Capping a Cedar Shingle Roof

Complete the shingling process up to the roof’s peak on one side by laying rows of roofing felt and then shingles, starting at the eave and working upward. Lay each layer of roofing felt that goes under each row of shingles so it overlaps the row of shingles below by roughly 1/3 of the shingle height and lay each row of shingles so it overlaps the row of shingles below by up to 1/2 of the shingle height.

Install the final, or top, row of shingles on the first side of the roof so that the shingles line up at the top of the roof, horizontally along the peak. Secure each of these top shingles with four to six nails, as you did the rest of the shingles.

Install the shingles up the opposite side of the roof, also beginning at the eave. Layer the roofing felt and shingles so that they overlap the rows below until you reach the top of the roof.

Place the first shingle in the final, or top, row on the second side of the roof so that the top of the shingle sits 1 ½ inches above the peak of the roof. Go to the other end of the roof and place the shingle so that it sits 1 ½ inches above the roof peak as well. Hammer a nail into the roof at the bottom of each of these shingles and tie a string between them to make a line.

Lay the top row of shingles so that the bottoms of the shingles line up with the string line across the roof. Secure the shingles to the roof with four to six nails through the top halves, leaving the top 1 1/2 inches extended above the roof. Go across the tops of the shingles with a circular saw, cutting along the top of the shingles on the opposite side of the roof to remove the tops of the cedar shingles and get an even top.

Lay a cedar ridge end cap at one end of the roof so that it lines up with the roof slope on each side. Secure the ridge cap to the roof peak with at least four nails on each side but use more if the manufacturer recommends it.

Lay an end cap at the other end of the roof, securing it with four nails on each side and then move down the roof, placing ridge caps so that they butt up against each other all the way across the roof peak and cutting the final cap to fit the leftover space. Fill in all exposed nail heads on the roof with roofing cement.