My brother quit on me again, need advice on roofing, again, sorry...

Question

We got 3/4 of the house done but my brother didn't do the 3 tab like normal where the cut outs line up every other course. He measured it out in a pyramid form with each shingle being 5 1/8 or 5 1/2 apart up the pyramid. Do I use this same method on the other side of the house and if so, do I just keep each shingle 5 1/8 or 5 1/2 apart and just right above the lower shingle cut outs? The way he did it makes the roof look like the cutouts are in a diagonal form. This is my question, I think I am thinking to hard about this so go ahead put an L on my forehead. When I am starting the pyramid wether left or right side of house. How do I do my cut outs to where it will be flush along the drip edge but still give me my half a cut out to butt up the next shingle to it?

My main concern is he left the hardest side for me to do. I have 4 roof vents to deal with. A round chimney pipe. 2 pipe vents and another metal pipe. I have all the boots for them, etc but I am worried I will mess up my pattern when cutting around and over them. Can any one please give me some advice of instructions. I have read the shingle package. I can't find anyone to help me because we had a major hail storm here 3 months ago and everyone is booked. I know I can do this, I have done about 10 roofing jobs (I know not a lot) but I'm getting myself so worked up because I've never been left to do it myself. Lets just say the alcohol got the best of my brother this time. Any links on instructions would be great also, thanks everyone. Just laying here worrying I won't do a good enough job. Oh and I have a skylight to go around. I helped my brother with the front sky light. I know I need to tar around it when I am done. This is how I've been taught but do I also need to put a small bead of tar under the shingles that lay on the flashing around the sky light to help hold them down better and to keep it more protected from leaks? Plz no put downs, I've cried enough today because of my brother, had a leak in the house that 2 contractors couldn't even find in the attic, my father who up until now has been so proud of me, pretty much told me I couldn't do it. I know I can I just need to make sure I start right.

Thanks Everyone

I've gotten some great advice before and finished a flat side regular shingling of 3 tabs job but this one is scaring me cause of the pattern.

One more thing. I am going to definately chalk line. If I chalk line the distance up from one shingle to the end of the other house, then this should line up, right? Well what if the roof is off? I know you experienced one's know what I mean. For example, if I measure up 18 inches on both sides of roof, you would expect the line to be straight but is there something I should consider that could throw this measurement off and how to correct it? Will it make that big of a difference one I get to the ridge and finish off the ridge cap? Ok, I could go on and on but need some advice for now. 5:30 comes early. I'm ready to prove myself.

I am posting a link as to what the pattern looks like that my brother used on the other 3 parts of the house/garage.

http://images.ask.com/fr?q=shingle pattern&desturi=http://www.professionalr...

Answer 1

I don't have enough time to explain all the roofing technics but can get you started on the 1/3 stagger, which will give you a diagonal look like your brothers  (I think)   first measure how wide one tab is..  from  edge to center of notch , it should be about 12 inches.  Divide that say 12 inches by three and you get 4 inches. so to get the stagger started lay a full shingle first  on the left side of the roof, then cut 4 inches off the next one from the  left side of the single lay that one on top of the first one 5 1/4' above the bottom line of the first, even with the other one, which should be sticking over the left side of the roof by 3/4", then cut *" of the next one, 12' or one full tab off the next, 16' off the next, 20'' off the next, etc until you only have a 4" piece.. save all your cutoffs to use on the other end of the roof, they may have to be cut again, but the factory edge should always butt the factory edge next to it.   anyway once you cut all the ones on the left side you can now use full shingles all the way across the roof  until they start to need cutting, then you can use your scraps from the left side.

best of luck, hope this helps.

Answer 2

You don't want the cutouts on 3 tab shingles to line up every other row.  The way your brother was doing it is correct.  The tabs look like they are running on a diagonal.  

Running your own roofing without all of the knowledge about how to do it properly can and probably will lead to leaks.  It's time to make up with your brother or hire a roofer to finish the job.

Answer 3

I quit reading after the umpteenth word. I think he quit because you talk too much. Learn to talk less, listen more (bark less, wag more).

Answer 4

go to a home improvement store and buy a book on roofing, it's not that difficult.

Answer 5

You've got my respect for taking this on yourself!  Roofing is a tough job.

I could write a small book on everything you asked --- but I don't need to.  Here's an awesome article at FineHomebuilding covering everything you might run into doing a 3-tab roof, including hips, valleys, dormers, you name it--  http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/...

On the spacing, it's a matter of taste -- some people do a 1/2 tab offset, creating a back and forth stager.  Others a 1/3 tab offset to create a diagnol line, and some a 5" offset for a steaper diagonal.  Not sure why your brother did that odd 5-1/8-5-1/2" offset - maybe he was using his hammer as a guide and wasn't being picky about his measurements?  But I'd stick with his offset spacing - or something close to it  -- you don't want the front and back of the roof to look like two different houses :P  You could probably use a 5" offset without a noticable difference between front and back, to simplify your measuring/cutting.

On the pyramid thing, I think that was just your brothers way of working.  Most roofers work left to right, laying out a diagonal from top to bottom, just to minimize the amount of walking back and forth they have to do.  The visual pattern is entirely controlled by the tab offset you use from one course to the next - it doesn't matter if you work a full course at a time, a diagonal or a pyramid

Don't sweat the vents - do the best you can, and a healthy gob of Henry's will do the rest :D

Finally, what the heck are you doing hauling bundles of shingles up a ladder?!?!  Next time, buy from a vendor that does rooftop delivery.