Sunday, December 14, 2014

How To Repair An Asphalt Shingle Roof

Providing routine maintenance that preserves the integrity of the roof on your home should at the top of your list when it comes to importance of home repair considerations.   A structurally sound roof will ensure that your family is both dry and comfortable in any climate.  A structurally sound roof will protect all of the contents of your house as well.  If you see any damage or see indications of unusual wear on the shingles that cover your roof, you should take action immediately in order to prevent water from moving underneath the singles.  Water penetration below the protective layer of shingles will quickly cause all wood underneath the shingles to rot.  If you ignore even what you perceive to be a small problem concerning the integrity of your roof, the problem will undoubtedly get much worse.  Ultimately, you will need to install an entire new roof.  And, the replacement of the shingles will not be the only expense.  It is quite probably that water damaged wood below the shingles will need to be repaired and/or replaced.  This can increase the cost to re-roof your home by a substantial degree.

In the event that your roof has not been replaced in at least 20 years, and the majority of the shingles are either damaged or have noticeably deteriorated, it is time to replace the shingles.  However, if the roof of your home is structurally sound, and the pitch is not too steep to prevent you from being uncomfortable to work on, it is likely that you can handle basic maintenance and repairs without the need of professional assistance. 

There are three repairs that you can make yourself.
1. Replace shingles that are damaged
2. Securing a severely curled or warped shingle with an adhesive
3. Replacement or repairing one or more shingles that have begun to show cracks

It is important that you schedule all repairs to your roof on a day that is both warm and dry.  Afternoons are the best time of day to make repairs.  The shingles that you will be walking on will be flexible and will be less likely to crack or become damaged.  Be certain that you never attempt to climb onto your roof when it is wet, covered with ice, or even covered in the morning dew.  Moisture that adheres to the surface of a roof can make walking on the roof particularly treacherous.

Shingle Replacement

Before you replace any damaged shingles, look around the storage areas of your property to see if you may have unused shingles that were left behind when your roof was last repaired.  Perhaps the builder of your home or the roofer who installed your roof left some unused shingles behind.  If the builder or roofer did not leave any shingles behind, you will need to purchase a bundle of shingles at a home improvement store or lumber yard.  The cost for a 100 square foot bundle of standardized, three-tab shingles typically costs $15-$20.  If you cannot locate a perfect match to your existing shingles, select a shingle that closely matches the existing shingles.

If a section of a shingle is either damaged or is missing, you will have to replace the entire damaged shingle.

The replacement of a shingle that is damaged requires the following implements>>>>
1. Hammer
2. Flat pry bar
3. Utility knife or box cutter
4. A fistful of number 11- 4 inch roofing nails.

Every single shingle is first secured with four roofing nails.  When the next or second shingle is installed above the first shingle, the nails that secure the second shingle pass through the upper edge of the first shingle that was secured just below it.

You will start by removing the initial row of nails.  Slip the pry bar beneath the shingle directly above the damaged shingle. Then, gradually lift the shingle with the pry bar which will freee the shingle from the sealer strip.  This action will expose the first row of roofing nails below the shingle.

Insert the pry bar under the shingle that is damaged and lift the pry bar upward.  This action will cause each nail to pop up about one quarter of an inch.   When the head of each nail is elevated above the surface of the shingle, press the shingle down and extract the roofing nail.  Continue to repeat this procedure to extract the other three roofing nails.  After the four roofing nails are removed, insert the pry bar under the shingle which is directly above the damaged shingle.  Remove this next row of roofing nails in the same manner that you removed the first row of nails.  After you have removed all eight roofing nails, remove the shingle that is damaged.

In the event that the existing course of shingles have become brittle, it may not be possible to remove the second row of roofing nails without cracking that shingle.  If that should happen, rip out the damaged shingle.  Then, cut small notches in the shape of a 'V' in the replacement shingle so that the shingle fits around the four roofing nails.  Slide the replacement shingle into position and then secure it to the roof with four roofing nails.

Repairing Curled Corners

When asphalt shingles begin to age, the corners of the shingles frequently begin to curl either downward or in an upwards direction.  When a shingle begins to start to curl in this manner, you can prevent even more curling by applying adhesive to the curled portion of the shingle and glue it down.

You should utilize a standard caulking gun to inject a small amount of roofing sealer directly under the corner of the shingle that is beginning to curl.  A 10-oz. tube of roffing sealer costs around $4.00 per tube.  Set a brick on top of the curled portion of the shingle where you applied the adhesive.  The weight of the brick should remain in place for at least 24 hours in order to allow the sealant to dry completely.

Repair Cracked Shingles


In the event that one shingle is cracked or has a tear, you can repair the damage instead of replacing the entire shingle.  With the caulking gun, apply a heavy bead of roofing sealer directly under the crack in the shingle.  Press down on the shingle, and then apply a second bead of roofing sealer directly on top of the crack.  Spread the sealer until it is smooth with a putty knife.

This type of repair is simple to hide or camouflage.  Look inside the gutters for an accumulation of colored granules that the rain has removed from the shingles and washed into the gutters.  Place these granules into a small plastic cup, and spread them over the still pliable sealer which will hide the repair you just completed.

The cost of a new roof can be very expensive.  The simple repairs referenced in this article can help you maintain the structural integrity of your homes roof for many, many years.  More info on repairing shingles can be found by clicking HERE.