Instructions

• 1). Assemble what you'll need. Measure the width and length of your roof. If your roof has more than one level or isn't even then you'll need to measure each section. Multiply the width and length of each section, add the answers and divide that number by 100. Add 10 percent for mistakes or ridges and that's how many shingles to buy. Shingles are sold in a square which is 3 or more bundles of 29 shingles each. You'll need 2 ½ pounds of roofing nails for each shingle square.
  
  
• 2). Look for damage. You might find structural damage or problems with the shingles already on the rooftop. Make repairs, hammer in or remove loose nails with a pry bar, remove loose or damaged shingles and replace missing shingles. If the roof has more than 3 layers of shingles already in place you'll have to remove all of them.
  
  
• 3). Apply shingles. Start with any valleys which are two sections of roof meeting at an angle. Put down mineral surface roofing and use nails and cement to cover it with an 18 inch wide strip of flashing. Staple a 36 inch wide piece of felt over flashing. Measure and cut shingles and attach with cement and nails. Now start at the eaves with your first row of felt. Staple it down and roll out the next row, letting the rows overlap by 2 inches. Cover the whole roof. Make a chalk line in the center of your roof. Using it as a guide, lay a shingle starter row which hangs over the eaves by 5/8 inch. Make another chalk line on top of the starter row as a guide. Place 4 nails across the center of your first shingle and attach it to the starter row. Continue installing shingles until you reach the edge of the roof. Start the next row. Continue installing shingles until you finish the roof. If you have a chimney or pipes, cut out a square of flashing with a hole in the center so it fits of the pipe or chimney. The flashing should be 6 inches wider than the pipe or chimney on each side. Use cement and nails to attach the flashing. Also attach 7 by 10 inch strips of flashing against the sides of the chimney. Put cement on the edges of shingles, lay them over flashing and attach to the roof with nails.