Asphalt shingles, also called “shingles” are interesting in three cases: when the slopes are low, in mountain climates (they are insensitive to frost) and when the support is not designed to receive a heavy roof. , tiles or slates.

Shingles are also economical, with a cost price of 10 euros on average per m 2 .

These products are available in several shades: gray, anthracite, brown, dark red, green… They are easily integrated into most environments, in red regions (tiles), as in black regions (slates).

The installation is very fast, the shingles being nailed on a continuous support, made up of particle boards or plywood (“exterior” quality in both cases). Bituminous shingles are durable against the sun, rain, wind, hail, snow… Even if we admit for these products a less durability, compared to more traditional roofing materials.

Unless you are equipped with suitable scaffolding, protections and roofing ladders, it is safer to entrust this work to a professional.

 Necessary material

• Meter, pencil
• Powder cord 
• Cutter
• Spatula for coating the mastic-glue
• Hammer
• Site rule
• Mason's square              
• Roof ladder            

Mark the marks necessary for the installation of the shingles

Draw the first line parallel to the gutter

1. Using a chalk line, draw a line parallel to the edge of the roof that supports the gutter, the width of one element apart. Check that this line is parallel to the ridge . Otherwise, start from the ridge to trace this first parallel, reducing the minimum useful width separating it from the lower edge of the roof as needed. It then becomes possible to make up for the mis-squareness by cutting the overhangs thus created, at the level of the first row with double thickness.

Taking lateral dimensions

2. Then mark a line which represents a distance equal to or multiple of the length of an element. This distance can be measured in two ways, either from the bottom of the groove of the special “shingle” edge strip, or from its edge in the case of a single strip.

Registration to draw a perpendicular

3. Then locate a second point in the vertical of the plane. Use a large ruler that we will have passed through this point, and a square that we will have rested on the first parallel.

Tracing a perpendicular from the gutter to the ridge

4. Using the chalk line, draw a second line passing through the two marked points. This line will be perpendicular to the first line drawn, it will join the base of the roof to the ridge.

Install the first rows of shingles

Cut the shingle with the cutter

1. Alternate notches in the base of the shingles. To do this, start by cutting the corresponding dimension of the starting elements with a cutter, which will allow you to make the alternations every two rows . This cut-out must correspond to the distance separating two notches, ie a half-module.

Gluing the base of the roof

2. With the specific mastic-glue, coat the manhole cover and overflow onto the wooden support in order to obtain a coating on the half-width of an element.

Back glue-nailed installation of the first row of shingle

3. Lay the first row of shingles upside down, so that the notches face up. This inverted first row is called a “doublis”.

Draw parallels to baseline

4. Draw parallels equidistant from element width minus the overlap width. Position the rows of shingles correctly. This covering width varies from 180 to 205 mm depending on the slope of the roof. The lower the slope, the greater the overlap.

Draw parallels to perpendicular

5. Following the same principle, draw a vertical parallel to the first one already drawn, and distant from the dimension of the alternation cuts already made on the elements. This second vertical line serves as a second mark, but also as a support for the assembly of the rows of alternating shingles.

Nailing of the second row, alternating with respect to the first

6. Continue in the same way, row after row alternately, to offset the notches. The shingles must all be nailed with special spikes. Also remember to remove the protection as the self-adhesive system advances, on which the next shingle rests.

Assembly of roof elements

7. Once the roof section is perfectly square, move from one side to the other in practical widths. Use the horizontal and vertical lines, in order to maintain a good squareness of the whole.

Latest interventions on the ridge

8. The installation of the ridge obeys special rules. It consists of elements cut at the level of the modules. These elements must be cut against the grain, on a vertical axis and folded in half, in order to overlap by gluing with mastic-glue, but also by nailing, the rows of under-ridge. The technique is similar to that of tiled ridges, but without the use of mortar. Finally, it remains to implement a zinc ridge joint cover, also glued and nailed.