Architectural Shingles

Since time immemorial, houses around the world have used shingles to cover their roofs. Shingles can be made from various materials, including wood, asbestos, tiles, fiberglass, or ceramic. In bygone years, most houses were covered with wooden or slate roof shingles, and many can still be seen in various parts of Europe. But today these have been replaced with fiberglass-based asphalt, due to potential fire hazards and the rate of decay. And just as the material from which roof shingles are made has changed with time, so have methods of installing roof shingles.

Installing roof shingles is very easy. The first step is to lay tar paper on the roof in question. Tar paper is also known as roofing felt, and this is where you will place your roofing shingles. Start off by putting the tar paper at the bottom of the roof and work your way up to the top. Make sure to draw the chalk lines forming the borders of the shingles properly as you go. Now that the tar paper has been laid, it is time for installing roof shingles. The least expensive roof shingles are made from asphalt and are more cost effective than metal, slate, or wood. The best way to install roof shingles is to make sure that the gaps between them are offset, so that they don’t form a “valley,” creating a leak every time it rains. Also make sure that the shingles run together perfectly, both horizontally and vertically.

All of this sounds very easy, but when installing roof shingles there are certain other important points to remember. First of all, there is the safety aspect. Depending on the climate and season where you live, you have to make sure that you are not doing this work when temperatures are too high. Working in temperatures of over 70F will make you feel too hot, and if the heat climbs to 90F or over you could get dehydrated and very dizzy. If you are feeling dizzy while standing on a roof, this could have fatal consequences.

Therefore, you should only contemplate installing roof shingles in reasonable temperatures and when you feel 100 percent well. At the same time, you should assess the specific condition of the roof on which you will be working, and what you are capable of. If the gradient of the roof is too steep, you could end up feeling extreme vertigo, which will also seriously impede your work and could be terribly dangerous.

Before installing roof shingles, you should also pick your colors and materials carefully. Only purchase the shingles from a reputable, listed wholesaler. Ask to see samples of the shingles, preferably on a roof, before you make your choice. When selecting materials, take your local climate and environmental conditions into account and buy whatever is best for you.

By making these educated choices, following all of the relevant instructions, and paying strict attention to safety, you will find that installing roof shingles is just as easy and convenient as it sounds above.