Roofs are often prone to damage because they are constantly exposed to harsh external elements like weather, wind, storms, among others. Given that fact, you need to always be on the lookout for your roof’s condition. Maybe your roof has been around for quite far too long, and the shingles are old and torn. You will have to replace them. Damaged roofs are pretty obnoxious because they could cause major leaks. Therefore, you should have some handy skills to repair your shingles when broken unceremoniously.
You might wonder why you need to learn about roof repair when you can contact an expert to deal with any damage. Well, shingle roof replacement is required more frequently than you can afford the time to keep calling a professional. Sometimes it’s an emergency that needs quick solutions. If your roof leaks because of a broken shingle, you would probably want to get a quick solution to save your house below. Therefore, you need some of these skills to save time and resources. We take you through some of the best ways to fix your roof shingles below.
Gather all the Tools Needed
For starters, some tools are needed;
– A flat and reasonably wide pry bar will be needed. You can get a pry bar 2 inches wide and about 12-18 inches in length.
– A hammer will also be handy since you will need to drive nails. If you don’t have the nails, you’ll need to look for some with the correct sizes and type because the nails you will need for this purpose will not be similar to the normal ones.
– If the damaged shingle is at the roof’s edge, you will need a razor knife.
– Heating will be necessary too in this way. The rest of the shingles, which are in the right conditions, will be bent out of the way through heating.
– Finally, you will need a ladder to access the rooftop.
Having prompted you with the basic and necessary tools to get started with repairing damaged shingles, we take you through some of the best ways of carrying out the repairs.
Replace the Broken Shingle
Sometimes, the shingle is so broken that the only solution is to replace it. After removing the old and damaged shingle, the next step will be to slide the new shingle into the old one. With adjacent shingles to every side, line up the shingle’s bottom. The new shingle might fill the gap between the shingles on either side. If that is the case, make the gaps between the shingles equal on both sides.
After the new shingle has been placed, drive two nails on every tab and about six nails on every shingle. You should drive the nails through the tar line to hold the new shingle and one under it. Using slight hand pressure, make the upper, rolled-up shingle relax in its place. Use some heat to melt the tar after that.
Remove the Old and Damaged Shingles First
The first thing to do before handling the repairs is to get rid of the damaged shingles. Therefore, first insert the pry bar between the upper shingle, which is still in good condition, and the damaged one. Carefully work them apart because it is easy to cause damage to the excellent shingle. After the upper layer is accessible, pry the bar under the damaged shingle upwards to free it from nails or staples. Finally, drive the protruding staples or nails into the roof till they become flush. After removing the old and damaged shingles, the next step would be to replace them with new ones in good condition.
Fix the Corners of the Curled Shingle using Caulking
Sometimes you do not need to remove the shingles because the damages are minute. For instance, curled shingles are best fixed by gluing down the curved section. With a caulking gun, apply a dab of sealant under the corner of the curled shingle. You will then use some weight to press the glued section for 24 hours till it dries up.
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Repair of Cracked Shingles
Sometimes, only a small section of the shingle is torn or cracked. A repair would be more effective than a replacement in such a case. To begin with the repair, first, apply a good amount of roofing sealant under the crack. Press the shingle and apply some of the sealants on top over the crack. With that done, use a putty knife to spread the sealant.
Conclusion
The skill needed to fix broken or damaged shingles can quickly be learned. Therefore, find a ladder and go up to your roof. You will most likely find a shingle or two that needs replacement, especially if you have not paid attention for quite a long time. Try fixing them with the steps above, and you will be surprised by how easy and satisfying it is. The best part of fixing the shingles is that nobody has to know that you were the one fixing it. Even if you miss it, you can still do it again sometime later.
Remember, not all shingles have to be replaced. If the damage is too minor, a small fix will do. Also, the earlier you fix the shingles, the better because your roof will be safer when maintained more frequently.
