How to Repair Roofing Shingles
Wood shingles are a traditional roofing material. Because of their exposure to the elements, shingles can split and require repair over time. Repairing a roofing shingle involves sliding a metal shim underneath the split to restore the water shedding properties. Badly damaged shingles can be removed with the use of a pry bar and specialized tools for removing nails. Then a new shingle can be inserted and fastened into place with nails. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Corrosion resistant metal shim
- Wood block
- Hammer
- Pry bar
- Slater's ripper or hacksaw blade saw
- Corrosion resistant nails
Instructions
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Repairing a Split Shingle
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1
Cut the metal shim to length. It should measure about 1 inch longer than the exposed portion of the shingle. A shim about 2 ½ inches wide works well for repairing splits.
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2
Bend the two end corners of the metal. Bending the two lower corners down towards the roof will provide the shim with grip, such that when you slide it underneath the split shingle, it will not slide out of place.
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3
Slide the shim underneath the split shingle. You can use a wood block and hammer to drive the shim all the way under, until the lower edge of the shim is flush with the end of the shingle.
Removing and Replacing a Badly Damaged Shingle
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4
Use a pry bar to lift the damaged shingle. Raise it until the nail shafts are exposed.
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5
Use a slater's ripper to pull the nails, or a hacksaw blade saw to cut the shafts. A slater's ripper is a specialized tool that can be slid underneath the shingle and used to grab and pull the nails free. A hacksaw blade saw is a narrow, toothed saw blade mounted to a handle. The blade can be slid underneath the shingle and used to cut the nail shafts.
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6
Remove the freed shingle.
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7
Insert a new shingle in place. Position the replacement shingle so that the lower edge is about 1 inch below the edges of the adjacent shingles.
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8
Drive two corrosion resistant nails into the shingle. Start the nails just below the lip of the overlying shingle, and drive them at 45 degree angles towards the top of the house. The two nails should be placed about 1 inch from each edge of the shingle.
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9
With the shingle fastened in place, use a wood block to knock the shingle into place so that the edge is flush with the other shingles in the course. The exposed nail heads should now be driven underneath the face of the overlying shingle.
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References
- Photo Credit wood shingles image by Michel Essiambre from Fotolia.com
