Strong and sturdy roof shingles are essential for the well-being of your home and the safety of your loved ones. It provides shelter, keeping your family and belongings warm and dry. While new roofs can be expensive, taking care of simple repairs can significantly extend the lifespan of your roof, saving you money in the long run.
Determining if it’s Time for a Roof Replacement
If your roof is over 20 years old and the majority of roof shingles show signs of damage, it may be time to consider a roof replacement. However, if your roof is generally in good condition and has a shallow pitch that you feel comfortable working on, you can likely handle most repairs yourself.
Common Roof Shingle Repairs
Let’s explore three of the most common roof shingle repairs that you can tackle:
Roof Shingle Replacement
To replace a damaged shingle, you’ll need a few tools, including a hammer, flat pry bar, utility blade, and roofing nails. Start by gently lifting the damaged shingle and sliding the pry bar underneath to remove the roofing nails. If the shingle is missing a part, you’ll need to replace the entire shingle. Check if you have any leftover shingles from previous installations or purchase a bundle from a local lumberyard or home center. If you can’t find an exact match, choose the closest one available.
Remember, each shingle is initially secured with four nails. As you install the new shingle, make sure the nails pass through both the new shingle and the previous course of shingles.
This post was written by Ted Williams! Ted is the owner of An Old Time Roofing which is the premier roofing company that offers St Petersburg FL roofers! Ted is a Master Elite Weather Stopper GAF Roofing Contractor, a double award winner of Best Steep-Slope Contractor from GAF, and an achiever of Master Elite Consumer Protection Excellence from GAF. He has been serving the Pinellas County area since 1978. Old Time Roofing has a tradition of quality workmanship, servicing residential and commercial properties.
