Hello World! Welcome Friends! Shingle roofs are a classic look that has remained popular and enduring for generations. Not only do shingle roofs offer a traditional look that we’ve all grown accustomed to, but in practice, the process to install shingles is straightforward and incredibly practical. So, shingles remain a popular pick due to both their form and function.
However, sometimes shingles get cracked or bent out of place due to the elements or an external force. Which does raise the question of what can we do to repair or replace our roof shingles if we ever need to. Thankfully another key advantage of shingle roofs is that they allow for localized reparations or replacements. If a shingle broke all you need to do is to replace that specific tile. And the process is so approachable that you can replace your shingles in just seven simple steps.
Today we’d like to share these steps with you, however, keep in mind that any kind of altitude work is best left to a professional. So be responsible and take all the precautions to make sure your upcoming reparation is not only simple but also safe. And if you want truly high-quality shingles that will last for many years, pay attention to TECHNONICOL.
Step One: Breaking the Seal on Your Shingle
Once you’ve located the damaged tile and are sure it is the one that is the one responsible for your current concern, there isn’t much else to do beyond replacing it. Shingle “reparation” almost always comes down to replacing the affected tiles with new ones, as any potential fix on the broken tile isn’t likely to stick and is not worth the effort when you consider the average cost of shingles.
So, once you know which is the damaged shingle it’s time to take it off. However, shingles are traditionally glued down with a powerful sealant designed to withstand wind uplift and other environmental forces. This means that our first order of business will be to break the sealant, and for this, we’ll need a flat pry bar.
If you slide a pry bar under the edges of the shingle you can lever until the sealant is broken by the effort of the bar. Just be careful and patient and as long as you apply constant force the sealant should break eventually. For superior results attempt this step when the weather is cool, as hot weather can make the bonding properties of the sealant stronger.
Step Two: Time to Break the Adjacent Seals
Now that you’ve broken the seal on your target shingle it’s time to do the same once again with any overlapping shingles. While we don’t need to remove any further shingles beyond the affected area the design of a shingle roof will make it impossible to remove the nails we need to if we don’t break the seal on any overlapping shingles.
Take a close look at the tile you intend to replace and see which shingles overlap with it or cover it partially. The positioning of these shingles means they’ll be covering key nails we need to remove to replace our shingle. So, take your pry bar once again and break the seal on those shingles as well, taking into account the same recommendations and precautions as last time. Remember to keep a steady and gentle hand as well, as these shingles won’t be replaced and we need to make sure they remain intact.
Step Three: Remove the Nails
Removing the nails is our next priority and once again we’ll need to rely on our trusted flat pry bar. Depending on the design of your shingles it might be possible to remove the nails from above without much issue, however, for most tiles, this won’t be the case. Usually trying to remove the nails from above can result in damage to the shingle or even breakage, and even if you intend to replace the shingle it’s safer to avoid this sort of damage. Not to mention it’ll make the overall process that much more complicated.
So, the ideal way to remove the nails is to lift the shingle and nails at the same time from below. Just slide your bar into the shingle from below and lever near each one of the nails. Traditionally there are four nails, one in each corner, so just be patient and careful and you’ll be done before you notice it.
Step Four: Time to Remove the Adjacent Nails
Once you are done removing all four of the nails in your shingle you might notice that it’s still not possible to remove the shingle, which once again comes down to the adjacent and overlapping tiles. The design of a shingle roof makes it so every overlying shingle helps support the ones below, so the nails on the shingle above the one you need to remove are also keeping it in place.
Ultimately this means that you will need to remove the nails right above your shingle with your trusty pry bar. Keep in mind the risks we mentioned above and carefully remove the nails so you can finally access your shingle.
Step Five: Remove that Shingle
With the sealant broken and all the relevant nails finally out of the picture, you should notice that the shingle is now loose and can be moved around. That’s it, you’ve finally been able to remove all seals, and the shingle is ready to be removed and replaced with a new tile. So, take it off and leave it to the side, you are finally done with it.
Step Six: Time for a New Shingle
Now that the old shingle is finally out it’s time to replace it with a new one. Do keep in mind however that the new shingle must be the same size as the old one, and ideally shouldn’t clash when it comes to looks either. What this means is that you’ll spend some time looking at the right shingles for your roof.
Now that you have your brand new and shiny shingle just slide it into place and nail it back into the roof. Remember to also reapply any overlying nails you had to remove in step four too, otherwise, the new shingle won’t be as stable as the old one.
Step Seven: Seal It Off
While your shingle might be properly in place now it’s important to remember that the sealant bonds were broken at the start of this process, so it’s time to reapply them. All you need is some asphalt plastic roof cement. Take your cement and apply small portions of it under the tabs of the new shingle and any overlying shingles you had to break too. Then press firmly down for a while and you are done.
Your new shingle is now properly in place, and your roof integrity has been guaranteed too. Replacing a shingle is not a complex process by any stretch of the imagination, but you do need to be thorough to make sure you don’t overlook any step of the process.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Whole House Water Filtration System
Why It’s Important that your House Has Good Water Infrastructure
These 6 Home Fixes Shouldn’t Be Overlooked
6 Kitchen Hacks To Ease Your Life
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Toodles,
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