Repairing Shingles

Normally, any roof that has asphalt shingles can last for as much as twenty years if it is kept up properly. There are many ways though that asphalt shingles can become damaged, no matter how well it is maintained, due to weather or some other accident. By keeping any eye out for missing or damaged shingles, and repairing those that are damaged, a home owner can save some serious cash for other projects, like the next family vacation. But what is someone supposed to do when damaged shingle is found?

By using a little initiative, some elbow grease, and some simple tools that can be obtained at any home improvement, or hardware store, anyone can learn how to perform simple repairs. Before beginning this project, you are going to need to gather some tools and materials. As you are purchasing this material, then you should also keep an eye out for shingles that match the style and type that you currently have. You may need that information later on if you find out that the damaged shingles are beyond saving. In the event that this happens, you are going to have to replace them but if that turns out to be the case, don't worry, that is a surprisingly easy task as well.

Tools and materials:

• Roofing nails
• Roofing hammers
• Pry bar
• Putty or spackle knife
• Roofing cement

If you find that a shingle is curling or warped in some way, repairing it can be a simple matter. All that you need to do is apply a thin layer of roofing cement, using your spackle knife onto the back of the warped or curling section of shingling. When you have glued it down, take a few of the roofing nails, about three of them, and tack down the edge you had just cemented. As you are nailing the edge down, make sure that you are evenly spacing those nails to help prevent any further warping.

Being faced with a torn shingle is hardly different from repairing a warped shingle. Again, spread a thin coating of the glue to the shingle. As before, make sure that you are applying pressure to the damaged section of shingling after you have smeared the glue to the shingle, and getting ready to nail the section into place. Evenly space out the nails, or you may find yourself up on the roof again in a few days or months.

Finally, when you are faced with a shingle that is too damaged to save, then you simply need to completely replace it. (But that is for another tip.)