QA

How To Trim Shingles

Cutting Shingles Straight These shingles can be cut with utility knives in a pinch, but utility knives are not very well-suited for the job. Instead, the experts recommend using a pair of long-handled tin snips. These are designed to cut metal and work on thick shingles; plus, they protect your hands better.

What is the best tool to cut shingles?

Tin snips are very sharp, powerful scissors designed to cut through metal, but they can be equally effective for small, complex cuts in shingles. If you need to trim the shingle to fit around pipes or small vents, then tin snips are your best choice.

How do you finish the edge of a roof?

How to Finish the Top Edge of a Shed Roof For the final row, cut shingles into strips. Ensure strips are wide enough to cover nails. Install your strips. Apply sealant over exposed nails on the last strip. Use more sealant along the top edges of all shingle strips.

How do you cut shingles off the edge of a roof in a straight line?

Cutting Shingles Straight These shingles can be cut with utility knives in a pinch, but utility knives are not very well-suited for the job. Instead, the experts recommend using a pair of long-handled tin snips. These are designed to cut metal and work on thick shingles; plus, they protect your hands better.

Should there be a gap between drip edge and fascia?

The best installation method is to leave a gap between the drip edge and the fascia board, about the width of a finger. The shingles should also overhang the drip edge 3⁄8 to 1/2 an inch.

Where do you install drip edge on a roof?

The correct placement of a roof drip edge is on top of the roof’s exterior cover directly between the sheathing and the fascia board, which forms a drainage gap between the drip edge and the fascia board. As a result, the drainage improves water flow and protects the roof from potential water damage.

Can you install drip edge after shingles?

Can Drip Edge Be Installed After Shingles? The most popular time to install a drip edge is when new shingles are installed. However, the drip edge can be installed at any time. The materials involved include: a ladder, a flat pry bar, a hammer, tin snips, eave stripping, and galvanized roofing nails.

How do you start cutting shingles?

To begin installing the first shingles on your roof, cut off the three tabs on the shingle. Using a utility knife, cut them off at the bottom of the adhesive strip. This should leave you with about 1/2 of the shingle left.

What is a roof cutter?

Roof cutters are used exclusively for reroofing to cut large areas of roof membrane or roof system into smaller manageable pieces. These blades can be adjusted to a desired depth, that will allow you to cut only the membrane or through all of the roof assembly to the deck.

Can you cut asphalt shingles with a circular saw?

Although roofers commonly cut asphalt shingles on site by scoring them with utility knives, some projects call for more speed or volume, making power saws, such as circular saws or reciprocating saws, handy for cutting asphalt shingles.

Will a chainsaw cut through shingles?

The right blades on a sawsall will cut anything; metal, wood, pipes, conduit, asphalt shingles, anything.

How much should shingles overhang rake edge?

The edge of the shingles should hang over a roof between an inch and an inch and a half — or between a half inch and three-quarters of an inch if drip edge flashing is installed. Too much overhang and the shingles could blow off in high winds; too little can allow water to seep into rake or fascia boards.

Should shingles overhang drip edge?

Yes. Shingles should not extend more than 3/4” (19 mm) past the drip edge. If shingles overhang the edge of the roof by more than 3/4” (19 mm), then they are not supported and may crack and break off. In addition, the wind resistance at the roof edge may be compromised.

What is the metal trim around a roof called?

Eave trim is the metal flashing that covers the low side of the building. Simply put, it’s installed on the side of the building that follows the pitch of the roof. Eave trim is used when a gutter is not required. The bottom leg of the eave trim has a kick out that is designed to keep water away from the wall.

Do you need a drip edge with metal roofing?

A drip edge is not needed for metal roofing. If you make sure to overhang your metal roofing at least an inch, the drip edge is not necessary at the eaves and rakes. If the metal roof is hanging over an inch, the water will be directed away from the fascia anyway if at a slant.

What is roof rake edge?

Simply put, a roof rake edge is installed to cover the top edge of the siding where it meets the roof. You can think of it as a type of awning that is designed to allow water to flow off the roof and down onto the ground below, instead of down the side of your home.

Should gutters be flush with fascia?

Gutters are installed on the face of the fascia boards. It is recommended to lay down a protective piece of furrier strip rather than leaving them flush. This is because fascia will be exposed to a lot of dark and dampness.

Where does drip edge go on a house?

Drip edges are metal sheets, usually shaped like an “L,” installed at the edge of the roof. Also called drip edge flashing or D-metal, they serve a vital function by directing water away from the fascia and into the gutter.

Does drip edge go over or under ice and water shield?

(The drip edge will be installed over the ice and water protector and other underlayments at roof rake edges.) You should install ice and water protector before other underlayments, including roof felt. Around roof features like dormers and chimneys, you should place ice and water protector below flashing.