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Some roof problems are clearly for experts, but you should be able to fix minor leaks and broken shingles yourself. Here are some roof repair tips, plus useful safety advice for when you get that ladder out. Be careful when do it yourself.

Roof Repair Tips – Fixing Damaged Roof Shingles

If your roof is more than 20 years old and most of the shingles are damaged or badly worn, it’s time to replace it. But if your roof is basically sound and is at a relatively shallow pitch that you’re comfortable working on, you can probably handle most repairs yourself. Here, we’ll take you through the three most-common roof repair tips: replacing damaged shingles, gluing down a badly curled shingle, and repairing shingles that have cracked. 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 that’s wet, icy or covered with morning dew.

First Roof Repair Tips : Replacing damaged shingles

Replacing a damaged shingle requires a hammer, a flat pry bar, a utility knife, and a handful of 11/4-in. roofing nails. Each shingle is initially secured with four nails; when the next shingle course above is installed, however, its nails also pass through the top edge of the shingles in the course below.

Begin removing the first row of nails by sliding the pry bar under the shingle immediately above the damaged one and gently lifting it to free it from the sealer strip. You’ll see the first row of nails beneath.

Slip the pry bar under the damaged shingle and pry upward. Once the nail pops up about 1/4 in., remove the pry bar, press the shingle down and pull out the nail. Repeat this procedure for the remaining three nails. Then push the pry bar under the shingle directly above the damaged one and remove the second row of nails the same way. After yanking all eight nails, pull out the damaged shingle.

If the existing shingles are brittle, you may not be able to pry out the second row of nails without cracking a shingle. In that case, tear out the damaged shingle and cut V-notches in the replacement to fit around the four nails. Slide the new shingle up into place and secure it with four nails.

Second Roof Repair Tips : Fix curled corners

As asphalt shingles get older, their corners often begin to curl downward or upward. If you notice a shingle starting to curl, you can forestall the inevitable curling by gluing down the curled section.

Use a caulking gun to apply a dab of roofing sealant (about $4 per 10-oz. tube) under the corner. Weigh it down with a brick and leave the weight in place for at least 24 hours until the sealant dries. That’s all there is to it.

Third Roof Repair Tips : Repair cracked shingles

If a shingle is simply cracked or torn, you don’t have to replace it—just repair it. Start by applying a thick bead of roofing sealant under the crack. Press the shingle down and apply a second bead of sealant on top of the crack. Then spread the sealant with a putty knife.

The best part of this fix is that no one has to know you made it. It’s easy to camouflage: Check the gutter for an accumulation of colored granules that have washed down the roof from the shingles. Then gather some into a small cup and sprinkle them over the sealant to mask the repair.

 

A new roof is a pricey proposition. These simple roof repair tips can keep your existing roof sound for years to come.

Biondo Contracting offers services such as roof repairs and roof replacements to towns all over central NJ including Dayton, Colts Neck, Bedminster , South Brunswick, Edison, Bay Head, East Brunswick, Hillsborough, Millburn, Kendall Park, and many more. Call today at (732)257-2926 for central NJ free Roof Repair Tips.