If you're facing the need to have your asphalt shingle roof replaced soon, you may have concerns about the roofing installation process. Putting on asphalt shingles is a common job for roofers, so it's easy to find a company to make sure your shingles are installed correctly. Here are the parts of an asphalt shingle roof and a look at how they are installed during a new roofing installation.

The Plywood Deck Forms The Base Of The Roof

Your new roof is installed on a deck made of plywood or oriented strand boards. After all the old roofing is torn off of your house, the roofer checks the plywood deck for damage that has to be repaired. If the deck is still in good shape, it stays in place and the new roof goes over it.

If the deck has water damage, the water-damaged area has to be removed and new decking put in place. One of the goals of a new roofing installation is to make sure the deck is dry and no water damage is covered up.

The Underlayment Is A Rain Barrier

The underlayment is a waterproof barrier that goes on top of the plywood deck. The roofer might use underlayment that has a peel-and-stick backing so it stays in place easily. This is an important component of the roof since it protects against roof leaks in case rain gets under a shingle.

The Asphalt Shingles Cover The Roof

The asphalt shingles are the most obvious part of your roof since they cover the surface. The roofing installation crew might get your entire roof shingled in a single day if you have a small house, but it's best to allow a few days in case the work takes longer than expected or if you have a large home.

The shingles are installed so they lap over each other. This encourages rain to flow down the surface of the roof without getting under any shingles. The shingles are attached by nailing the top of the shingles to the roof and by adhering the bottom of the shingles to the roof with an adhesive strip that comes on the shingles.

Metal And Rubber Flashing Protect Against Leaks

Another important part of an asphalt roofing system is the flashing. The flashing around the chimney, skylights, and the valley of your roof is usually made of metal. The metal is lapped around protrusions through the roof to close the gap between the chimney and the shingles so rain can't leak through. In the case of a plumbing vent, the flashing might be made of rubber. If metal flashing is used, there will probably be a rubber boot added that hugs the vent pipe to keep the rain out.