Safety First
Whether you have to inspect your roof for damage or undertake any repairs, here are some safety measures, especially if your house is more than a storey or two:
- Wear a safety harness to ensure safety. Wear heavy-duty gloves and protective eyewear.
- Make sure that the ladder you use to climb is sturdy and secure. Ask someone to hold the ladder for you as you climb.
- Wear shoes that do not slide over the roof. When walking on the roof as well, always walk slowly and step carefully.
- Take the weather into account. Rains can cause slips and falls, and moisture can also compromise the effectiveness of the shingle. Too much heat can also damage the shingle. Work in cool weather. Nevertheless, if repairs are urgent, take extra care and prioritize safety. Wear slip-resistant shoes during the rain and keep yourself hydrated as you work in extreme heat.
Signs Of Damage
3-tab asphalt shingles are a durable roofing option. However, they can get damaged because of weather fluctuation, heavy impact, insufficient ventilation in the attic and general wear and tear.
- Shingles maintain the insulation and a damaged shingle compromises this. A sudden increase in your power bills can be the cause of a damaged shingle.
- The joints and edges of your shingles are sealed to prevent water leaks. If you find water stains on your ceilings or walls, it indicates a leaky roof and can point to a damaged shingle.
- Another sign of damage is when you notice granules or small bits in your gutters and downspouts.
- Obvious signs include cracked, blistering, curling or missing shingles.
How To Remove Damaged Roof Shingles
Removing damaged shingles will require you to pry them up, which will loosen the adhesive below. Remove the nails which secure the shingle. Here’s how to fix your damaged shingles by removing them:
- Use a trowel and slide it under the damaged shingles. Keep sliding it in a back and forth motion, in opposite directions until the adhesive is loose. You should be able to lift your shingle halfway through.
- The other upper half of your shingles is overlapped by the sheet of shingles above it. You will need to loosen the shingles above to access the nails that secure them.
- Lift the shingles directly above the damaged shingles to reveal the nails beneath.
- While holding the top shingle, slide your crowbar from underneath the damaged shingle and work your way toward the nail until you can get under it.
- Pry the nails out enough so that it is easy for you to head directly over to the nail and remove it completely.
- A shingle is usually secured with 4 to 6 nails. Repeat the process until the shingles come right off.
Along with the shingles above, it is also better to loosen the shingles on either side of the damaged one.
Removing your shingles after you have removed the nails should be easy. If this doesn’t work,it means that you need to look for more nails that you may have missed out on.
How To Fix and Replace Damaged or Missing Roof Shingles
Gather Your Materials
- New Shingles: Assess the damage to know how many shingles you will need. Regardless, it is always better to have some extra sheets at hand.
- Roof Nails and a Hammer: Heavy-duty roof nails are usually 2 to 3 inches long and are required to secure your shingles in place.
- Roof Cement and a Caulking Gun: Caulking the edges of the shingles with roof cement after you have nailed them in will provide a snug fit. It not only better holds the shingles in place but also prevents water from seeping in and causing leaks.
The Process
Replacing your roof shingles is as easy as removing them and is rather a reverse process. We’ll show you how:
- Line your shingle along the location of the damaged shingles. Lift the shingles above and slide the upper half of the shingle underneath.
- Make sure that it slides smoothly and that it is well-aligned.
- Lift the shingle above and secure the newly slid-in shingle by nailing it in.
- Repeat this process for the entire length of the shingle. Make sure you hammer in at least 4 to 6 nails per shingle.
- To further secure the shingle, use a caulk gun and caulk the three edges of the shingle with roof cement. Press it firmly for a tight fit and place some weight on it for a couple of hours.
If your shingles do not slide in easily, look for nails that may have been left behind.
Make sure that you reseal every shingle you have loosened. Double-check after you are done so that you don’t leave any loose ends.
Another common repair to undertake is of loose or curled up shingles, which is a sign of the asphalt getting older. If you’re wondering how you can fix roof shingles that are loose or curled up, resealing is what will work best.