How to Replace Roof Shingles in Clearwater Like a Pro?

If you’ve been looking up at your roof lately and seeing those familiar signs of wear on your shingles, curved edging, splits, and even missing shingles, you probably wonder how to replace roof shingles without damaging your roof more. 

Replacing old or damaged shingles is a must-do house maintenance project, especially if you want to maintain your house and even avoid potential issues such as leaks further down the line. Whether due to weather or just wear and tear, replacing shingles can help prevent leaks and take care of other damage before it gets more serious.

But while plenty of homeowners try to DIY, the next move often requires a bit of know-how and a phone call to the pros, like the ones at NextDoor Exterior Solutions.

We’ll go through the process, step by step, listing what tools and products you’ll need and how to know if your roof shingles need replacing or if it’s time to call a certified roofing company.

Why Roof Shingles Matter

Shingles are the armor on your castle against wind, rain, and sun. They won’t shrink in the rain and won’t wilt due to the sun’s harmful UV rays, and they help keep an even temperature inside! If even one or two shingles are gone or ripped away, you very quickly doubt the safety of your entire roof.

Left untreated, minor shingle problems can lead to expensive issues, ranging from wood rot, insulation problems and mold growth. That is why it is very important to know how to repair roof shingles properly.

Roof Shingles To Replace: You Need 

Perhaps you’d like to know what roof shingle damage looks like before you get on the ladder and head up to the roof. Watch for:

• Cracked or split shingles
• Curling edges
• Bald Spots – Granule Loss
• Loose or missing shingles
• Water stains on Attic beams/ceilings due to penetration of water.

Shingles have a life, 20 to 30 years is the norm, at which point they will degrade from exposure to the elements. You may need to check more frequently if your roof is old.

Tools & Materials You’ll Need

If you feel like you have to try to do it yourself, here’s what you’ll need to replace a shingle (or two):

• Roofing nails (galvanized)
• Hammer or roofing nail gun
• Pry bar or flat bar
• Roofing cement
• Blending the new shingles with your roof
• Ladder with stabilizers
• Safety: gloves, harness, and boots with traction

How to Replace a Roof Shingle

Knowing how to replace roof shingles is also about learning not only the fact that you have to rip one out and nail one down. There’s a ritual you’re supposed to go through that prolongs the life of your roof as a water barrier!”

How To Remove A Shingle 

Step 1: Break a damaged shingle free.

Lift the shingles surrounding the damaged area with a pry bar. Ordinary shingles have four nails in them — two through the shingle, and two from the row below. Make sure it does not stain other materials in the process of doing this.

Step 2: Remove the old shingle

Once the compound is soft, raise the broken shingle and slide it out. If the nail below is driven through the overhanging shingle, drive it from under the shingle above. If the nail backing from the shingle above covers the head of the nail, remove the damaged shingle and the nail holding it, and then pry the nail loose.

Step 3: Slide in the new shingle.

Slide back into place the new or spare identical shingle. You can use this scrap to find your jam against the neighboring surface, ensuring it feels flat.

Step 4: Nail it in place

Nail the new shingle into place with galvanized roofing nails. Hammer two nails close to the top (approximately an inch from the top edge) and two nails at the overlapped section. But don’t go too low — you’ll drive a nail right into the waterproofing.

Step 5: Seal it

Squeeze a small amount of roofing cement beneath the bordering shingles, and press the shingles down. And this will help them seal well and not blow open in the wind.

When DIY Isn’t Enough

A single shingle reset may not seem like a major job, but roofing is among the most perilous of home improvement professions. They can be falling off ladders and falling off roofs. And improperly installed, they can cause more harm than the problem they are intended to solve.

Here’s when pros should be brought in:

• You have multiple missing shingles
• The roof is over 20 years old
• The affected area is extensive, or the flashing, deck, or underlayment has taken damage
• You have some water damage in your home
• The roof has a steep pitch

A pro is not going to put a patch on a roof. We do more than just re-shingle a roof at Nextdoors Exterior Solutions; we perform full evaluations of roofs to catch small problems before they become large ones.

Why Choose NextDoor Exterior Solutions?

Google “how to replace roof shingles” and you’ll find countless videos and blog posts telling you why you should roll up your sleeves and do it yourself. But there’s one thing posts like those will not tell you: the risk you run, if you get it wrong, in the longer term.

NextDoor Exterior Solutions offers:

• Professional and licensed/insured roofing experts
• Interior and exterior residential experience, Subbing out roofing
• Transparent estimates and detailed inspections
• The same materials you used for your shingles
• Warranty-backed labor and materials

We treat your home like our own, which is why we ensure that every repair, whether it’s just one missing shingle or installing a new roof, is done with meticulous attention to detail and the highest level of professionalism.

Preventative Maintenance = Long-Term Savings

And after you have your shingles repaired or replaced, preventive maintenance is key. Here are several fixes to ensure that the roof holds:

Reminder To Check Your Roof – 2X A Year (Fall & Spring)

Gutter and valley clean up

Cut off branches. Hang on for a minute. Book professional inspections after a storm

Little habits like these can also help you catch problems early, prevent leaks that can cause water damage, and eventually add up to the need for expensive emergency repairs.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to replace a roof shingles can save you the cost of hiring a professional to do it for you, but it may not be the entire tale for any homeowner. A nail in the wrong place or the wrong material could wind up causing you more problems down the road.

That’s also why, when you enlist the help of a company such as NextDoor Exterior Solutions, you’re not only making a savvy decision, but you’re also giving yourself peace of mind.

And you don’t want to be the one hearing that small damage has become a huge leak. Call NextDoor Exterior Solutions today for a complimentary inspection and a roof you can count on! You know how to protect your home, one shingle at a time.