Asphalt Shingle Roof Installation in Massachusetts
Asphalt shingles are the standard roof covering for Massachusetts homes, and installing them on a new roof is the most familiar kind of roofing work. The shingles are fitted course by course over underlay and protection, with flashing at every joint. This page explains the shingle options, how installation is done, and what to consider when choosing shingles for a new roof.
Shingle Options for a New Roof
New shingle roofs most often use architectural shingles, with a layered, thicker profile that suits the look of Massachusetts homes. Colour and style are chosen to suit the house, and the provider fitting the roof will explain the options available for the particular property. The choice of shingle affects the look of the roof and how it performs in local weather, so it is worth considering alongside the rest of the installation scope.
What Shingle Installation Involves
Installation begins with a sound, even deck. Underlay is fitted across the deck, with ice and water protection at the eaves, in the valleys and around penetrations. Flashing is fitted at chimneys, walls and skylights, and the shingles are then laid course by course from the eaves upward, with ridge caps finishing the peak. Ventilation beneath the deck is fitted as part of the work, and the finished roof is checked over.
Shingles and Massachusetts Weather
Shingle roofs in Massachusetts face freeze-thaw cycles, ice dams at the eaves and wind-driven rain from nor'easters. Ice and water protection at the eaves and in the valleys is the detail that matters most, since it guards the places where meltwater and driven rain collect. Ventilation beneath the deck keeps the roof surface even in winter. A shingle installation that gets these details right is built for the local climate.
Matching Shingles to the Home
The shingle chosen for a new roof should suit the style of the house and the neighbourhood: a colonial, a cape and a contemporary home each carry a different look well. Colour affects how the roof reads from the street and how it sits with the siding and trim. The provider fitting the roof will explain the options available and how each one looks on a home like the one being built.
Shingle Installation Costs and Estimates
The cost of a shingle installation varies with the size and pitch of the roof, the shingle type chosen and access to the property. Because no two projects are alike, a figure can only be given after looking at the plans for the particular home. The estimate sets out the scope before any work is agreed.
Problems and Solutions
Common Problems
- New build needing a shingle roof
- Addition or extension to be roofed in shingles
- Shingle type and colour to be chosen
- Underlay and ice protection to be planned
- Valleys and junctions needing flashing
- Ventilation to be fitted beneath the deck
How These Problems Are Addressed
- Architectural shingles fitted course by course
- Underlay and ice and water protection fitted
- Flashing fitted at every joint
- Ridge caps finishing the peak
- Ventilation fitted as part of the work
- Finished roof checked over at the end
How It Works
Request an Estimate
Describe the project and the shingle roof needed through the estimate form.
Roof Assessment
An independent local provider looks at the structure and the plans for the roof.
Scope and Estimate
The shingle options and the scope of the work are explained, with an estimate.
Work Arranged
Once the scope is agreed, the provider arranges the installation.
Final Check
The finished roof is checked over and the work is explained.
What to Expect
Benefits
- The standard covering for Massachusetts homes
- Shingle style and colour chosen to suit the home
- Ice and water protection fitted at eaves and valleys
- Flashing fitted at every joint
- Ventilation fitted as part of the work
- Clear scope and estimate before work begins
Frequently Asked Questions
Architectural shingles are the common choice for new roofs in Massachusetts, with a layered, thicker profile. Colour and style are chosen to suit the house, and the provider fitting the roof will explain the options available for the particular property.
Shingles are laid course by course from the eaves upward over underlay and ice and water protection, with flashing fitted at chimneys, walls and skylights, and ridge caps finishing the peak. Ventilation beneath the deck is fitted as part of the work.
The cost varies with the size and pitch of the roof, the shingle type chosen and access to the property. An estimate for the particular home is the only way to get a figure, and it sets out the scope before any work is agreed.
How long a shingle roof lasts depends on the shingle type, how well it was installed, ventilation beneath the deck and the weather it faces. On a new installation, the underlay, the ice and water protection and the ventilation fitted from the start all shape the life of the roof. The provider fitting the roof can give a view on the particular home once the scope is known.
Shingle installation can be carried out in cold weather, though the approach depends on the conditions on the day. The provider carrying out the work will explain what is practical for the particular roof and season.
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