How to Replace a Roofing Shingle

Summer is rapidly approaching, which means it’s time for backyard barbecues and cookouts with your family and friends. If a damaged roof shingle is becoming an eyesore, don’t try to patch it up before your summer shin dig, simply remove the entire shingle and replace it yourself. Affordable roof repair is easier than you think to achieve.

Steps to replacing a roof shingle:

1. Pry out the nails holding the ripped or damaged shingle in place using a flat bar.

2. Pull out the old shingle and put on a new one. Here’s where it gets tricky: You have to lift the shingle that is directly above the new shingle in order to nail down the new one, and the older shingle may be too fragile to bend far enough away to allow you to use your hammer.

3. To solve this issue, place a wooden block just below the lower edge of your new shingle.

4. Slide the pry bar under the shingle and rest it on the wooden block and stand a roofing nail under the flat end of the bar.

5. Strike the bar with the hammer to drive in the nail. You should be able to remove the pry bar and hammer the rest with ease once the nail is halfway in.

Voila! There’s no need to look into how much a new roof will set you back when you can complete this quick fix yourself. Let the summer festivities begin!