Repairing a Roof Shingle – Precautions

Every roof needs constant attention and care. Rough weather, exposure to extreme heat and direct sun rays can wear out your roof every couple of years. However, depending on the durability of the material used in your roof, you may need to repair a roof shingle or replace a part of the roof every few years or once every decade or so. Roof shingles need to be repaired often because they tend to curve, crack or wear out faster.  It helps to learn about repairing a roof shingle.

Keep a regular watch on your roof shingles

It is important to keep an eye on your roof shingles. Every time you notice a slight bend or crack you have to repair it or replace it depending on the extent of the damage. Damaged shingles lead to water leaks, rotting wood, rodent infestation etc. This is why it is necessary to repair them as soon as you notice even minor signs of damage.

Replace damaged shingles

When you notice any kind of damage on a shingle, you will have to replace it. Do not try to cover up a damaged shingle. This will lead to water seepage and leaks later on. Some common tools needed to repair a roof shingle include a flat hammer, a pry and a new shingle.

Pry the damaged shingle from the roof; be sure you remove the entire shingle. Secure the new shingle with four nails immediately on the blank space. Replacing a single shingle takes about 15 – 20 minutes. But on the whole repairing a roof shingle is an easy task.

Repair curling shingles by gluing them down

As shingles get older, you will notice the first signs of damage in the form of curling edges. Whenever you notice this, it is important to immediately glue down the curling corners. Buy a caulking gun to glue it down. Caulking guns are a lot more effective. Use special roofing sealant under the curling corners and keep a weight on it for a few hours to ensure that it sticks.

Minor cracks can be repaired

If you notice minor cracks on the roof shingles, you can try to seal them instead of replacing the shingles. This will be an economical option too. However, if the cracks are big, it is always better to replace the shingles. In order to seal cracked shingles, you can apply roof sealant on top of the crack neatly. The greatest advantage is that it won’t make the shingles look untidy.

Repairing a roof shingle doesn’t take a lot of time and effort if done right.