How to Replace Cedar Shingles
People have used wooden shingles for over 200 years to beautify and protect their homes. The added level of insulation helped many families stay warm during winter months before the creation of fiberglass insulation. To this day, cedar is the most widely used wood to make shingles because of its longevity, look and straight grain. Another nice aspect of using cedar shingles is the fact you can replace a single shingle should damage occur. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Use the pry bar to gently loosen the shingle you need to replace. Don't try to pry the shingle out at this point.
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Loosen the two shingles above the defective shingle.
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Lift the two shingles up enough to give you access to the nails holding the defective shingle in place.
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Use the slater's ripper to pull out the nails holding the bad shingle in place. You need enough pressure to pull on the nail without hitting the other shingles hard when the nail comes loose.
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Pull and wiggle the cedar shingle out of place without causing problems to the other shingles.
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Nail two nails into position about halfway through the new shingle with the nails at a 45-degree angle.
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Slip the replacement shingle into the space vacated by the old shingle.
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Hold the shake in position approximately 1/2 inch from the shingle's final resting place.
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Nail the shake into place being careful to not hit the existing shingles. The shake should slide up into position as you hit the nails.
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Use a hammer to hit a wood block aligned with the bottom of the new shake to move the shake into place if it needs to go higher on the roof.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you keep the roof clear of debris (even leaves and pine needles) which can trap water on the roof and cause damage.
If the roof is not leaking, don't replace cedar shingles unless there is a lot damage on the shingle.
Place a corrosion resistant metal shim under the defective split shingle for a quick and easy fix to a single shingle problem. Bend corners down on the bottom edge of the shim and slide it under the split cedar shingle. The shim should be about 2 1/2 inches wide and match the length of the shingle.
Use the hack saw to cut nail heads that are hard to reach.
Avoid possible injury by wearing proper safety equipment when working on the roof. You should tie off using a secure rope.
