Introduction: How to Replace a Damaged Shingle
We had a wind storm recently blow off one shingle and damage 3 shingles on our garage. We had to replace them, and all the roofing companies said to do it ourselves, because its easy.
Winds of 100km, the yard was a mess, garbage, shingles, toy pools, wishing wells and leaves everywhere.
Step 1: Get New Shingles
Take your shingle to the store and get a bundle of matching shingles. Make sure you get a bundle, because I thought I needed one and I ended up using 4 and breaking 2 by dropping them.
In our case it was a laminated NY Driftwood bundle for 25 dollars at RoofMart.
This image will help you determine what to get: http://images.oldhouseweb.com/stories/bitmaps/10149/figs1thru4.gif
Step 2: Set Up
Then set up a ladder and bucket system, in the bucket you will probably need
- Bucket
- Rope
- Hammer
- Roofing Nails
- Crowbar
- Fulcrum for prying (2x4)
- Shingles, (one at a time. We used a vice grip tied to a rope to hoist up the shingles.
- Caulking Gun with Roof Tar Tube
Step 3: Understand Shingles
Here is a drawing of my shingles (from here on, it will be drawing because a steep roof where everything is sliding down is not the place for a camera, and my dad wasn't very excited to hold a camera for a hour.)
Shingles are in strips about 3 feet by 1 foot. They are attached by roofing nails (which have huge heads) and tar.
Shingles overlap so water runs off the roof.
Step 4: Remove the Nails
Take out the nails. Determine how many nails you have on your shingle piece.
Carefully pry up the shingle until you find the nail. Pry at it with a screwdriver until you can pry it out with a crowbar.
Don't bend the shingles back too far, as you'll break them more.
Also, remove any other nails that are exposed from the damage.
Step 5: Remove the Shingle
Carefully pull the shingle down the slope of the roof, not up and not horizontal.
If it is stuck in a corner, carefully pry up the next shingle. If it is still stuck, check for nails. If you hear a ripping sound, your prying too fast. If a large piece of shingle sticks to the above one, that one will have to go too, or your roof will bulge.
Step 6: Add Your New Shingle
Add your new shingle. Make sure it looks right, and lines up properly. If there are nail heads that are not currently covered by anything, (if multiple rows removed) then create new holes in the roof to hold the shingle, by moving the nails over.
If a head is covered, put the nail in the old hole, and put something flat and large on it. I used my flat crowbar. Hammer the shingle above it carefully to drive the nail back in. These nails are required for not only the layer below, but above. Don't miss any.
If this damages the above shingle, then try hammering the crowbar or something flat on top of the shingle and crowbar, like a shingle sandwich.
Step 7: Tar the Crap Out of It
Leave your tar tube in the sun or in front of a heater. Then you will want to apply tar anywhere that the shingles lift up.
Step 8: Final
Check your roof a day later. Ensure the tar has held the shingles. Also try walking on it gently to see if it is strong.
The only problem with taking a after picture is finding out where the replaced shingles are! I couldn't tell the difference!
The colors are off slightly, however it can only be noticed from about 2 feet away.
12 Comments
2 years ago
All the advices you mentioned above was well-explained and helpful.
I’m in the roofing business myself and I love reading this kind of posts. Keep
on sharing.
5 years ago
Well, Informative blog!! Really helpful for those who want to repair damaged shingle by themselves. Information with pictures made it quite easy and interesting to follow the repair process. But it is a lengthy process so I recommend contacting the professional roofers to install the roof correctly.
7 years ago
I got the same problem with my roof last summer, but now I fix it and renovate it's looks great now=)give a look
smileroofing.com/fl/jacksonville/
8 years ago on Introduction
Get step by step on how to replace shingles. A few of my roof's shingles got destroyed in a hail storm the other day. Instead of having a service replace a few shingles I think I'll be fine replacing them myself. Thanks for posting these great instructions. http://www.onitroofing.ca/products.html
14 years ago on Step 8
Some shingles come with a few spots of roofing cement preapplied. After a coupla warm days they'll glue their flaps down automatically-at least, hopefully. Black gooey stuff is at other places, too. I'd suggest the warmest day available since it makes the goo softer and easier to abuse. Wear a hat.
14 years ago on Introduction
We just had a winstorm here in Cincinnati Ohio... except our wind actuall took all the shingls off Happen to have an instructable on that :)
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
BTW, I like the pictures, they make it a lot easier!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Actually, no but I can make one. I re shingled our shed last year. Do you want me to make one?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
No thanks, we are having a roofing company lay down all new shingles, but if you ever happen to need to re-roof something, post pictures - Im sure it would help a lot of people.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Indeed, I will be doing a shed in what 20 years? :D haha i just did it last year.
14 years ago on Introduction
It's even harder when the previous owner of the home re-shingled the roof incorrectly.
14 years ago on Introduction
looks like you did an excellent job and your pictures made it easy to follow