Shingles wrack in a lot of money for the roofing finish industry, and it’s quite clear why. These exterior claddings are cheap, highly functional, and visually appealing.
Moving on to matters that aren’t so clear. There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the significance or role of glue in the installation process of shingles.
Some professionals argue that it is not needed, while a good number of experts state that it is required in certain situations.
In this article, we’ll be shedding some light on whether shingles need to be glued down and offering valuable installation tips.
Here’s if Shingles Need to Be Glued Down:
Adhesive plays a vital role in the installation process of shingles but not how you’re probably thinking. Most homeowners have this idea that roofers apply glue to the back of shingles before putting them in place, but this isn’t the case. Shingles typically have factory-applied adhesive on their backside. So, you don’t need to glue them down unless you’re unable to stick them on normally.
Do Shingles Require Glue?
For the most part, shingles do not require glue. If you take a look at their backside, you’d see a removable plastic strip; this strip protects a thin layer of factory-applied adhesive, which is to be used to bond the shingles.
Acquiring adhesive or glue for a roofing shingle installation should be done in only two situations; when the manufacturer recommends it and when an adhered shingle comes off your roof.
It is very possible for the factory-applied glue to fail to hold the shingles in place, but this is pretty rare.
Kindly note that installing your shingles in unfavorable weather reduces the rarity of the above occurrence. Here’s what I mean by this,
Super cold weather isn’t really the best for newly installed shingles because it renders the claddings brittle and dries out the adhesive strip.
Heat is needed for the factory-applied adhesive on the shingles to work its magic. So, the best time to install your roof shingles is when the weather is fairly hot.
Roofing shingles should be installed at a temperature between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for the shingles to firmly bond to each other.
Also, the older your installed shingles get, the weaker the adhesive holding them in place. In this situation, you’ll notice that your shingles are curling downwards or upwards and would need glue to fix them.
When Should You Use Glue on Shingles?
Glue can be used on shingles on any day of the week that isn’t extremely cold or showing signs of rain.
As I mentioned earlier, the weather must be fairly hot before the shingles can be properly glued down. Aim for days with a temperature between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kindly note that you are not to glue the shingles to the roof deck but each other. Nails or staples are the only fasteners to be used to secure the shingles to the decking.
It is necessary to glue the shingles to each other and not the decking for the following reason.
All gaps, spaces, or access points are sealed off better from wind gusts and other weather elements this way.
You should expect the glue to firmly hold the shingles after 24 or 48 hours.
Should Shingles Be Glued to a Drip Edge?
As you may know, a drip edge is an ‘L’ shaped metal that is to be positioned at the edge of a roof. It projects past the roof sheathing.
The function of this device is to channel water from the fascia into the roof gutters and prevent water from getting into the decking and other underlying structures.
When installing a drip edge alongside roofing materials like shingles, the drip edge should be secured in place first before the shingles are glued to its top.
Ensure you do not make the mistake of fastening the drip edge over the roofing underlayment.
The underlayment should go over the top of the nailed drip edge.
Rake edges are the only roofing components permitted to be nailed over the underlayment.
You can have your roof shingles project over your drip edge by less than an inch, or be in alignment with the drip edge.
It all depends on your location and the recommendations of the product manufacturer.
What to Use to Glue Down Shingles?
Adhesives for shingles can be referred to as the following, roofing sealant, plastic or roofing cement, and construction adhesive.
So, if someone recommends that you use plastic cement to glue down your shingles and another person comes along and suggests that you use roofing sealant, do not be confused.
Both product titles mean the same thing but may not contain the same components or ingredients.
Black Jack roofing cement is one of the best products on the market to use to glue down shingles. You can contact a roofing expert or the shingle manufacturer for better product recommendations.
If your shingles are newly acquired, check if they already have adhesive before heading out to get some for the installation.
The adhesive can come in two forms, a tube of sealant in the shingle packaging or a sticky patch or strip protected with a seal at the backside of the shingle.
How to Glue Asphalt Shingles Correctly?
Asphalt shingles are very popular roof finishes used more on residential structures than commercial ones. If you’re interested in covering your roof in these shingles, you must know that it is a slightly difficult task, one that you mustn’t attempt on your own.
Here’s a quick rundown on how to glue asphalt shingles correctly,
- Remove old shingles from the roof.
- Clear the roof properly and ensure that all nails are removed
- Neatly dispose of remove shingles
- Measure your roof to know the total area
- Determine the number of shingles to buy
- Purchase your preferred style of shingle from the nearest hardware store
- Measure the length of the shingle with the length of your roof to decide how the shingles would be laid
- Lay down or install the asphalt roof felt or any underlayment of your choice, provided it is waterproof
- Dab your shingle with the some adhesive or stick it on your roof if it has an adhesive strip
- Fix the shingles firmly into place. You can use chalk or a marker to mark points on the shingles that need to be cut
- Set your shingles on your roof making sure each piece is firmly bonded together
When you are working on your shingles, ensure that your windows and siding panels are well protected, and be super careful when making your way up and down your roof.
Summary
Shingles with factory-applied adhesive do not require glue. The only time you are to glue down shingles is when the shingles lack a bonding agent or when an installed shingle comes off your roof.
The drip edge of a roof is always positioned underneath the shingles and glued to it.
Do not forget that you are not meant to nail the drip edge to the roof deck through the underlayment but to the roof deck directly.
It’s best to leave your shingle installation to a professional if you don’t think you can handle the task.
https:// www.dekooktips.com/advices/faq-how-do-shingles-stick-together.html
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/roofing/21019341/installing-a-drip-edge
