Shingles

• Asphalt shingles, the most frequently seen type of asphalt roofing, consist of three sections, or tabs, per shingle, with each shingle usually being 3 feet long and 12 inches wide. To properly install asphalt shingles, you first lay down a base material such as tar paper and then fasten any necessary edge flashing to the roof deck. Starting the shingle courses at the base of the roof and working upwards is the recommended method for nailing the shingles the sheathing, according to The Family Handyman website. The site also advises using four roofing nails per shingle.
  
  

Built-Up

• Another type of asphalt-based roofing, called built-up roofing, or BUR, goes on flat roofs and has been used for over a century. Some built-up roofing is heated on site in kettles and then affixed to the surface with mops, while another type, called cold-applied roofing, needs no heating. For hot applications, the contractor must heat each batch of hot asphalt to a specific temperature set by the manufacturer for best results. To ensure that the BUR remains leak-free, installation by an experienced professional is necessary, along with the regular application of waterproof coatings on the roof flashing. A white coating over the BUR helps to lower roof temperatures, which extends the roof's life.
  
  

Roll Roofing

• Roll roofing comes in long sheets that you spread out over the roofing deck and it has a shorter life than shingles or built-up roofing. It gives a relatively thin layer of protection and usually works best as a primary covering material on outbuildings, such as sheds. Roll roofing often finds use as an underlayment for other materials, such as shingles, on more valuable buildings. Applying the sheets vertically rather than horizontally works well on higher pitched roofs. For this method, overlap the sheets by 2 inches, cement all seams and place nails 3 inches apart. Avoid installing roll roofing in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
  

Wind and Fire

• Asphalt shingles are susceptible to blowing off roofs in high winds. Homeowners who live in exceptional windy regions or in areas vulnerable to hurricanes might want to install their standard shingles with extra nails or use interlocking shingles, which join together through fitted tabs and hold up well in heavy winds. Asphalt shingles come in three grades of fire protection: A, the highest grade, B, the intermediate grade, and C, the lowest grade. Check with your local building officials to see if they require a certain grade of fire resistance for asphalt shingles.