What is the least amount of pitch on a roof that i can put shingles on?

Question

What i the best materisl to use on the part of the roof that i can't put shingle's on?

Answer 1

I am a licensed general contractor in FLorida and I would never put shingles on a roof with less than a 4 in 12. You as a homeowner may decide to go as low as 3 in 12 but I would not recommend it. If you call any company in the phone book yellow pages under "roofing materials" suppliers they will be glad to tell you the exact recommendations for the diferent type of roffing materials available. Just dont call Home Depot or Lowes....call a real roofing supply co that only sells roofing suppies and nothing else, they will have full time roofing salesmen that do nothing but answer the phone all day to sell roofing materials to contractors.

Answer 2

Typically you don't want to go under a 4 on 12. I'm a roofing contractor in Texas and I'll do a 3/12 only if the customer will allow me to do 3 plies of felt, interlaced, and a 4 inch exposure.

Here's how you do it...

2 plies of 15 pound felt on the entire roof, half lapped. (instead of rolling out felt a roll's width apart you go a half a roll apart) On the first course, nail down a third ply and nail your shingles till you get to the top of that 3rd ply of felt. Roll out your next course of felt, but leave the bottom edge on top of the last course of shingles. Repeat this process till you get to the top.

What this does for you is gives you another layer of protection. With the way the 3rd ply of felt is woven in, if water gets under the shingles it will hopefully stay on top of the felt till it runs out harmlessly in the interlaced shingle course below.

Answer 3

The minimum pitch varies by manufacturer and climate, but as a general rule, 3/12 would be it.