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CAUTION: DO NOT MIX MATERIAL BEARING DIFFERENT LOT NUMBERS, REFER TO THE LOT NUMBERS LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE BUNDLE

Application Instructions

  • Before installing this product, check local building codes for roofing requirements.
  • These shingles are designed for new or reroofing work over any properly built and supported wood roof deck having adequate nail holding capacity and a smooth surface. Must comply with local building codes.

Precautionary Note

The manufacturer will not be responsible for problems resulting from any deviation from the application instructions and the following precautions:

  • Roof Top Loading: Lay shingle bundles flat. Do not bend over the ridge.
  • Roof Deck: Minimum 6 inch roof deck boards, minimum 3/8 inch plywood, minimum 7/16 inch OSB, sheathing spaced minimum 1/8 inch and maximum 1/4 inch. Regardless of deck type used, the roofing installer must:
  1. Install the deck material in strict compliance with the deck manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. Prevent the wood deck from getting wet before, during and after installation.
  • Ventilation: Must comply with local building codes.
  • Handling: Use extra care in handling shingles when the temperature is below 40°F.
  • Storage: Store in a covered, ventilated area at a maximum temperature of 110°F. Bundles should be stacked flat. Do not store near steam pipes, radiators, etc.
  • Fastener Requirement: Use galvanized steel, stainless steel or aluminum nails minimum 12 gauge shank with 3/8 inch diameter head. Owens Corning Roofing recommends that fasteners comply with ASTM F1667. Must comply with local building codes. All Fasteners must penetrate at least 3/4 inch into the wood deck or completely through the deck by a minimum of 1/4 inch.

Notice: Owens Corning Roofing requires the use of nails as the method of attaching shingles to wood decking.

Diagram of properly driven vs. improperly driven fasteners as well as shingle side view diagram

Step 1:
Self-Adhered Ice & Water Barrier

Use an Owens Corning® Self-Adhered Ice & Water Barrier on the eaves in all regions of the country where roofs have had a history of ice and water backup. Apply starting at the eaves edge and extend upslope a minimum of 24 inches from the interior wall line. See Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Step 2:
Synthetic Underlayment

Standard Slopes 4:12 and Greater: Use an Owens Corning® Synthetic Underlayment or equivalent underlayment meeting ASTM D226, D4869 or D6757. Follow underlayment manufacturer's application instructions and local building codes. See Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Step 3: Synthetic Underlayment

Low Slope 2:12 to Less than 4:12: Use an Owens Corning® Synthetic Underlayment or equivalent underlayment meeting ASTM D226, D4869 or D6757. Underlayment must be installed per the manufacturer's application instructions and local building codes. Each underlayment course must be overlapped a minimum of 1/2 the width of the underlayment plus 1 inch. See Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

Or Owens Corning® Self-Adhered Ice & Water Barrier or equivalent with a standard overlap of 3 inches and metal drip edge. See Fig. 3A.

Note: See technical bulletin for felt application.

Fig. 3A

Step 4: Shingle Fastening Pattern

Standard Fastening Pattern:
Place fasteners 5/8 inch above the tab cut-out and below the lower edge of sealant strip. Fastening into the sealant strip interferes with sealing and contributes to blow-offs. See Fig. 6.

Note: Do not drive fasteners into or above the adhesive strip.

Fig. 6

Mansard or Steep Slope Fastening Pattern:
Six nail fastening pattern is required for mansard application.

In addition, Owens Corning® Starter Shingles are required along the eaves and rake. See Starter Shingle instructions for details. See Fig. 6A.

REQUIRED: For slopes exceeding 60 degrees or 21 inches per foot, use 6 fasteners and 4 spots of asphalt roof cement per shingle. Apply immediately, one 1 inch diameter spot of asphalt roof cement under each shingle tab. Center asphalt roof cement 2 inches up from bottom edge of shingle tab. See Fig. 6A.

Asphalt Roof Cement where required must meet ASTM D4586 Type I or II (Asbestos Free).

Note: Please be aware that excessive amounts of asphalt roof cement could blister the shingle.

Fig. 6A

Step 5

Step 5:
Chalk Lines

To aid in shingle alignment, it is recommended that chalk lines be snapped on the exposed surface of the underlayment prior to shingle application. See Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

Starter Course: Use Berkshire® Shingles. Apply per Fig. 5.

Caution: Using shingle products other than Berkshire® Shingles for the starter course may result in a color variation at the lower edge of the roof.

Step 6:
Shingle Application

Vertical Racking Method: Apply shingles over properly prepared roof deck, starting at bottom of roof using the single column, vertical racking method. Owens Corning® Berkshire® Shingles must be applied with a 4 3/4 inch offset and 8 3/8 inch exposure. Caution must be exercised to ensure that end joints are no closer than 2 inches from a fastener in the shingle below. Refer to course application steps for specific instructions.

Note: Owens Corning® Berkshire® Shingles ARE NOT to be installed across and diagonally up the roof.

First Course: Apply first course starting with a full shingle, even with the lower edge of the starter course shingle, align the right edge of the shingle with the 37 5/8 inch vertical line. Align the top edge of the shingle with the 18 3/8 inch horizontal chalk line. See Fig. 7.

Fig. 7

Second Course: Align the right edge of the first shingle of the second course with the 32 7/8 inch vertical chalk line. Align bottom edge of the shingle with the top of the shingle cut-outs in the first course, leaving 8 3/8 inch exposure. Fasten securely and trim 4 3/4 inch excess overhang at rake leaving 3/8 inch overhang. See Fig. 7A.

Fig. 7A

Succeeding Courses: Alternate shingle courses. Odd numbered courses start with a full shingle aligned with the 37 5/8 inch vertical chalk line and the top edge aligned with the horizontal chalk line, leaving 8 3/8 inch exposure. Even numbered courses will start with the right edge of the shingle aligned with the 32 7/8 inch vertical chalk line. Shingles are applied up the rake in a single column racking fashion. See Fig. 7B.

Fasten each full shingle in the odd numbered courses with 4 fasteners.

DO NOT fasten the right edge of the full shingles in the odd numbered courses at this time as the shingle being installed adjacent to the previous course will have to be positioned beneath the right edge of this full shingle. When the shingle adjacent to the previous course has been positioned, apply 5 fasteners in that shingle (even numbered courses) and apply 1 fastener to the unfastened end of the shingle above.

Fasten the shingles in the even numbered (where the first shingle in the course is aligned with the 32 7/8 inch chalk line) courses using 5 fasteners. See Fig. 7B.

Work up the roof starting at the eaves edge one column at a time following the above procedure. Butt full shingles against the right edge of the shingles that have been applied in each course, again working one column at a time until the courses have been completed.

Fig. 7B

Step 7:
Open Valley Construction

Woven and closed-cut valleys are not recommended for Owens Corning® Berkshire® Shingles.

  • Lay a 36 inch wide valley liner of Owens Corning® Self-Adhered Underlayment or equivalent. A 36 inch wide minimum #50 smooth surface roll roofing can also be used as a valley liner. Fasten on outer edges only a minimum of 6 inches away from center line on each side of valley. See Fig. 8.
  • Recommended valley flashing is 24 inches wide 26-gauge galvanized metal or an equivalent corrosion-resistant, non-staining material. Secure the valley metal to the roof deck with fasteners spaced 8 to 12 inches apart. Overlaps should be 12 inches and cemented. See Fig. 8.
Fig. 8

  • Snap a chalk line on each side of the valley centerline over the full length of the valley flashing. Space the chalk lines 6 inches apart at the ridge (3 inches to either side of the valley centerline). The lower ends of the chalk lines should diverge from each other 1/8 inch per foot (i.e., for an 8 foot valley, the chalk lines will be 7 inches apart at the eaves). See Fig. 8A.
  • As the shingles are applied toward the valley, the last shingle in each course will be trimmed to fit on the chalk line. Note: Do not use a shingle less than 12 inches in length to finish a course running into a valley.
  • If necessary, trim a tab off the adjacent shingle in the course to allow a longer portion to be used.
  • Clip 1 inch from the upper portion of the shingle on a 45 degree angle to divert water into the valley. See Fig. 8A.
  • Cement the shingle to the valley lining with a 3 inch wide band of asphalt plastic cement conforming to ASTM D4586 Type I or II. See Fig. 8A.
Fig. 8A

Step 8:
Step Flashing

Use 10 inch x 12 inch corrosion-resistant metal where roof planes butt against vertical sidewalls or chimneys. Check local building codes. See Fig. 9.

Fig. 9

Step 9:
Hip & Ridge Application

Use Berkshire® Hip & Ridge Shingles. Follow application instructions as printed on the Berkshire® Hip & Ridge carton.

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