(4 Minute Read Time)
When it comes to roof repairs, one of the most frustrating things you can encounter when it comes to your roof is to find that the wind has blown off a couple of shingles, causing an exposure that is susceptible to leaking. Perhaps the original warranty from your roofing contractor has expired but the roof is not yet old enough to warrant a full replacement and the issue needs to be addressed. So what should be done in this regrettable roofing scenario?
Of course the easiest route is to simply call a trusted roofing company in Austin and have the issue addressed by the pros. But the good news is that these types of roof repairs can often be addressed much cheaper if you’re willing to climb a ladder and apply a little elbow grease. In most cases, one trip to Home Depot will supply you with everything you need to take care of this roofing issue.
Assessment
The first step is to inspect the cause of your roof leak. If you notice the roofing issue from the ground and know where it is, set up a ladder and start with inspecting that area but it’s worthwhile to do a full walk through to ensure there are no other issues that you notice while you’re up there. If you first notice the issue from a leak coming through, track the area of the leak up to the relative area of the roof where the leak is likely to be and observe any components that look like they could be causing the issue. Missing shingles, vents and exposed nail heads are three of the most common simple issues you will encounter that cause basic leaks.
Inventory
Put together an itemized list of everything you observe and what is required to fix it. In this article we will be specifically addressing an issue of missing shingles and how to do a proper roof repair for that issue.
Materials
To do a roof repair for a missing shingle you will typically need the following: a bundle of shingles to match the color and style of your current roof, a box of 1 ¼” roofing nails, a roofing knife with a hook blade, a roofer’s hatchet and some caulking and a caulking gun.
Conducting the Roof Repair
Once the materials are gathered, use the roofing knife to clean up the area and tidy up any spots where the previously torn shingle is still exposed, cutting the damaged shingle flush and clean with the other shingles that are adjacent in the roof field. Then use the roofer’s hatchet to pry up any loose nails that will impede with your ability to slide the new shingle up underneath for the repair. Pry the nail up fully rather than pulling the shingle up around it so that you do not create further perforations that can contribute to a further leak. Once the nails are removed and the spot is accessible to insert the new shingle, remove a shingle from the bundle that was purchased and using the roofing knife to cut the shingle to the size of the repair that will be required.
The part of the shingle that gets covered is slightly larger than part that is left exposed so you will likely need to trim a couple inches off the upper portion of the shingle so that you can bring the exposed portion flush with the rest of the roof field without bumping up into the nails two rows above the area that requires repair.
Once the shingle is in place, lift up the row of shingles above it and apply a nail ever 6-12 inches. Do not face nail through the row of shingles above the repaired area or you will create an exposure that will be at risk of leaking. Be sure to also not put nails in a water line where there is a gap in the shingle row above! Once the new shingle has been secured properly with nails, get the caulking gun and the tube of caulking and apply a fresh seal of caulking between the repaired shingle and the shingle row above it. When the original tar seal on shingles breaks it can never naturally seal again, so this will ensure that a new seal is created in the repaired area so that it will hold firmly against wind damage to the roof going forward.
Further Guidance
That’s all you need to handle your Austin roofing repair! If you need advice on any of the above information or simply would prefer to make your life easier and have a local roofing company in Austin handle the repair for you instead, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help any way we can.
Phone: 210-417-7728
E-mail: theroofingartist@gmail.com