Fixing Damaged Roof Shingles

Maintaining a sound roof literally tops the list of crucial home repairs: It keeps you and your family warm and dry, along with everything in your house. Any damage or signs of wear call for immediate action to keep water from seeping under the shingles and rotting the wood sheathing beneath. Ignoring a problem—even what appears to be a small one—will accelerate the need to reroof and can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of a new roof.

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 ones: 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.

Replacing a Flat Asphalt Roof

A flat asphalt roof can develop problems over time. The asphalt can become cracked and water can seep through the gaps. The water leaks can cause the wood beneath the asphalt to rot and fall apart. You can replace your flat asphalt roof with the right tools and materials. This home improvement project will take about two days to complete. Be sure to check the forecast for a couple of days of good weather. Work on day when the temperature is at least 45 degrees F.

Roof repairs

Roof repairs are often made after the damage has been done; however, if you keep up on routine roof maintenance you can avoid unnecessary damage altogether. Our roofing section tells you what roofing styles and materials are popular, how to winterize and waterproof your roof, how to apply new shingles, how to make minor roof repairs, and when it’s time to forgo the repairs yourself and call a professional roofer.

Roof Repair Basics: How Your House Works

The common denominator in all roofing is that several layers work together as a system. Understanding how this system works can help you talk knowledgeably with a contractor, or help you make buying decisions to do your own work.
One of the earliest roofing materials was thatch, bundled reeds attached to rafters. Surprisingly weathertight, it is incredibly labor intensive, taking even a skilled thatcher weeks to complete. Later came roofs protected by overlapping slates, clay tile and cedar shakes (below), all of which remain in use today. But the great workhorse of the modern American roof is the asphalt shingle. Used for more than 100 years, it's a good choice for handy homeowners who want a product they can install themselves.

The common denominator in all roofing is that several layers work together as a system--each element from the roof deck on up contributes to resisting weather. Understanding how this system works can help you talk knowledgeably with a contractor, or help you make buying decisions to do your own work.

Roofing Problems

The Roof is one of the most important aspects of any home and one of the most cost effective given the work it has to do over the years. It is no surprise that when the roof needs replacing or repairing you must find a roofing contractor that has a good track record so as not to end up as a statistic of people ripped off and left with a low quality job.

There are different types of roof problems, and it is best to be aware of them so you can avoid shortening the life span of the roof. Without proper and routine maintenance, these minorproblems can even become catastrophic. Roof repair and remodels are one of those things you simply can not escape from. Identifying common problems that plague the roof can be a tedious task. But we have listed a few problems for you below;

- Roof leaks and moisture
- Blow-offs, tenting, reduced wind uplift resistance, and billowing
- Poor installation and unsatisfactory workmanship
- Lack of maintenance
- Ponding water
- Punctures and the addition of penetrations post-installation
- Safety
- Improper repairs
- Shrinkage
- Blistering

Prevention is the best solution; however if we go for proper roof maintenance then we can overcome these problems to a certain extent. Since roofs are constantly exposed to the elements, most roof damage results from weather and pollutants in the atmosphere. To save yourself big repair costs or even having to replace your roof before its time, you should perform a general inspection on your roof at least twice a year, checking for mildew, mold, rust, trapped water, and possible damage, and make minor repairs if necessary. That is the best preventive maintenance you can do.

Also, be sure to keep your roof clean. Remove any debris that may accumulate on it and clean out the roof gutters regularly. Also, repair any weather damage as soon as it occurs.