Roof shingles are used in those houses which have a sloping roof. Normally these shingles have a very long life span and once you have fixed them, they will last for at least 15-20 years. However, some of the shingles in this time period may develop some problems and may get damaged because of strong winds or animals climbing the roofs. Some of the most common problems that are encountered with shingles are premature cracking, blistering, and loss of gravel. You can overcome this problem very easily. One advantage with shingles is that that if some problem arises in any shingle then instead of laying down the roof all over again, all you have to do is to repair that shingle or may have to replace it with a good one. Repairing roof shingles is a very easy task and you can perform it on your own without an expert’s help.
Complexity level – Moderately easy.
Time Required : 10 – 12 hours
Resources Required:
- Replacement shingle
- Pry bar
- Scraper
- Utility knife
- Asphalt roof cement
- 6d galvanized roofing nails
- Trowel
- Hammer
Instructions:
1. Identify the defective shingles.
The first step is to identify the damaged shingles which is not a very difficult task indeed. It is these damaged shingle through which water leaks. These leakage spots are easily visible and once you have located these spots, the damaged shingles are identified automatically.
2. Remove the damaged shingle.
Once you have identified the defective or damaged shingle then you have to remove it from its place. You can take the help of the pry bar to remove the nails which holds the shingle at its place. Now when all the nails have been removed then slowly slide out the damaged shingle from its place.
3. Check the condition of the damaged shingle.
Inspect the extent up to which the shingles have been damaged. If the defects are limited to a single tab only then instead of replacing the defective shingle you can just replace that particular tab with the help of your utility knife and then use it again. But, if the damages cannot be repaired then you can have to replace the damaged shingle.
4. Place a new shingle in the place of a damaged one.
After removing the defective shingle from its place scrape out all the cement that was underneath it. If the shingle was removed because of a storm then remove all the nails that was left behind. Roll the upper corners of the shingle that is to be replaced so that sliding it into the place of older one may be easy. Now slide the new shingle in the space such that its front edge is above the shingles in the next row and the back edge is below the shingles of the previous row. Fix the newly installed shingle at its place by nailing it with 6d galvanized roofing nails and then cover the nail heads with the roofing cement.
Frequently Asked Question’s:
How to identify the shingle which will suit my roof as the shingles come in different types and sizes?
Some of the important factors that play a crucial role in determining the type of shingle to be installed in your house are weather conditions, design, style, the size of the structure and last but not the least, the slope of the roof. Also the manufacturer specifies the exposure for each type of shingles, however a 5″ exposure is the most common one.
Quick tips:
- In cold weather excessive bending of shingles can break them therefore avoid bending them or if essential do so only after little warm up.
- Always carry the repair work during a sunny day when the surface is dry so that chances of slipping is minimal.
Things to watch out for:
- Whenever you are working on the roof try to have yourself harnessed with a strong rope.
- Always make sure that you don’t go much closer to the power lines.
