Installing asphalt shingle roofing around dormers – a how-to primer

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If you decide to install asphalt shingle roofing on your own home, there are a few tricks that can help. One of them has to do with installing asphalt shingles on and around dormers. Even if you are not installing the shingles yourself, it is helpful to understand how your roof shape and structure can affect your overall roofing cost. 

Dormer windows are windows that jut out from the slope of a roof. The entire structure that encases the window may also be referred to as a dormer. When installing shingles of any type on a roof, you will also need to add them to the small piece of roof that covers the dormer. In some cases, this piece resembles an actual miniature roof.

A roof that includes dormers may have more surface area that needs covering than a roof without dormers. This additional surface increases both material costs and labor time. Additionally, installing shingles around dormers requires a specific process that can be time consuming and will likely increase any roofing professional’s estimates for installing shingles.

To install asphalt shingles around a dormer, you begin by following standard asphalt roofing installation procedures until you reach the obstacle (the dormer).

Here’s a brief summary of steps for installing asphalt shingles on and around the dormer.

1. Install a regular line of asphalt shingles at the point where the dormer top meets the roof.
2. Use a chalk line to make vertical pattern marks to create a reference grid when you add the asphalt shingles, allowing you to keep the shingle pattern consistent.
3. Move to the bottom of the dormer structure and begin installing asphalt shingles on the roof itself. Install the asphalt shingles up the roof, following the vertical pattern marks.
4. Trim excess asphalt shingle material from the valley between the dormer and the roof.
5. Install asphalt shingles on the dormer's roof surface, working from the outermost bottom section to the top part near the roof. Create an overlapping layer of asphalt shingles to cover the seam between the roof and the dormer.

You can follow roughly the same steps for any type of shingle, including fiberglass shingles, three-tab shingles and laminated architectural shingles. Make sure that you understand the layout of your roof and how different shingle types interact with shapes, crevices and obstacles before you start the project.

Since an error during a roofing job can have severe consequences for your home, it is essential that you know what you are doing when you install shingles. If you are not a professional, make sure you read other Reply! articles on roofing before you begin or use our reviews to find cost-effective professional services. Spending more for a solid roofing job can ultimately save you money if it helps you avoid future leaks or collapses. Even if you have a complex roof with many dormers, you may be able to get a good deal from a contractor who will install asphalt shingle roofing on your home.

 

Reply can immediately connect you to local roofing professionals who can assist you with your asphalt shingle roof.