Rubber Shingle Roofing Installation

Install a starter course of rubber shingles across the roof from side to side along the eave or lowest roof edge. Overlap the eave and side edges of the roof by 3/4 inch. Fasten each shingle with corrosion-resistant roofing nails according to the roofing-manufacturer's nailing pattern.

Fasten a half-width shingle on top of the first installed shingle on the starter course. Install full-sized shingles for the rest of the first course over the top of the starter course. Use the nailing-pattern guide applicable to field shingles in your roofing-manufacturer's instructions if it differs from the starting-course pattern.

Overlap the second course of shingles onto the first course using the overlap measurements recommended by the roofing manufacturer. Typically, the overlap provides a minimum 6-inch exposure of rubber shingle for each course. Fasten each shingle in the same way as you did for the first course.

Snap a chalk line parallel with the side edge of the roof at four-foot intervals to keep the rubber-shingle installation straight. Stagger alternate courses using a 1/2-width shingle at the side edge of the roof to prevent the shingle joints lining up from course to course.

Install ridge caps along the ridge line at the top of the roof. Overlap each cap using the cap-exposure measurements in the roofing manufacturer's instructions. Typically, the exposure for ridge caps is a minimum of 5 inches; and you fasten one nail to each side of the cap.