What Are Starter Shingles?

What are starter shingles?

Starter shingles are a strip of asphalt shingle with a factory sealant, installed along a roof's edges before the main shingles go on. They anchor that first course without exposed nails, lock the field shingles down at the eaves and rakes, and boost wind and water resistance where a roof is most exposed.

Key takeaways

• Starter shingles are a sealant-backed asphalt strip that begins the shingle installation.
• They seal the first course to the roof edge, which sharply improves wind resistance.
• Code usually requires them at the eaves, and roofers recommend them on the rakes too.
• They go on after underlayment, drip edge, ice-and-water shield, and flashing, just before the field shingles.
• Use starter from the same manufacturer as your shingles so the roof seals as one system.

Every roof needs a starting point, and starter shingles are it. They are not a budget shingle or a beginner's roof, but the strip that kicks off the shingle installation along your roof's edges. Small as they are, they play a big part in keeping your roof sealed against wind and water. As a GAF Master Elite and CertainTeed-certified contractor, On Tops Roofing installs starter strips as part of a full manufacturer system, and has roofed the Raleigh area since 1991.

• What starter shingles are
• Why starter shingles are used
• Where starter shingles go
• When starter shingles are installed
• Which manufacturers offer starter shingles
• FAQ

What Are Starter Shingles?

Starter shingles are a material used to begin your shingle installation. They fasten along the bottom and side edges of a roof, before field shingles cover the rest. A starter shingle is basically a strip of asphalt with a line of sealant along its lower edge. There is not much more to its design, yet a simple strip does a lot for your roof's wind resistance and long-term health.

Why Are Starter Shingles Used?

Starter shingles matter because they keep edge shingles from lifting in high wind. A bead of sealant grips the first course of field shingles at the eaves and rakes, and once the sun heats it, that sealant fuses the starter strip and first shingle layer together. You end up with a stronger seal and better water resistance right where a roof is most exposed.

Without starter strips, wind can work its way under the edge shingles and peel them back during a storm. Field shingles already lock together, since each course is both nailed to the decking and sealed to the one below with the same adhesive. Starter extends that bond out to the edge, so your whole roof behaves as one sealed unit rather than a set of separate pieces guarding their own patch.

Where Should Starter Shingles Go?

To meet most local building codes, you only have to install starter shingles along the eaves, or bottom edges of your roof. Even so, most roofers recommend running starter along the rakes as well, the angled gable edges without gutters. Adding starter there also helps drainage, since it lifts each field shingle's edge just slightly, nudging runoff toward your gutters instead of letting it spill down the side of the house.

When Are Starter Shingles Installed?

A lot happens during a roof replacement, so it helps to know where starter shingles fall in the order. They begin the shingle installation, but not the whole roof. After a tear-off, the crew first replaces any damaged or rotten roof decking. Next comes underlayment across the deck and drip edge along its edges, followed by ice-and-water shield and flashing over leak-prone spots like valleys and penetrations. Only then does starter go on, setting the stage for whichever field shingles you have chosen.

Which Manufacturers Offer Starter Shingles?

Most major manufacturers make a starter strip built to pair with their shingles. When you replace a roof, using starter from the same brand as your field shingles matters, since the parts are engineered to seal together into the single unit of protection described above.

GAF offers three starter options, plus a color-matched strip for its luxury lines. QuickStart is a peel-and-stick roll that you press down rather than nail, Pro-Start is the standard strip GAF pairs with its architectural shingles, and WeatherBlocker is a premium starter rated for use under any GAF shingle. CertainTeed likewise runs three tiers, SwiftStart as its standard starter, a High-Performance Starter above that, and a Presidential Starter made for its Presidential shingle line. Whichever brand you choose, a certified installer registers the full system so its wind and workmanship coverage holds.

Starting Your Roof Off Right

Starter shingles are a small piece of the roof with an outsized job, sealing the edges where wind and water do their worst. Installed correctly as part of a matched system, they help your whole roof last. On Tops Roofing has installed full manufacturer systems across the Raleigh area since 1991, and you can request a free estimate whenever you are ready to start your project.

FAQ

What are starter shingles?

Starter shingles are a strip of asphalt shingle with a factory sealant, installed along a roof's edges before the field shingles. They anchor the first course without exposed nails and seal the edges against wind and water.

Are starter shingles necessary?

Yes, most building codes require them along the eaves, and they sharply improve wind resistance at a roof's most exposed edges. Skipping them leaves the edge shingles prone to lifting and leaking in a storm.

Do starter shingles go on the rakes too?

Code usually requires them only at the eaves, but roofers recommend the rakes as well. Starter on the rakes also aids drainage, lifting the shingle edge slightly to steer water back toward the gutters.

Can I use any brand of starter shingle?

You should match the starter to your field shingles, since same-brand components are designed to seal together as one system. Mixing brands can weaken that bond and may affect your manufacturer warranty.

When are starter shingles installed during a roof replacement?

After the tear-off, decking repair, underlayment, drip edge, ice-and-water shield, and flashing. The starter shingles go on next, just before the field shingles that cover the rest of the roof.