Seven Reseal The Shingles
- Lastly, remember breaking all those shingle-to-shingle sealant bonds? Well, although the new roof shingle will likely seal to adjacent shingles in time with enough sun warmth, it is recommended to manually seal the new shingle in place now. Merely apply three small spots of asphalt plastic roof cement under the new shingles tabs, evenly spaced along the shingle length, and press the shingle flat down into place.
- Seal down any surrounding shingles that may have had their sealant bond separated in the same way. This ensures the roofs wind resistance will continue as before, uninterrupted.
Three Remove The Nails
- Sometimes the nails can be removed by direct access, but often trying to pry out the nails from above the shingle can damage the shingles granular surface. It is therefore better to lift the shingle AND the nail at the same time, so youll need to access the bottom of the target shingle.
Slide the pry bar up tight to each nail area and pry upwards on the shingle, which will also lift the nail out of the deck. Lift all four nails out of the target shingle.
NAIL IN THE TARGET SHINGLE
How To Replace Missing Shingles On A Roof
In a season of high winds, its not uncommon for asphalt shingles to lift up and break off completely. If you notice a few damaged or missing shingles after a winter storm, it may be time to gather your supplies and climb onto your roof for some much-needed repairs.
In other circumstances, your roof may be badly worn with multiple missing shingles that have accumulated over the years. At times like these, its best to consult with a professional roofing company to determine if a complete roof replacement is in order instead of temporary patchwork that may only waste time and money.
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Contact Dmg Exteriors For Shingle Repair
Your roof needs to stay in good repair in order to keep out rain, snow, and hail. It also has to help insulate your home from temperature changes. Plus, your roof and shingles should survive occasional high winds. If your roof shingles are falling off, we can fix the problem.
At DMG Exteriors, we perform every roof service that you need. We offer professional inspections to assess any problems, and we can install and replace roofs, and much more!
Compare us to our competitors in Northwest Indiana to see why DMG is your best choice for a roof you can trust. And, if you need flexible ways to pay for roof services, we have several excellent financing options for various customer situations.
Contact DMG Exteriors today and find out how we can take care of all your roofing needs.
How To Spot A Missing Shingle
This is the simple part: head out to your lawn and get a good view of your roof. Missing or damaged roof shingles are easy to spot and usually stick out like a sore thumb. If the roof shingle is missing completely, youll notice a much darker spot on your roof where the shingle used to be.
Damaged roof shingles will usually be:
- Hanging on by a corner
A healthy roof will look like a nice even pattern, so really, youre just looking for anything thats out of place. Make sure to do a walk around your house so you can get a full view of your roof from different angles. You may even notice missing shingles scattered in your yard.
In some cases, you maynotice a leak or draft on the inside of your house due to a missing roof shingle. If this happens, you should call a roofing professional right away to prevent any further damage to your roof. Hopefully, the damage to your roof is as simple as a missing shingle with no leaks, in which case you might be able to fix it on your own with the tools below.
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How Can I Blend Existing And Replacement Shingles
- If youre looking to blend new and old shingles, saving shingles from your original roof installation is an excellent first step. If fading isnt dramatic, your contractor may be able to achieve a uniform look with the same materials.
- If shingles have faded, try going a shade lighter with the same manufacturer. Your roofer should be willing to get up on the roof and help you compare before you decide.
- If youre having trouble getting a good match, replacing a section of the roof is an option. Partial replacement is less expensive than replacing the whole roof but doesnt create the same spotty look that patch repairs can.
Assess Damaged Roof Shingles
The first thing you should do is determine if this will be a DIY project or something you should leave to the pros. If there is a lot of damage, you dont feel comfortable getting on the roof, or you dont have the right tools for the job, ask a professional roofer for help.
Working on a roof can be very dangerous. Professional roofers will repair missing, damaged and loose shingles fairly easily and quickly. This should not break the bank. After all, there is no sense in risking injury just to save a few bucks.
That said, if you feel confident you are able to safely repair the damage yourself, go ahead and move on to step 2.
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What Can You Do About Shingles Falling Off Your Roof
Fit the solution to the type of shingle problem you have. If youve lost just a few shingles to wind, get those replaced. If theyre broken because you walked on them, walk on them less. If a shoddy installation is the problem, ask your roofer to redo the work and get it right. If your shingles are just too old, replace them. Finally, if your shingles are hail damaged, file an insurance claim.
1. Replace Wind-Damaged Shingles Wind damage is one of the most common causes of falling shingles and one of the simplest to fix. If extreme weather knocks off a few shingles, there probably isnt a systemic problem with your shingle installation. You can just ask a roofer to replace those shingles.
Give your roof a good visual inspection after each major weather event, looking out of certain windows or up from the ground using binoculars. Search for empty spots where shingles should be and for seriously bent or loose shingles.
In the short-term, replacing a lost shingle now and then is okay, but your roof might end up looking like a patchwork quilt. Are you thinking of listing your house for sale soon? Then you might need more extensive repairs to make your roof look new and appealing.
3. Correct Poor Shingle Installation If your roof shingles are falling off for no apparent reason, you can call whoever installed them for you and ask them to redo the job. You might have a warranty with them, or they might want to protect their reputation by making you satisfied with their work.
What Can Happen If You Dont Replace A Missing Shingle
Will your roof leak with just one missing shingle? Maybe. Just because you lose a shingle or two doesnt mean water will immediately drip from your ceiling. However, such a missing shingle could cause issues over time if the surrounding shingles deteriorate from exposure to water, wind and sunlight. And the older your roof is, the greater the chances are for progressive leak damage.
The reason its important to fix a roofing leak right away is because it can lead to damage inside your home, such as to the attic, crawlspace, ceilings, and insulation. Worse still, you may not find this interior water damage until it progresses and requires extensive repairs. To avoid water damage in your home, replace missing shingles as soon as you are aware of them.
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What If I Need To Replace My Roof
If your roof is older and you have multiple shingles missing, its likely time to install a new roof. Do your research to find a trusted roofing companies in your local area and gather estimates. Roofs are an objectively expensive house project, so if you werent prepared to purchase a new roof this year, there are financing options available.
Loose Torn Or Missing Shingles
If you need to replace shingles, youll need thee items:
Pick a day thats not too cold or too hot , and start by using the flat bar to break the seal between the shingles. Slide the bar up beneath the first nail and hit the bar with the hammer until the nail pops out. Repeat until the bad shingles are out. Starting with the lowest course, nail the new shingles in place. At the last course, youll have to lift up the shingle above to drive in the nails. Squeeze a bead of roof sealant beneath the leading edge of each replaced shingle and the shingles directly above them.
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How Often Should You Replace Your Roof Shingles
Any damage or signs of wear call for immediate action to keep water from seeping under the shingles and rotting the wood sheathing beneath. Ignoring a problemeven what appears to be a small onewill accelerate the need to reroof and can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of a new roof.
Pro2Pro Tip: Always make roof repairs on a warm, dry afternoon the shingles will be more supple and less likely to crack. And never climb onto a roof thats wet, icy or covered with morning dew.
If your roof is more than 20 years old and most of the shingles are damaged or badly worn, its time to replace it. But if your roof is basically sound and is at a relatively shallow pitch that youre comfortable working on, you can probably handle most repairs yourself.
Here, well take you through the three most-common ones: replacing asphalt shingles gluing down a badly curled shingle and repairing shingles that have cracked.
Why Do Leaks Need To Be Dealt With Promptly
If your roof is missing a shingle and that loss has led to a leak, you need to have it repaired immediately. A leaky roof can lead to a wide range of concerns including:
Damage and deterioration of structural materials.
This includes rafters, wall framing, and ceiling joints. When wood is exposed to water, moisture starts to build and the wood begins to soften. Eventually, this will weaken the frame of the roof and can even lead to a collapse.
Mold.
When a wood roof becomes wet it starts to rot. When you add moisture into the equation, mold and bacterial growth is the result. Many times, leaks are the cause of mold growth inside of homes. Not only does this speed up the deterioration of the wood, but it can also lead to health concerns, especially for those who already suffer from breathing problems like asthma.
Energy loss.
When a roof starts to leak it can lead to damage to the insulation in your attic. When this happens, the result is heat loss. And as we all know, as you turn up the heat in your home to accommodate, the heating bill goes up drastically.
Expensive repairs.
When it comes to roofing, small repairs like a shingle replacement dont cost a lot of money. But if you leave the shingle without repair, other damages can incur which can be much more costly.
It becomes a fire hazard.
When your roof leaks, it can affect both the insulation in your home as well as the electrical wiring in your ceiling. The result of this is an extreme fire hazard.
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The Pros Of Completely Replacing The Roof
- Completely replacing the roof lasts longer than re-roofing.
- It can be done no matter how many layers of shingles are on the roof.
- Unlike, re-roofing that may cover up any issues with the deck, such as rot, which can eventually cause the roof to give out, a fully revamped roof addresses all issues for a safe and sturdier roof.
- Saves more money over the long haul because it enables you to identify early signs of rot and sagging caused by water damage to the deck, which can eventually permit water to leak and drip down inside the walls where it can damage the drywall and flooring and lead to costly repairs.
Why Should You Replace Old Roof Shingles
As a homeowner, one benefit of having good roof installation is to reduce ongoing maintenance. When a new roof is installed, you can expect it to last for years with little attention. Asphalt shingle roofs usually last about 25 years. Slate, tile, and copper roofs last at least 50 years.
However, as your roof ages, you may notice some areas of concern.
Your roof shingles may be damaged by hail, strong winds, or falling tree limbs. Even worse, your roof may begin to leak or shingles may begin to fall off completely, leaving areas of your roof exposed.
While you may not have to think about your roof much when it is intact, if it needs repair, it becomes a crucial home repair – one you cant put off. Any delays in repairing your roof could cause serious water damage from leaks into your home, leading to damaged ceilings and walls, mold growth, and wet insulation.
It could also rot the wood sheathing of your roof and in structural damage. Youll be faced with the cost of both a roof replacement and interior water damage repair. A damaged roof can also affect the property value of your home.
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How Shingles Get Damaged
Shingles can be damaged by ongoing wear and tear, such as the sun and the rain. Over time, they do wear due to the elements. However, they can also be damaged due to high winds and falling branches. That is why its especially important to check your shingles regularly. A small shift or leak can lead to many larger issues down the road.
Common Asphalt Roof Repair Cost Factors
Roof repairs are often at the top of a homeowners must do list when it comes to repairing a home. Heres the good news: most of the time, repairing asphalt shingles is relatively inexpensive.
To give you a better cost estimate of how much to fix shingles on a roof, consider some of these common damages to asphalt shingles and their fixes.
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Watch The Health Of Your Entire Roof
Missing or loose shingles are one of the first signs your roof needs to be repaired. Water leaks in your home also indicate inadequate roof protection. When you notice your shingles start to curl or become discolored, and there are shingle granules at the bottom of your downspouts, it may be time to consider repairs, explains Jim Miller of Roofing and Sheet Metal Inc.
Do a close inspection of your roofing. Look for broken, damaged, or loose shingles. You can mark shingles that need to be replaced with chalk. Watch for loose or damaged flashing along the roof edges. These sections of step flashing may need repairs as well.
How To Replace A Missing Shingle
- Lift the existing shingle right above the area where the shingle is missing.
- CAUTION: Do not over-lift the existing in-place shingles. Installation is best performed when the temperature is warm enough so the shingles can soften somewhat, so you can work with the shingles without cracking or breaking them.
- Remove any roofing nails left by the missing shingle using a shingle nail remover . Be careful not to damage the roofing felt/underlayment.
- Slip the new shingle into place under the lifted shingle above the location of the missing shingle. If the shingle sticks or catches on something, using shears to trim back the top corners of the new shingle may help it to slide in.
- Nail the new shingle with #11 or #12 gauge aluminum or galvanized barbed ring shank nails with 3/8-inch to 7/8-inch diameter heads. Nails should be long enough to penetrate wood plank decks at least 1 inch, or go completely through plywood or OSB decks. Staples should not be used. You should be able to find a nailing pattern printed on the package the shingles came in.
- Cover the nail heads with a 1-inch wide spot application of industrial grade, asbestos-free roof cement.
- Lower the lifted shingle down onto the new shingle, firmly pressing the tabs into the roof cement to ensure adhesion.
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I Have A New Roof But Shingles Have Blown Off
If your roof is newer, but youve experienced shingles missing, its often caused by two things: Incorrect installation or inactive seal strips.
Inexperienced roofers might misplace the nails when securing the shingles. If the nails are not installed across the nail strip, its likely that the hold will fail and the shingle will blow up and blow off.
Seal strips wont activate if the temperatures are too low and there is little to no sun exposure. In those conditions, it could take weeks before the adhesive strip is fully activated and sealed. Wind gusts could cause shingle misplacement.
In this case, the roofing contractor should reinstall the shingles. Have them confirm the cause of the problem was the adhesive strip and not misplaced nails. Misplaced nails are a concerning problem, because if one shingle was installed that way, chances are high that other shingles have the same problem.
