Have you checked on the condition of your roof shingles lately?
Have you checked on the condition of your roof shingles lately? Summertime usually brings with it some brutal weather that can do a number on your roofs. In the Baltimore area, heavy rains can occur at almost any time. If you live in Baltimore City, Montgomery County, or Anne Arundel County, you can rely on Capital Remodeling to provide you with excellent roof services. To help get you started, we have prepared this easy guide to help repair any cracked roof shingles.
Add New Roof Shingles
Even when only a tiny part of the shingle is damaged, you will have to replace it with a new shingle. Consider the last time you had some work done on your roof – you might have some surplus shingles to add to your roof. If you don’t have any extra shingles available, you might have to go out and buy some before you can proceed. In the end, it really doesn’t matter if you can’t find an exact match when it comes to roof shingles; just get the closest match that you can find.
To add the new shingles, you’ll need a handful of tools. These tools include:
- Hammer
- Flat pry bar
- Utility knife
- Some nails that are 11/4 inches
The nails in your current shingles are supposed to hold the shingles together and connect them to neighboring shingles above and below. What you should do next is locate the damaged shingle. Use the pry bar to lift the shingle that sits directly above the damaged one. Then you should remove the anchor nails – there should be eight of them in total. Once you have removed the anchor nails, you can pull the damaged shingle free. Be careful when you do this because you might unintentionally damage other shingles that were otherwise in good condition. Lastly, put in the new roof shingle and lock it into place with the anchor nails.
Uncurl the Edges
When shingles age, their edges will begin to curl. Using some glue, you can uncurl the edges. All you need to do is find a caulk gun and apply roofing sealant with it. Weigh down the loose corner with a brick and allow the sealant to dry. The drying process should take about a day or so.
Find and Fix The Cracks
Sometimes, you don’t have to replace a roof shingle at all. Depending on the amount of damage, you might only need to to find the cracks and mend them. Fixing cracks is another part of the process in which roofing sealant is immensely useful. Spread some sealant both underneath and on top of the crack. Distribute the sealant with the utility knife. The last step is simple: collect some shingle flakes from your gutters and spread these flakes out over your newly-mended shingles to hide the sealant.
Get in Touch with Capital Remodeling
Capital Remodeling is ready to transform your home this summer with affordable and durable vinyl replacement windows and roofing services. With our quality replacement window options and remodeling services, affordable prices, and flawless customer service, you will love the end result. If you are ready for a free quote, visit us online or give us a call at 1-1-800-300-6780 (800-472-2748). To see examples of our work, follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Houzz, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Tags: roof shingles, roofing, tips for homeowners