Rolled roofing installation means fastening 36-inch-wide rolls of mineral surface asphalt across a clean, dry deck from the eave up, overlapping each course and sealing every seam with roofing cement. It is the cheapest asphalt roof you can install, runs about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot installed, and suits low-slope structures like sheds, garages, and porches rather than the main roof of a house. Pick the right nailing method for your slope, and a DIY job on a small shed takes a weekend.
The method you choose (exposed nail, concealed nail, or double coverage) decides how long the roof lasts and what wind it survives. That single decision drives everything below, so it comes first.
Which roll roofing installation method should you use?
Match the method to your roof slope and how long you need it to last. Exposed nail is fastest but leaks first at the nail heads. Concealed nail hides fasteners under the overlap and adds years. Double coverage is the most durable and reaches the lowest usable slopes. Roll roofing needs a minimum slope of roughly 1:12 (1 inch of rise per foot) for double coverage and 2:12 or steeper for the exposed nail method under most manufacturer specs.
| Method | Minimum slope | Typical lifespan | Wind resistance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposed nail | 2:12 | 5 to 8 years | 40 to 50 mph | Sheds, quick DIY, tight budgets |
| Concealed nail | 2:12 | 8 to 12 years | Up to 60 mph | Garages, porches, longer service |
| Double coverage | 1:12 | 8 to 12 years | Up to 60 mph | Low-slope roofs, exposed structures |
Exposed nail nails through the surface every 4 to 6 inches along the overlap, so the fasteners sit in the weather. Concealed nail drives nails only along the top edge of each course where the next course covers them, backed by a full bed of cement. Double coverage (also called half-lap) uses a 36-inch sheet with a 19-inch selvage overlap and only 17 inches exposed, doubling the material over most of the roof.
What tools and materials do you need for roll roofing?
You need the roll roofing itself, plastic roofing cement, roofing nails, and basic hand tools. A 10 by 12 shed takes about $90 to $180 in materials. Buy one 100-square-foot roll per roofing square, plus 15 to 20 percent extra for overlaps and waste, more if you are using the double coverage method.
- Mineral surface roll roofing: one roll covers 100 square feet (one square) at single coverage, 50 square feet at double coverage.
- Plastic roofing cement: lap cement for seams and overlaps, one gallon per two to three squares.
- Roofing nails: 11 or 12 gauge galvanized, 1 inch minimum, with neoprene or metal washers for exposed heads.
- Utility knife with hook blades, chalk line, tape measure, and a caulking gun or trowel.
- Drip edge and metal edging for the eave and rake.
- Safety gear: gloves, safety glasses, and grippy shoes. On a house roof, add a harness. See our roof safety guide for OSHA tie-off rules and DIY limits.
Install only when the deck and material are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and dry. Below that the asphalt turns stiff and brittle, cracks when you unroll it, and will not bond at the seams.
How to install roll roofing step by step
Work from the eave up, overlap each course, and seal every seam. The sequence below covers the concealed nail method, the best balance of durability and DIY difficulty. Note the changes for exposed nail and double coverage where they differ.
- Prep the deck. Strip old roofing, pull every nail, and sweep the plywood or OSB clean. The surface must be dry, flat, and free of high spots. Replace any soft or rotted decking before you start, because roll roofing will telegraph and split over a bad deck.
- Install drip edge and underlayment. Nail metal drip edge along the eave and rakes. Many manufacturers require a base sheet or 15-pound felt on decks steeper than 2:12; roll roofing is a roof covering, not an underlayment substitute, so add the base layer the product calls for.
- Cut and lay the starter course. Unroll the material, let it relax flat for 30 minutes, then cut lengths with a hook blade. Snap a chalk line 35 inches up from the eave (for a 36-inch sheet with a 1-inch eave overhang) and align the first course to it.
- Fasten the first course. For concealed nail, apply a full bed of lap cement along the eave and rakes, press the sheet in, and nail only the top edge every 4 inches, 1 inch down from the top. For exposed nail, nail the bottom and sides every 4 to 6 inches with washered nails instead.
- Overlap the next course. Overlap horizontal seams by 3 to 4 inches (19 inches for double coverage). Spread a full bed of cement under the lap, set the next course into it, and press it down hard so cement squeezes out slightly along the seam.
- Stagger and cement the end laps. Where one roll ends and the next begins, overlap the ends 6 inches, cement the full lap, and stagger these vertical seams course to course so they never stack.
- Flash penetrations. Cut the material to fit around vents, pipes, and the chimney. Bed each cut in cement and cover the joint with a cemented patch. Vent boots and pipe flashings fail first, so seal these harder than any flat run. Our vent pipe boot guide covers the detail that causes roughly 30 percent of roof leaks.
- Seal the top edge and every exposed nail. At the ridge or wall, run a final course over the top and cement it. On exposed nail work, dab a 1-inch spot of cement over every nail head. Walk the whole roof and close any gap, edge, or lifted seam.
How do you install rolled roofing on a shed?
A shed is the ideal roll roofing project because the slope is usually low and the area is small. A 10 by 12 shed is about 120 square feet, or 1.2 squares, so two 100-square-foot rolls cover it with overlap allowance. Follow the same eave-up sequence, and the whole job runs $90 to $180 in materials and a single afternoon of work.
On a shed the double coverage method is worth the extra roll because it reaches slopes as low as 1:12 and lasts 8 to 12 years instead of 5 to 8. If the shed roof is nearly flat, roll roofing is at its limit; below 1:12 you want a true low-slope membrane instead. Our shed roof cost guide compares roll roofing against shingles and metal for outbuildings, and the low-slope roof materials guide covers what to use when the pitch drops below 4:12.
How much does roll roofing cost?
Roll roofing costs $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot installed, or roughly $0.75 to $1.50 per square foot for mineral surface roll roofing, the cheapest asphalt option. Material alone runs $30 to $100 per 100-square-foot roll, so a 1,000-square-foot roof costs $300 to $1,000 in material. DIY on a small structure cuts labor entirely.
| Cost item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Material per roll (100 sq ft) | $30 to $100 | Mineral surface at the low end |
| Material per square foot | $0.30 to $0.60 | Before cement, nails, edging |
| Installed per square foot | $1.50 to $3.00 | Labor $1.00 to $2.50 added |
| 10 by 12 shed (DIY) | $90 to $180 | Materials only, one weekend |
| Pro minimum job fee | $500 to $800 | Applies to small roofs |
Labor adds $1.00 to $2.50 per square foot, and most roofers charge a $500 to $800 minimum, which is why DIY makes sense on a shed but a pro rarely does. For a fuller material-by-material breakdown on outbuildings, compare the numbers in our shed roof cost and materials guide.
When should you not use roll roofing?
Skip roll roofing on a visible house roof, on slopes below 1:12, and anywhere you need more than 12 years of service. It is the shortest-lived asphalt product, it looks flat and utilitarian, and building codes such as IRC R905 set minimum slopes that roll roofing barely meets. For a main residence, an asphalt shingle or metal roof pays back over its longer life.
On genuinely flat or near-flat commercial and low-slope decks, a welded membrane outperforms roll roofing on both lifespan and leak resistance. A modified bitumen roof is the closest upgrade: it uses the same asphalt family but adds SBS or APP polymers and torch or self-adhered seams, lasting 15 to 20 years against roll roofing’s 5 to 12. When the roof is below 2:12 or you want it to last, price that system before defaulting to rolls.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed July 2026.