How do I Repair Patch Roof Shingles?

Because of their constant exposure to wear and tear, shingles can become damaged.

Roofing shingles are constantly exposed to wear and tear from rain, wind, falling objects, and damaging, ultraviolet (UV) light. Over time this exposure can cause shingles to split or crack. A badly damaged roofing shingle should be removed and replaced with new material; but a simple split in a shingle can be repaired by cutting a metal shim to size and fitting it underneath the damaged area. This metal piece will restore the water-resisting properties of the shingle and prevent your roof from leaking.

Things You'll Need

• Metal flashing
• Tin snips
• Wood block
• Hammer
• Pry bar
• Slater's ripper
• Corrosion-resistant nails
• Replacement shingle

Instructions

Using a Metal Shim to Repair a Split Shingle

1. Cut a shim from your metal flashing to size with a pair of tin snips. Make your shim about two and a half inches wide and one inch longer than the exposed portion of the shingle you are repairing.

2. Bend the two lower corners of the shim down so that when the shim is in place, the bent corners will point into the surface of the rooftop. The bent corners will help to keep the shim in place after it has been position under the damaged shingle.

3. Insert the metal shim under the split shingle. Position the shim so that it is centered directly under the split in the shingle. Use the wood block to knock the shim all the way under the shingle; so that the end of the metal shim is flush with the end of the split shingle.

Removing and Replacing a Badly Damaged Shingle

1. Pry up the damaged shingle with a pry bar. Lift the shingle until the nail shafts holding it in place are exposed.

2. Pull the nails free using a slater's ripper. Slide this hooked tool up underneath the lifted shingle and use it to grab and pull the nails from the roof decking. Lift the freed shingle and set it aside.

3. Position a new shingle in the place of the damaged shingle. Leave the base of the new shingle about one inch lower than the base of the rest of the shingles in the row.

4. Drive two corrosion-resistant nails through the shingle and into the roof decking. Set the nails ¾ inches from each shingle edge, and just below the base of the overlying shingle in the row. Drive the nails at a 45 degree angle up towards the roof's peak.

5. Position the wood block against the base of the shingle and use a hammer to knock the shingle into place; so that the base of the replacement shingle is flush with the base of the rest of the shingles in the row. The nail heads should now be driven underneath the overlying shingle; thus preventing water from seeping through them.

Tips & Warnings

• Always take great care whenever you are working on a rooftop. Falls can result in serious injury and death. Wear a safety harness to avoid fall-related injuries.

References

• Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau: Cedar Roof Care and Maintenance
• U.S. Department of the Interior: Preservation Brief 19: The Repair and Replacement of Historic Wood Shingles

Resources

• Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau