Broken shingles occasionally happen.
Calling an asphalt shingle roofer contractor is recommended to make that repair as soon as possible, especially if there are multiple broken shingles noticed.
Yet if the problem is only one broken shingle, a handy homeowner with the right equipment might want to avoid a call to asphalt shingle contractors and fix it on their own.
Using this guide, capable and careful homeowners can provide their own minor asphalt shingle roof services and repair a damaged or missing shingle!
- Gather All Supplies and Equipment - To replace a broken or missing shingle, it is important to use all the things asphalt shingle roofer contractors use to do the same: a ladder for getting onto the roof, safety gear for protection, safe shoes for walking on the roof, a flat pry bar, a few roofing nails, a hammer, a replacement shingle that matches the current ones, and a tube of roof sealant. All of these items can be purchased at a local home improvement store, including the shingle, if there are not any left behind by the asphalt shingle contractors that did the current roofing installation.
- Carefully Remove the Damaged Shingle - Slide the flat end of the pry bar under the edge of the shingle to be removed to slowly break free the adhesive sealant underneath. Repeat to free the shingle from the one overlaying it. Once the shingle is no longer adhered, slide the pry bar further underneath until the nails are located. Then, carefully pry out the nails without damaging the shingles above the damaged one. Slide the broken shingle out.
- Install the New Shingle – Now according to asphalt roof services, slide the new shingle into position where the damaged one was removed. Nail in 4 new roofing nails underneath where the shingle above will overlay so the heads are completely hidden. Be careful not to break the overlaying shingle while nailing in the new one. Once the nails are in, the new shingle should lay perfectly in its layer with the other shingles.
- Apply Roof Sealant - Lastly, apply a bead of roof sealant along the glue strip of the shingle beneath to stick the new shingle to it. Apply the sealant to the glue strip on the new shingle and stick the overlaying shingle to it. All three shingles should now be adhered correctly and the repair is complete.
Fixing a single shingle is easy to do for anyone that has the right tools and is a little handy around the house.
Those who prefer not to climb on their roofs can call a local asphalt shingle roofer contractors to help them out.