Introduction: How to Replace a Damaged Shingle

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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

Plan to fix your shingles on a sunny warm day, not cold because they will crack, and not hot because they will crumble.

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.