"One thing I have seen though, is that DIY strips sometimes lead to minor inconsistencies in overhang or alignment..."
Totally agree with this point. When I did mine, I was super careful but still ended up with a couple spots that weren't perfect. If you're going DIY, a quick tip: mark your first strip carefully as a template and use it consistently to measure the others. It helps keep things aligned and saves some headaches later on...especially if you're trying to avoid warranty hassles down the road.
Good tip about marking the first strip as a template—definitely helps keep things consistent. But even with careful measuring, I've noticed some DIYers still end up with alignment issues because they're not always accounting for slight variations in roof pitch or uneven decking underneath. Have you checked your decking thoroughly before starting? Sometimes minor dips or uneven spots can throw off alignment no matter how precise your measurements are.
Another thing that comes to mind is the type of shingles you're using. Some brands seem more forgiving than others when it comes to slight misalignments. I remember one job where we switched brands halfway through (supplier ran out of stock, typical...) and suddenly had way fewer issues with alignment. Could've been luck, but I'm curious if anyone else has noticed certain brands or types being easier to work with?
Also, how are you handling the nailing pattern? I've seen a lot of DIYers underestimate how much a slightly off-center nail can shift the shingle position. Even a small shift can compound as you move along the ridge line, causing noticeable inconsistencies later on. Are you using any guides or tools to keep your nails aligned consistently?
One last thought—temperature and weather conditions during installation can also affect alignment. Shingles installed in colder weather tend to be stiffer and harder to position accurately, while hot weather can make them overly flexible and prone to sagging slightly after installation. Did you notice if temperature was a factor when you did yours?
Just throwing these ideas out there because I've seen these factors cause headaches for plenty of folks tackling hip and ridge shingles themselves. Curious if you've run into any of these issues yourself...
Great points about decking and temperature—I ran into both of those issues myself. Even after carefully checking the decking, I still had a couple of spots that threw me off slightly. Turns out, some minor dips were hard to spot until I actually started laying shingles down. Ended up having to shim a few areas to level things out, which was a bit of a pain but definitely helped in the long run.
I totally agree about the shingles themselves making a difference. I've used a few different brands over the years, and some definitely seem more forgiving. Architectural shingles, in particular, have been easier for me to work with compared to standard three-tab ones. They seem to hide minor alignment issues better, probably because of their layered look. Not sure if you've tried those yet, but they might be worth considering if alignment is giving you trouble.
As for nailing patterns, I learned the hard way how quickly things can go sideways if you're not careful. One trick that helped me was using a chalk line to mark my nail placement every few feet along the ridge. It sounds tedious, but it really kept things consistent and prevented those small shifts from adding up. Also, investing in a decent roofing nailer made a huge difference—hand-nailing is fine, but it's easier to accidentally shift shingles around.
Temperature-wise, I definitely noticed shingles being stiffer in colder weather. I did one section of my roof in late fall, and it was noticeably harder to get them positioned right. On the flip side, summer heat made them almost too flexible, like you mentioned. I found early morning or late afternoon installations worked best for me—warm enough to handle easily but not so hot that they sagged or stretched.
Anyway, just wanted to chime in since I've dealt with similar headaches. Roofing can be tricky, but once you figure out these little quirks, it gets a lot easier.
One thing I found helpful when tackling hip and ridge shingles was actually laying them out dry first. I know it sounds like extra work, but it gave me a chance to spot alignment issues ahead of time. And yeah, architectural shingles definitely made things easier. Also, working in small sections helped me avoid feeling overwhelmed—especially when the weather wasn't cooperating. It's definitely a learning curve, but you'll get there.
Laying them out dry can help, sure, but have you considered snapping chalk lines instead? I found that dry-laying shingles sometimes gave me a false sense of alignment because things shift slightly once you start nailing. Chalk lines might seem old-school, but they provide a consistent visual guide without the extra handling. Also curious—did you run into any issues with wind picking up your dry-laid shingles? Had that happen once, and it wasn't fun chasing shingles around the yard...
