A Homeowner’s Guide To Roofing Repair: How To Repair Shingles
When you make a significant investment – like buying a home – you understand intuitively that maintenance is part of the dynamic of homeownership. Sometimes, a roofing repair will require a roof shingle repair. Seeing problems inside the home is easy, but locating them on the roof is challenging if you don’t know what you’re looking for. A Toronto roof repair is essential to protect your family and your home or business; that can encompass a flat roof repair in Toronto or a commercial roof repair. Keeping the shingles in a good state of repair keeps large outlays of cash on roof repairs at bay. The shingles are your first line of defence; if they become breached, the erosion is quick without notice, and the problems pile up. When shingles become dislodged from your roof, water leaks in and comes through the spaces that aren’t covered. Trying to determine the life of a shingle roof depends. It starts with the material the shingles are made from, the weather and whether you keep up with regular roofing system maintenance. Wood rot and mould are infectious to decking and trusses that hold up your roof, and the structural integrity will suffer when compromised by leaks. Maintaining your home is simple – keeping your roof in good condition starts with a professional roofing contractor performing biannual inspections to catch problems early. A simple shingle repair is an ounce of prevention that saves a pound of cure. Maximizing your roof’s lifespan saves money and protects your home from untold damage from the weather and water leaks.
Inspect Your Roof
Keeping a close eye on your roofing system is simple. You can make a visual inspection with a ladder to look over your shingles. You will see missing shingles and shingles that are askew, and the problem might be just a loose roofing nail, an easy repair. As a caution, don’t ascend the roof; get a professional to deal with cracked or curled shingles; why? Because that is their business.
Repairing A Roof Shingle
Replacing roof shingles is a process unto itself, and the costs depend on the kind of shingles and the number of shingles required to make the repair. Roofing cement is used to keep shingles in place, and you need the services of a professional roofer with the tools and know-how to remove cemented shingles when a repair is required. If your roof has metal shingles, they are laid tightly with fasteners that need a specific installation. If you don’t get it right when making a DIY repair, you have created an opening for water to leak in. It is better to leave it to a roofing contractor who has the experience and is familiar with the installation/repair process to conduct the work.
Tips for Roofing Repair
Replacing Roof Shingles
Replacing shingles is commonplace; wear and tear and age contribute to the maintenance. When shingles are missing, they need to be replaced. First, inspect the area to see if a partial shingle is left; if not, obtain a bundle of three-tab shingles that are as close to a pattern match as the current shingles. Tools: a hammer, flat pry bar, utility knife, 1.25” nails. Start by removing the shingles over the area where the shingles are missing using the pry bar to lift the course of shingles over the area with no shingles. Then use the pry bar to lift what’s left of the missing shingle; once you have lifted .25”, then push the damaged shingle down and remove the nail. Once the shingle is loosened, it should be free from the adhesive strip line and come off the roof quickly. Repeat the pry bar process to get the other three nails that secured the damaged/missing shingle, then move on to the shingle above the missing shingle and repeat. Once the nails are dislodged, the damaged shingle should be free to remove.