How to Install Deck Roofing

Unless you are a roofing pro and have large roofing budget, the best type of deck roofing is an asphalt shingle system. Aside from being inexpensive, they are long lasting, fire resistant, and attractive to look at.

There are few things you need to know from the start to avoid hangups later on.

1. New Roofs vs. Old Roofs

There are important differences between installing a new roof and re-installing over an older roof that already has a roofing system in place.

2. Insurance

Some insurance companies won't insure a roof if it has more than 3 layers of shingles. If the roof you intend to shingle already has three layers, you may want to remove them before installing your new shingles.

3. Roof Waves

On a re-roof, you need to pay attention to how you start the shingles at the lower edge of the roof. If you copy the exact pattern of the previous layer, the new roof could develop waves.

4.  Felt Paper

Felt that lies underneath the shingles is required on a new roof, whereas it is not required on a re-roof. If your roof is new and you're planning to use felt it is better to lay it as you go, rather than cover the entire roof before beginning to install your shingles. Also, in the lay-as-you-go method of installing the felt, you can use a minimum number to nails to attach it to the roof, because the nails you use to attach your shingles will keep the felt it in place.

5. Drip Edges

Install drip edges on the bottom of the roof before felt paper is applied. The drip edge on the side of the roof should be installed after the felt has been applied.

6. First Shingle Row

You need a row of shingles beneath the first regular row. Cut off the first 5 inches of a regular shingle and use the 7 remaining inches of the shingle for this layer.  

7. Loose Shingles

Be sure to nail down any lose shingles before placing new shingles over them, and hammer down the new shingle nails very well. Keeping everything secure is the key to creating a long-lasting roof.When beginning to nail down your new shingles, start from the lower left corner, and work to the right and uphill, leaving an overhang of 1/8 inch. This allows water running down the roof to drip away from the fascia (the vertical board at the edge of the roof) and helps reduce deterioration of the fascia.

In nailing the shingles, you can use manual nailing with a hammer, or pneumatic roofing nailers which are faster but more likely to leave nail heads sticking up. These protruding nails have a tendency to tear the new shingle lapping over them.

To make your shingle rows more even and uniform, use an "L"-shaped piece of wood as a positioning guide. Just set the guide against the lower edge of the previous row's shingles.

At the top of the roof, lap the shingles over the peak, and attach roof cap shingles with two nails in each. Install the plastic ridge vent with 3 inch roofing nails, applying cap shingles over the ridge vent.

Following these simple rules will ensure that your roof is not only weatherproof but also attractive.