Asphalt shingle repair

ASPHALT SHINGLE REPAIR

TOOLS NEEDED:

Flat Pry Bar
Hammer
Roofing Nails
Roofing cement or roofing patch in a tube

BACKGROUND

We had a very hard (90 mph) wind that tore some old asphalt shingles on a 16 by 20 foot outbuilding. The former owner was a packrat, and left some left over shingles in a cool spot in the garage. We were several years away from a re-roof...So, here we go.

THE SHINGLE REPAIR

Shingles are installed row by row from the bottom up to the top of the roof. This means that hopefully, good shingles are above the bad ones. Several good shingles directly above the damaged shingles will need to be gently lifted up to get to the damaged shingles. You will slip a new shingle in under a good one to continue the existing pattern and make the repair.
The safety issues in roof repair are:
1. Your shoes should be soft soled. Laced running shoes are a good choice.
2. Don't try this in wet or windy weather
3. The ladder must be secure. You can tear knee ligaments in landing on your feet wrong in as little as a three foot fall.
4. Have someone hold the ladder for you on a steep roof repair.
5. Make sure that the roof is not too hot from the summer sun to be uncomfortable.

You may encounter dog eared shingles that need repair, blown away ones, heat warped ones, and wind torn ones. Shingle repair works best on a warm day. Normally stiff shingles are more pliable then.
Step one: Gently raise up as many shingles over the damaged one(s) as you need. Be very careful not to crack or break remaining good shingles. I prefer to use a short, flat pry bar to take out the nails from the damaged shingle.
Step two: Slip the new, undamaged shingle under the shingle(s) you have raised. The old shingles have adhesive alonge the bottom of the shiingles. Sometimes, the good shingle will stick and not want to come loose. If so, carefully sliding a putty knife under the stick point will probably free it. Make sure that the replacement shingle follows the existing pattern of the other roof shingles.
Step three: Hold up the good shingle while you nail down the replacement shingle. The area to nail down is at the top of the replacement shingle and underneath the good shingle above it. Dont nail through the good shingle above the one you are replacing. Put just a touch of roof cement on the head of the roofing nails after you have nailed them in to help the replacement to stick.

HIP JOINT SHINGLE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT

If the roof hip (the rounded area on top where one side of the roof meets the other) are just cracked, you can use roof cement or roof patch. This comes in tubes and is applied by a caulking gun.
If the roof hip shingles must be replaced, then make sure they overlap at least 3 inches. Coat the bottom of the replacement shingle with roof cement before you nail it down. All four corners of the hip or ridge shingles have to be nailed down. Put roof cement or a dab of roof patch on each nail head to cover it.