Damaged roof shingles can affect the structure of your whole roof. Therefore, fixing them is necessary, and you should do it as soon as possible.
If you have wondered how to fix roof shingles, you have come to the right place! Here, you can find a short guide to do it!
What Can Happen to Your Roof Shingles
Shingles can last a long time and are an affordable alternative. That’s why many clients want them on their roofs.
However, different factors could impact their lifespan, damage the structure, and put your roof at risk.
Sometimes, you may need a new shingle or consider a more significant shingle roof repair.
However, there’s one question you need to answer before that: What are the causes behind damaged roof shingles? Here are some of them:
Structural Damage to Asphalt Shingles
Although asphalt shingles are durable, they can have structural problems sometimes. When wear starts to be noticeable, that’s a sign that you need to take action.
A damaged shingle can cause problems to the entire residential structure. Therefore, the sooner you identify the problem and develop solutions, the better.
Damaged Shingle Because of the Weather
Cedar Park, Texas, is a homey place to live. That’s why so many people feel at peace there. However, hail, storms, extreme temperatures, and wind can cause damage to roofs.
If your roof has loose shingles due to storm damage or you notice other issues, such as missing or damaged shingles or instability problems, you should get professional help.
Other Factors that Can Damage Shingles
Although roof shingles have a long lifespan, it will shorten if you don’t give them the right care and maintenance. The same is true if the previous roofers secure the roofing nails well.
What Can I Do if I spot a broken or damaged old shingle?
Fortunately, you can always work with an expert contractor in Cedar Park, Texas, to ensure everything is fine and find the best option to repair your shingles!
Professional roofers assess your asphalt roofing cement, determine whether or not there are loose shingles, and suggest some options to fix them!
How Often Should You Replace Your Shingles?
Any sign of wear or damage is a call to action. You don’t want water to seep under the tar membrane and shingles and rot the wood beneath them.
Therefore, you should never ignore a potential problem, even if it appears to be insignificant.
What could happen if I don’t address the issues soon?
When you don’t pay attention to potential issues, such as signs of wear in the roofing cement, flat bar damage, or missing shingles, you’ll only add more money to the hundreds of dollars that repairs can cost.
If a roof shingle is more than 20 years old and has visible signs of damage, it’s time to replace it. A professional roofer may be able to tell you whether or not this is the case and recommend some options.
Replacing Your Shingles
If a part of a roof shingle is missing, you’ll need to replace the whole thing. Here are the steps to follow:
Steps to Repair Roof Shingles
Find what you need
First, you need replacement shingles, a utility knife, and roofing nails or adhesive strips. You may even want to consider renting a cherry picker to help bring materials onto your residential or commercial roof.
Make sure your attic is asbestos free. After that, check if you have any leftover asphalt shingles from the time your roof was worked on. With some luck, you may be able to find some that the roofer left behind.
There’s no need to fear if you can’t find any. You can buy a bundle at a lumberyard or home center.
They’ll cost around $15 to $20 per square. Choose the closest one if you’re unable to locate a perfect match.
Other Essential Tools
Besides the new shingles, you’ll also need a flat pry bar, a hammer, a handful of roofing nails, asphalt roofing cement, and a utility knife to repair your shingle.
Get Rid of Damaged Shingles
There are probably four nails holding each old shingle. However, when experts install the next course above, its nails will also pass through the one below.
Remove the first row of nails by sliding the flat bar under your chosen shingle, and make sure it’s immediately above the damaged one.
Using gentle pressure, lift damaged shingles to release them from the sealer strip. You’ll be able to see the nails beneath.
Slide the pry bar under the shingle and pry upward. The nail will pop up about ΒΌ in, so remove the bar, push the shingle down, and take the nail out.
Repeat the Process
Do this three more times to remove the remaining nails. After that, push the pry bar beneath the shingle that’s directly on top of the damaged one.
Repeat the same process to get rid of the second row of nails. Lastly, yank out the remaining shingle once you’ve moved away all the nails.
Fix the Corners or Roof Edge
The corners of asphalt shingles will begin to curl upward or downward as they get older. You can forestall the inevitable if you spot the curling and glue the section down.
Get a caulking gun and use it to apply some rubbing sealant under the problem corner. Find a brick and put it on top of it to weigh it down for at least 24 hours.
Repairing Cracked Shingles
You can repair a shingle if it’s torn or cracked – there’s no need to replace it if the damage is not too bad.
Firstly, apply a layer of thick sealant under the crack (roofing cement can work perfectly here since it’s also strongly adhesive).
After that, press the damaged shingle down and apply another layer of sealant. Use a putty knife to spread out the sealant, and that’s it!
Finally, you only have to check your gutter and try to find an accumulation of colored granules. Then, spread them over your repair to mask it.
Repairing Loose Roofing Nails
Sometimes, there are not damaged shingles but improper roofing nails installation. If the nails have not been properly secured, you may notice loose shingles more often than you think.
Therefore, in these cases, you might need a shingle nail (or several) to make sure the installation is in top condition.
Find Expert Help to Get Those Damaged Shingles Fix or Replaced!
Identifying roof damage and repairing simple things, such as shingle tabs or curled corners is something that many clients choose to do at home.
Generally, these are tasks that you don’t need much experience with if you want to perform them correctly. However, the best alternative is to always hire a professional roofer, especially if you’re in Cedar Park, Texas.
Contact Us Today!
Cedar Park is home to numerous storms and harsh weather conditions. Therefore, to get the right roof repair alternatives, you may need guidance from an expert who can assess your structure and suggest effective solutions.
Contact Water Damage and Roofing of Cedar Park, and let’s work together to install that new shingle(s) your roof needs!