck Preparation

A smooth and flat roof deck is essential for a newly shingled roof to look its best. This means ensuring the deck is properly fastened to the roof trusses.

Credit: youtube.com, Prepping A Deck With Sherwin Williams

The deck must be dry and free of any gaps or holes. This will prevent water from seeping in and causing damage.

You should also replace any damaged underlayment, which must meet your local building code requirements. This is a crucial step to ensure a solid and stable base for the new roof.

Inspecting your roof deck is a must, especially after removing the old roof. Look for signs of water damage, unevenness, warping, or damage to the plywood surface.

Replacing damaged roof decking is essential, and it's usually made of OSB, a strong and stable panel made from compressed wood strands and resin.

Materials

To start your roofing project, you'll need a few essential materials. Shingles are the most obvious one, but don't forget about drip edges, felt paper/underlayment, 1¼ inch roofing nails, and roofing cement.

You can find a list of these materials below:

  • Shingles
  • Drip edges
  • Felt paper/underlayment
  • 1¼ inch roofing nails
  • Roofing cement

Make sure to have a plan for disposing of your old shingles, as they can be a real hassle to deal with. Consider renting a dumpster or dumping trailer to make the process easier and less messy.

Removing Old Shingles

Credit: youtube.com, How To Remove Shingles

Removing Old Shingles is a crucial step in the replacement process.

You'll need to remove your existing shingles, nails, and underlayment before installing new ones.

Be careful around sensitive areas like your siding and chimney, especially if you plan on reusing the flashing.

Remove Any Damaged

Removing damaged shingles is a crucial step in the process of removing old shingles. You'll need a flat pry bar to break the strips of sealant around the damaged area.

Start by inserting the pry bar underneath the bottom of the damaged shingle and apply enough pressure to break it free from the sealant strip. This will allow you to separate the sealant strip and begin removing any nails from the broken shingle.

Remove any nails from the surrounding shingles so the replacement shingle can easily slide into place. This is especially important if you're only replacing one shingle in an area.

Inspect your roof deck before removing damaged shingles to ensure there's no underlying damage to the underlayment felt paper or the roof deck itself. If you do find damage, it's best to contact a professional for repair.

Once you've removed the damaged shingles and nails, you'll have a clear area to inspect the roof deck and potentially repair any damage. This is a great opportunity to give your roof deck a once-over and ensure it's smooth, properly fastened, and free of any gaps or holes.

Remove the Current

Credit: youtube.com, Getting Started on the ROOF | Removing the Old Shingles

Removing the current shingles is a crucial step in the process. It's essential to remove your existing shingles, nails, and underlayment before installing new ones.

The easiest way to do this is with a roofing shovel, a specially-designed tool that's easy to wedge under shingles and makes the job much faster. Be careful around sensitive areas like your siding and chimney.

You'll want to be mindful of the flashing, especially if you plan on reusing it. This will save you time and effort in the long run.

Cutting and Measuring

Cutting and measuring are crucial steps in replacing asphalt shingles. It's essential to have a shingle cutter or utility knife on hand to cut shingles to fit in hard-to-reach areas, such as around small vents or pipes.

You'll also need protective gloves to avoid injury. It's not uncommon to encounter issues like these when learning how to shingle a roof, which is why you'll need to account for trips to the hardware store to replace any unforeseen parts of your roof.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Install Roof Shingles

To ensure accurate placement, mark your roof where the rest of the shingles will go, using a chalk line to snap out a grid with six-inch horizontal spacing and five-inch vertical spacing. This will make it easy to nail down the rest of your shingles while ensuring the right amount of overlap and exposure.

Cut

Cutting requires the right tools, like a shingle cutter or utility knife, which can be super helpful when you need to make precise cuts.

You'll want to have protective gloves on hand to avoid injury from sharp edges.

Cutting shingles can be a challenge, especially in hard-to-reach areas like around small vents or pipes.

It's not uncommon to need to make adjustments on the fly, like when you're working on a roof and you need to cut shingles to fit.

Measurement

To estimate the number of shingles you need, measure the length and the width of each independent section of your roof. Multiply the length by the width to get the area in square feet.

Credit: youtube.com, The Work Around: How to Mark Wood Accurately Before Cutting | HGTV

The total square footage of your roof is usually divided by 100 to get a measurement called “squares.” You’ll need the size of your roof in squares to know how many shingles you need to buy.

For example, if the main section of your roof measures 40 feet by 50 feet, the area is 2,000 square feet, which equals 20 squares.

Shingles are usually sold in bundles, with three bundles covering approximately 20 squares.

7. Mark Your

Marking your roof is a crucial step in the installation process. Use your chalk line to snap out a grid with six-inch horizontal spacing and five-inch vertical spacing.

This grid will make it easy to nail down the rest of your shingles while ensuring you get the right amount of overlap and exposure.

Underlayment and Flashing

Underlayment is a water-resistant barrier that provides an extra layer of protection against water damage. It's installed over the roof decking and must meet local building code requirements.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Install Drip Edge and Step Flashing | This Old House

You can choose between felt paper and synthetic underlayment, but synthetic is lighter and tougher, making it easier to install and walk on. Synthetic underlayment is more commonly used today due to its advantages.

If you're reusing your roof's current flashing, take care when removing shingles around chimneys, skylights, vents, and siding to avoid damaging it. You can put it to the side for reuse later if it looks good.

Drip Edges

Drip edges are an essential part of any roof. They prevent water from running under the shingles and seeping into the roof decking.

You can use various materials for drip edge, including aluminum and PVC. Drip edges should be installed along the eaves and rakes of the roof.

Water has a high surface tension, which means it tends to cling to your roof as it rolls down the peak. Without a drip edge, water will curl up under the edge of your roof, leading to leaks and water damage.

Credit: youtube.com, The Big Roofing Debate: Drip edge or Underlayment first?

It's crucial to install the drip edge before you install the shingles, as it sits on the fascia board. Leave about a half-inch gap between the bottom of the drip edge's kicker and the fascia board.

Attach the drip edge with 1–1/4–inch roofing nails, but don't worry too much about precision. Don't forget to apply drip edges to the gable ends as well.

Allowing the first course of shingles to overhang the drip edge by about one half-inch adds an extra buffer that makes it harder for water to find its way under your eaves and behind your exterior walls.

Replace Underlayment

Replacing the underlayment is a crucial step in repairing your roof, especially if the original underlayment was damaged.

You'll need to use roofing nails or staples to attach the new underlayment to your repaired roof deck.

It's essential to choose an underlayment that meets the requirements of your local building code(s).

You can contact your local municipality for this information, but it's usually best to consult a professional for this type of job.

Covering with Underlayment

Credit: youtube.com, Roofing Underlayments EXPLAINED by a roofer: Tar Paper, Synthetic, Ice and Water Shield

Covering with underlayment is a crucial step in roofing. It provides an extra layer of protection against water damage.

The most common materials used for underlayment are felt paper and synthetic underlayment made from fiberglass or polyester. Synthetic underlayment is more commonly used today because it's lighter and tougher, making it easier to install and walk on.

Installing underlayment can be a bit tricky, especially for those without roofing experience. Take your time and make sure to have an even covering between your shingles and roof sheathing.

To do this, overlap the strips by approximately half their width, and be careful not to introduce any folds or wrinkles as you go. This is the most time-consuming step for new roofers, and getting it right is essential.

Synthetic underlayment has a couple of advantages over felt paper, including being lighter and tougher. This makes it easier for contractors to install and walk on without accidentally tearing through it.

Flashing

Credit: youtube.com, How to Install Pipe Flashing on a Flat Tile Roof

Flashing is a crucial part of a roof's waterproofing system, and it's essential to check it before re-roofing. Worn or damaged flashing around chimneys and external vents may need to be replaced.

You may be able to reuse your roof's current flashing if it looks good, so take care when removing shingles around these areas to avoid damaging it. If it's reusable, put it to the side for later.

Drip edge is a type of flashing that's installed along the edges of the roof to prevent water from running under the shingles and seeping into the roof decking. Aluminum and PVC are common materials used for drip edge.

A special leak barrier is installed in areas where two roof planes meet, like in a valley, to prevent water from working its way under the shingles and into the roof decking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you replace a shingle roof by yourself?

Yes, you can replace a shingle roof by yourself with basic tools and preparation. However, it's recommended to consider your DIY skills and time commitment before taking on this project.

How much is labor to remove and replace asphalt shingles?

Labor costs for removing and replacing asphalt shingles range from $200 to $300 per square (100 SF) for installation, plus $1 to $3 per square foot for removal

Can you replace only a few shingles?

Yes, you can replace only a few shingles if the rest of the roof is in good condition. Repairing the damaged area can restore your roof's integrity, but it's best to check for underlying issues first.

Ella Paolini

Writer

Ella Paolini is a seasoned writer and blogger with a passion for sharing her expertise on various topics, from lifestyle to travel. With over five years of experience in the industry, she has honed her writing skills and developed a unique voice that resonates with readers. As an avid traveler, Ella has explored many parts of the world, immersing herself in new cultures and experiences.

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