Putting shingles on my garage

[cperky]

I got all the shingles up except for the ridge cap this weekend. I had to have my wife pull me out of bed this morning but I got most of it done. Thank goodness for the air nailer, it really makes a difference. I still have all my fingernails and none of them are black from being smashed with the hammer

Do any of you have any suggestions for the ridge cap other than what is on the shingle instructions? My last course on each side of the peak almost meet perfectly at the roof peak.(less than 1/4" gap) is it ok to just cut the shingles at the tabs and put them across the peak ?

 

[jayhawkRoy]

Make sure your ridge cap shingle covers the exposed part of the other shingles and you should be OK. Look around the neighborhood and make sure you start your ridge cap at the correct end of the house, based on your prevailing winds.

When we use three tab shingles as ridge caps, we cut the black part of the tab at an inward angle on both sides -- that allows for proper coverage of the mineral surface and no overhang of the black surface.

 

[boustany]

I kinda cut the 'hidden' part like an upside down V so it looks like this <:: It ends up looking a bit neater.

With the last cap, you have to use a half cap (i.e. coloured part only, with a couple nails, and cover the nails with a dap of tar. If you want to be particular, takes some of the 'sand' from the packages of shingles and poor those on the tar - it hides it real good.

Also, I should have mentioned, the best way to cut shingles is with a hook blade utility knife (those retractable type with the double ended blades, or an Olfa). It stays sharper much longer.