How To Repair Missing Roof Shingles. Don't Do This...
If your roof is under 10 years old and the damage is truly isolated, a repair might buy you time and save money. However, if your roof is aging or the damage was caused by a wind storm which affected the whole roof, "fixing" it yourself can actually void your warranty or cause you to lose out on thousands in insurance coverage.
Note: We also do non-insurance work and we have awesome financing options for customers who choose that route. This article is just a warning for homeowners who have insurance and want to utilize it for it's intended purpose: protect your home from upreventable circumstances.
If you are determined to handle it, here is the professional way to replace a missing roof shingle—and the warning signs that you should stop and call a pro.
Before you climb a ladder, ensure you have the right materials. A "temporary fix" that uses the wrong glue or nails will leak within months.
If you watch this video closely you'll see many of the shingles are creased/bucking (not just the replaced shingles). The shingles are also extremely brittle which you can tell so by how the shingles around the nails are barely intact. There's a lot of room for error: If the caulk does not completely fill the nail holes water can seep through. Also if the blade used to cut the single shingle out cuts through the underlayment that is another hole that could allow water to enter. When a roof is in this condition a fix might save a few hundred dollars but the roof is still at high risk for interior water damage from a severe wind and thunderstorm.
You don't just nail a new shingle over the hole. You have to slide it under the row above it. Use your flat bar to gently lift the shingles in the row directly above the missing one.
The Douglas Warning: If the shingles feel brittle or "crunchy" when you lift them, STOP. This means your roof is too old for a repair. Forcing it will snap the surrounding shingles, creating a much larger leak.
Usually, when a shingle blows off, the nails stay behind or pull through. You must remove the old nails from the empty space and the row above so the new shingle can slide in flush.
Slide the new shingle into the gap. Ensure it aligns perfectly with the "tabs" of the shingles to its left and right.
Apply four new nails per shingle (or six if you’re in a high-wind area like coastal Maryland). Nail them about an inch above the "cut-out" line. Do not nail through the sealant strip.
In the Mid-Atlantic climate, we can't always wait for the sun to heat the roof enough to activate the adhesive. Apply a small dab of roofing cement under each tab to ensure it doesn't blow off in the next wind gust.
At Douglas Roofing, we often see homeowners spend a weekend patching missing shingles, only to find out later that the storm damage was widespread.
Here is why a DIY repair can be a $20,000 mistake:
Larry, Michelle, and Douglas Rimel built this company on the idea of doing things right the first time. If your roof is over 10 years old, or if you have missing shingles after a storm, a repair is rarely the answer.
Before you spend money on tools and materials, let us provide an insurance-focused inspection. We’ve read every policy through and through, and we can often help you get a brand-new roof, siding, and gutters for the cost of your deductible—saving you thousands of dollars and years of DIY headaches.
