Shingling Hip Roofs

A hip roof.
  • 10-30 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 200-2,000
What You'll Need
Shingles
Hammer
Carpenter's apron
#15 Felt roofing
Ridge shingles
Asphalt roofing cement
Copper or aluminum flashing material
Soft soled shoes
Level
Clean-up cloth
Roofing nails
Chalk line
#90 Mineral surface roofing
Tin strips
Ladder
Work gloves
Safety rope
Hand cleaner
What You'll Need
Shingles
Hammer
Carpenter's apron
#15 Felt roofing
Ridge shingles
Asphalt roofing cement
Copper or aluminum flashing material
Soft soled shoes
Level
Clean-up cloth
Roofing nails
Chalk line
#90 Mineral surface roofing
Tin strips
Ladder
Work gloves
Safety rope
Hand cleaner

What is a hip roof? No, it's not a roof that's into the latest fashion and music. Actually, you've probably seen it a million times without knowing there's a name for it. A hip roof is a gable roof with the ends brought together at the same pitch as the rest of the roof. Now you know what it is—now find out how to shingle it.

Step 1 - Lay Shingles

Each course of shingles applied to the hip roof should be continued around the roof (Fig. 11).

hip roof diagram

Step 2 - Trim

Trim each shingle to the angle of the hip ridge.

Step 3 - Cover the Ridge

Use regular hip shingles or cut standard shingles (three-cut) to cover the hip ridge. Cover the hip ridge before the main roof ridge (Fig. 12).

hip roof diagram

Step 4 - Apply Shingles

Start at the eave, and apply hip shingles at the same exposure as the main roof. Use two shingles to start the run on the hip ridge (Fig. 13). Use four nails per shingle and leave no nails exposed.

hip roof diagram

Step 5 - Seal Roof

When placing the last hip shingle on the main ridge, seal it with roofing cement and nail it into position.