Do I really need a Starter Shingle?

The short answer is YES!

A lot of people ask “What the heck is a starter shingle and why do I need them?” So we thought we would put together a quick and easy explanation.

Every roof needs a proper foundation and structure – a starter course. For something as important as keeping your property protected from bad weather, certain steps are needed for a successful roof installation. That’s where starter shingles come in, they lay the foundation.

What Exactly is, a Starter Shingle?

Don’t confuse a starter shingle with 3-Tab or architectural shingles. Some manufacturers refer to starter shingles as starter strips because this also avoids confusion between a starter shingle and roof shingle. Starter strips don’t have a specific color system (unlike roof shingles) since they are installed under your roof shingles. They’re also made of the same material as asphalt shingles: fiberglass and asphalt.

The Importance of Starter Shingles

Starter shingles act as a barrier for your roof to protect your eaves and rake edges from water leaks.and lets water flow seamlessly off your roof. They will also have a tar adhesive strip to prevent your shingles from blowing off in harsh weather conditions. Without this starter course of shingles, your roof will lack the foundation needed to prevent water leaks and blow-offs or uplifts from strong winds in the most vulnerable areas.

Where are they installed?

Starter strip shingles are installed on your roof edges. These edges are commonly called the eave and rake edges. The starter course is installed after the drip edge, ice & water shield and synthetic underlayments are installed on the roof deck.