Q: While doing a quick visual scan of the roof, I noticed a couple of areas where the asphalt shingles were chipped or even lifted a little. I didn’t find any leaks in the attic. Do I need to completely replace these shingles? – Don C., via email
A: If a shingle is chipped but mostly intact, and the surrounding shingles are OK, you can get away with patching it. The repair may last only a couple of seasons, but it can protect your roof in the short term.
To patch a shingle, take a spare shingle of the same material and cut it to the size of the damaged area. Remove any dangling or jutting pieces from the damaged section. Tack the new piece of shingle into place using roofing cement.
Shingles that are torn or buckled, missing, or areas with several damaged shingles will benefit more from replacement than patching. Purchase replacement shingles at the home-improvement store, along with repair tools and supplies including roofing cement, tack hammer or roofing-nail gun, pry bar and spare roofing nails.
Check out the YouTube video titled “Replacing a Damaged Roof Shingle” for a quick-and-dirty primer on replacing shingles.
As you can see, the shingles above the damaged area need to be lifted slightly (be careful not to break them) so the roofing nails holding the damaged shingle in place can be removed. Once the nails are removed, loosen and slide the damaged shingle downward and out.
Slide the replacement shingle into the same spot. If holding the shingle in place is difficult, put a couple dots of roofing cement on the underside just to hold it in place while you secure it.
Work your way back up, putting new roofing nails near the same spots that you removed the old ones from. Re-secure the loosened shingles above with new nails.
As always, remember that safety comes first when working up on the roof. Always have a partner helping to steady the ladder, and use a safety line. Move along the roof in a crouch, rather than standing up, which could cause you to lose your balance. If you don’t feel confident in working at that height, contact a professional roofer to handle the repair. The National Roofing Contractors Association can provide advice and guidance in finding a contractor.
Send your questions or home tips to ask@thisisahammer.com.
(c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
HOME TIP: Check the weather forecast before starting roofing repairs: The materials need several days of dry, warm weather to cure completely.
