Owens Corning’s installation instructions for its Duration and Oakridge shingles set specific rules for the deck (boards at least 6 inches wide, 3/8 inch plywood or 7/16 inch OSB), nails (at least 12 gauge with a 3/8 inch head, reaching 3/4 inch into the deck, placed in the SureNail strip), an Owens Corning starter at eaves and rakes, a self-adhered ice barrier at eaves where ice dams occur, a 36-inch liner in closed valleys, step flashing at walls, Owens Corning hip and ridge, and ventilation that meets local code. Its extended warranties add requirements of their own. This page explains each in plain language. It is general information, not a warranty promise; the current documents from Owens Corning control.
On this page: Why it matters · Deck and nails · Starter and edges · Valleys and walls · Ventilation · Warranty tie-ins · What to check · When to call
Why the instructions matter
Building codes point back to the manufacturer for many shingle details, and Owens Corning’s instructions say it is not responsible for problems caused by departing from them. Its warranties exclude damage from improper installation. In practice, the instructions are the standard a shingle roof is judged by when something goes wrong.
Deck and nails
| Item | What Owens Corning’s Duration instructions say |
|---|---|
| Deck | Boards at least 6 inches wide, or 3/8 inch plywood or 7/16 inch OSB, installed to APA and local code, kept dry |
| Panel gaps | Sheathing spaced 1/8 to 1/4 inch |
| Nails | Galvanized steel, stainless steel or aluminum; at least 12 gauge shank and 3/8 inch head; no staples on wood decks |
| Depth | At least 3/4 inch into the deck, or through it by at least 1/4 inch |
| Placement | In the SureNail strip, toward its center or lower half, never within 2 inches of a joint in the course above or below |
| Count | Four standard; six where an enhanced warranty or code calls for it |
| Steep slopes | Over 21:12, six nails plus four spots of asphalt roof cement per shingle |
Duration STORM and Duration FLEX add one more: the old roof covering and underlayment must be removed first. No roof-overs.
Starter, drip edge and ice barrier
- Starter: an Owens Corning starter product at eaves and rakes, overhanging the drip edge 1/4 to 3/4 inch, five nails per piece placed 2 to 3 inches from the edge. Upside-down shingles and cut three-tab under laminates are not acceptable.
- Drip edge: Owens Corning’s bulletin recommends drip edge on all asphalt shingle roofs, under the underlayment at eaves and over it at rakes, nailed 8 to 10 inches apart with laps of at least 2 inches.
- Ice barrier: where roofs have a history of ice dams, an Owens Corning self-adhered ice and water barrier from the eave edge to at least 24 inches inside the interior wall line. The instructions say most roofs need two courses.
- Underlayment: synthetic underlayment on slopes of 4:12 and up. From 2:12 to under 4:12, two layers lapped half their width plus 2 inches, or a self-adhered barrier.
Valleys, walls and ridge
- Closed-cut valleys: a 36-inch self-adhered liner, the first side run at least 12 inches past the center, nails at least 6 inches from the center, and the cut side trimmed 2 inches off the center line and set in cement. Woven and metal valleys are allowed alternatives.
- Step flashing: corrosion-resistant metal at least 4 by 4 by 8 inches, 2 inches wider than the shingle exposure, at sidewalls and chimneys.
- Hip and ridge: an Owens Corning hip and ridge shingle installed to its package instructions. Owens Corning says scrap laminate shingles are not acceptable as ridge cap. On Duration STORM and FLEX, ImpactRidge is required to complete the Class 4 roof system, and a shingle-over ridge vent affects that impact rating.
Ventilation
The shingle instructions say ventilation must comply with local building codes. Owens Corning’s ventilation bulletin cites the code minimum of 1 square foot of net free vent area for every 150 square feet of attic, reducible to 1 per 300 when certain conditions are met, and recommends balanced intake and exhaust. See attic ventilation for how that works in a Colorado attic.
How the warranty ties in
| Requirement | Standard warranty | Platinum Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Installed to Owens Corning instructions and code | Yes | Yes |
| Installer | Any | Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor |
| Registration | Not required | By the contractor within 60 days |
| Tear-off to a clean deck, new flashing and drip edge | Not a stated tier requirement | Required |
| Owens Corning components | Not a stated tier requirement | Shingles, underlayment, hip and ridge, plus two of: ice and water barrier, starter, VentSure ventilation |
| Code-ventilated attic | Ventilation damage excluded | Required |
Owens Corning’s wind warranty for Duration shingles can be raised with Owens Corning starter at eaves and rakes, Owens Corning hip and ridge and other listed components. Hail is not covered by any tier. Details on what Platinum covers are in our Platinum Protection warranty guide.
What you can check
- Ask for the shingle name and the starter, ridge, underlayment and ice barrier products by name on the contract.
- Look at the eaves and rakes from the ground after the job. Shingles should overhang the drip edge by about 1/2 to 1 inch, or sit flush with certain drip edge styles.
- Look at the ridge for matching ridge cap pieces rather than cut-up field shingles.
- Ask for registration paperwork if an extended warranty was promised.
When to call us
Call if you are comparing bids and want to know whether each includes the parts the instructions call for, or if a recent roof shows lifted shingles or the wrong ridge. See the Owens Corning shingles we install and the homeowner guides hub for more.
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Colorado Springs area: (719) 488-2800 or a free inspection. Denver metro: (303) 209-0152 or a free Denver inspection. Austin: (512) 610-5897 or a free Austin inspection. Same-business-day reply.
Sources (Owens Corning documents, read 2026-10-27): Duration Series installation instructions; Duration STORM and FLEX instructions; Laminate nailing tolerances; Wind classifications; Hip and ridge and starter bulletin; Drip edge bulletin; Unvented and sealed decks bulletin; Platinum Protection warranty; FORTIFIED bulletin (hail).
