However those naysayers would be wrong.
Low slope roof shingles.
Finding the right products for your low slope roof.
Asphalt shingles are an effective roof covering material for sloped roofs that can be successfully used on slopes as low as 2 12.
Low slope roofs present a challenge where water is concerned.
A 3 per foot slope is considered low but may be acceptable if a double layer of felt is used.
It s constructed of a durable reinforcing mat of non woven glass fibers that have been coated and permeated to a thickness of approximately 2 0 mm.
For a low slope residential roof there are two main options.
Some building codes allow as low as a 2 slope with asphalt shingles if additional steps are taken.
But other than that a higher roof slope is much better for the shingles.
The majority of north american residential roofs have historically been constructed with a slope between about 4 12 and 9 12.
That way water flows from the shingles onto the flange and continuing to flow down slope it flows back on the shingles.
I have to say having a low roof slope sure makes it more comfortable to install the shingles.
1 cover the entire surface with a self adhesive flashing membrane such as grace ice water shield there are many equivalent products.
Larger flat roofed applications low slope such as residential condominium complexes row homes and town houses and smaller applications such as residential porch and garage transitions from the main home where the slope of the roof changes dramatically.
A handy roof slope estimator can help you determine if your roof slope is likely too low for shingles.
And by the way the manufacturers instructions i reviewed for the shingles i was interested in buying described installations down to a 2 12 pitch.
With respect to shingle application roof slopes from 2 12 to less than 4 12 18 5 are called low slope roofs while roof slopes of 4 12 or greater are called normal or standard slopes.
They typically had different underlayment recommendations for low slope roofs 2 12 to 4 12 pitches but that was about it.
Residential low slope roofing can generally be divided up into two broad categories.
3 tab shingles versus laminated shingles for low slope roof.
Some will argue that shingles shouldn t be used for low pitch roofs at all.
If you have a low slope roof but would love to have a shingled look rather than other solutions like rolled sheet roofing you are in.
Then apply standard asphalt shingles over the membrane.
Roofs at the lower end of the range about 4 12 to 6 12 are relatively easy to walk and work on.
The membrane will outlast the shingles and seal around all nail penetrations.
