How To Install GAF Timberline Roof Shingles
We love asphalt roof shingles, and we’re excited that they’re taking off across Australia. As more American-styled homes get developed, such as the ever-popular Hamptons look, the need for an authentic finish in roofing materials is growing.
Only asphalt roof shingles give you that distinct look so associated with American-style housing designs.
Our article series has so far covered all of the important preparation work necessary, such as setting up the drip edge, plywood sheathe, and starter strip of shingles. Now, we’re finally covering the actual installation of the asphalt roofing shingles.
Transforming Your Roof With Asphalt Roof Shingles
All of the preparation has lead up to this – finishing off your roof with that unique, authentic asphalt roof shingle look. While many Australians resort to using tiles even on American-styled homes, it’s just not the same. Only asphalt roof shingles will give that distinct chequered look so related to American homes.
Like any roof installation, you need to combine the best products with the best workmanship. Only one or the other won’t give you the results you need for a long-lasting, beautiful home.
There are three big considerations with proper installation:
- The shingles are secure and can withstand the elements.
- The shingles are waterproof.
- They look good from the street.
Before nailing any shingles in place, you should first start by measuring and snapping a stringline. The stringline will help keep the shingles in a neat row once they’re placed, creating the distinct straight lines associated with the look.
When measuring your stringline, allow for 143mm of shingle exposure.
Your first row of shingles need to be flush with the drip edge and go over your starter strip shingles. Be sure to offset the joins in your first row of shingles by 100mm from the joins in your starter strip. If you overlay joins on the first layer directly over the starter strip, you’ll lose some of the waterproofing qualities.
Shingles should be installed in an overlapping stair-like pattern. Stagger each join by at least 150mm to create a proper waterproof seal.
Every shingle should have at least 5 nails driven into it. You don’t want to drive the nails too far down, to avoid the nail head damaging a shingle. At the same time, you want to knock down any nails that aren’t driven down fully to keep the surface as level as possible.
Continue placing shingles across and up the roof until complete.
Get The Right Shingles For The Job
There’s only one brand of asphalt roof shingles we recommend, and that’s GAF asphalt roof shingles.
GAF roofing shingles are proudly displayed on more than 50 million homes in America – which is more homes than we have in Australia. They’re cost-effective, energy efficient, and – if you take care and follow the steps – easy to install.
The GAF range includes everything you need, including starter strips with market-leading adhesive for unparalleled security.
In the past in Australia, the most common roofing material was tile and tin. It’s not hard to see why – that’s all we had to choose from. But more and more people are discovering how adaptable and appropriate roof shingles are.
This is particularly the case for homes modelled in American styles, like Hamptons homes. These large, open-space designs are right at home in Australia’s beach-side towns and outer suburbs. Yet most Australian developers still top their American-style homes with Australian tile, and it just doesn’t capture the right look.
For an authentic look, a unique style, and a long-lasting roof, you cannot go past GAF roofing shingles for your American styled home.
Final Thoughts
Installing asphalt roof shingles might seem like a complicated process, but it’s not. There are several steps that need to be done to ensure the best fit and finish, but each of these are relatively easy to achieve. All put together, they create a waterproof, energy efficient, attractive roof that will provide comfort and protection for years to come.
