How To Shingle Your Shed Roof

Shingling your shed roof is fairly simple and straight forward. Roofs are there to protect your possessions. It’s important to take some care on this project because it can definitely pay off in the long run. If done correctly, you won’t need to replace the roof again for some time.  Before you begin there are a couple of materials you’ll need. 

Safety Measures

It’s always beneficial to your loved ones to put safety first so take some extra precautions. Remember to were your goggles.  Take special caution while you are on the roof, and wear the appropriate shoes to keep you steady. There are a number of accidents from falls, and most of it is caused by negligence (so pay attention to where you step and always keep your balance). Start your project by bringing your materials to the roof.

Step 1: Apply Roofing Paper

Once on the roof, lay down the roofing paper overlapping when necessary. They may be roofing paper already on the roof if it is an old shed. Be sure the paper is in good condition by checking for any rotting. If it is, just jump to the next step, and if it is not, then take off the existing roofing paper and lay down a new set. It’s best to have a good layer if you want the roof to last a while.
 
Step 2: Layer the Shingles 

Begin laying the shingles in an overlapping fashion. Just follow the pattern you’ve seen on most roofs. Cap the top in an overlapping fashion as well. As you lay the shingles, nail them with the roofing nails. The nail gun makes this process go so much faster, but there’s nothing wrong with doing it the old fashion way (with a hammer and some trusty elbow grease). You could use tar as well to hold them down, but that’s a little bit more involved than necessary (still, it’s an option depending on the requirements of your roof and the design you’ve selected). There are a couple of varieties of roofing, and it’s generally good to keep a uniform distance between the rows and shingles. Just eye it and use good judgment (use measurement if needed).
 
Step 3: Shaping the Shingles

If you have laid shingles over the edges, you will need to trim them. Continue to shape up the top, bending the shingles over the cap in an overlapping manner. This method yields durable, water proof roofs. These roofs will last up to 30 years depending on the thickness of your shingles. Of course, the thicker ones work best in high winds and last the longest (and happen to be the most expensive).  
Anyway you go, you will gain a protected storage space.