How to Shingle a Cottage Exterior Wall

Layer your installation surface with felt paper to act as a moisture barrier for the shingles. Cut your felt paper down into strips with the utility knife and staple them on the wall with the hammer tacker. Install the bottom row first and then work your way up the wall of the cottage, overlapping each upper layer over the bottom one by at least 2 to 3 inches to help block out water.

Measure the length of a shingle from top to bottom. Transfer that measurement to the wall and measure from your bottom starting point -- where you want to start the first row of shingles -- up the same amount of inches. Mark that measurement with a pencil. Take the level and draw a level line along that mark. Snap a chalk line on top of the level line across the width of your cottage wall to use as a guideline starting point.

Install a row of starter shingles. Space them out at least an eighth-inch from each other, up to a quarter-inch maximum spacing. Nail them in place using the chalk line as a reference for the top edge of the row of shingles. Keep the nails at least three-quarters of an inch away from the edges of the shingles. Use the nail gun and air compressor.

Install your first actual row. This row covers the starter row. Overlap the starter row completely, with your first real row of shingles spaced in a similar fashion, but placed in such a way that they overlap the vertical joints of the first starter row. However, for this row, only nail the shingles halfway down the shingle, as you need to leave the exposed bottom half without nails.

Prepare your second row. This row will overlap half of the first row, and then attach to the wall above the first row, so that the shingle is angled outwards by the bottom row. Measure halfway up your first row of shingles on both sides of the wall and mark it with a pencil. Snap a chalk line between the two points.

Install the second row. Place the shingles so they overlap the vertical joints of the first row -- and are identical to the placement of the starter row beneath the first row. Place the shingles so that their bottom edge aligns with the chalk line, which is halfway up the first row. Nail them in place against the felt underlayment, as well as along the upper edge of the row below, at least 1 inch down from its topmost edge. Leave the bottom half of the second row without nails, as this is the exposed section.

Install the third row in a similar fashion to the second row, with half of the shingle covering the second row and half of the shingle extending upwards against the felt paper and wall of the cottage. Stagger the pieces so they match up with the first row’s vertical placement. Repeat the overall process of staggering, nailing and placement to finish your wall.