3 Steps for DIY Shingle Replacement

Maintaining a healthy roof is crucial yet easy as long as you know how to replace your own shingles! The roof is
what truly protects you and your family from the environment and is the most important structure of your house. Luckily, keeping a healthy roof is relatively easy. Just follow these three steps:

Step 1: Visually Inspect Your Roof

Look at your roof either from the ground, or from standing atop of the roof itself, and take a look at your shingles. Are they cracked? Do you see any discoloration or mold or algae growing? Are there any missing shingles? Finding bad shingles is fairly simple as long as you inspect your entire roof. Before climbing on the roof, make sure that there aren’t any slopes that are too steep for you to walk on. Always be sure that the roof is dry as not to slip while you are up there.

Step 2: Gather Supplies

To replace your own shingles, you will need:

• Hammer
• 1 ¼ inch nails
• Flat Pry Bar
• Utility Knife

First, gently pry up the shingles immediately above the damaged shingles needing replacement. This will expose the first row of nails. There is a strip of sealer that keeps the shingles adhered, so do not be surprised if it does not loosely lift up. Pry up the damaged shingles until the nails are pulled about a quarter inch. Reseat the shingles and pull the nail up and out. Continue this along that first row of nails.

Gently pry up the above shingles further, exposing the second row of nails. Repeat the above step to remove the last set of nails. The shingles are now ready to be removed.

Step 3: Nail New Shingles Down

Now you get to replace your own shingles and keep your roof healthy! Simply follow the above step but in reverse order, nailing down the top row of nails first and proceed downwards in the same pattern. If a nail refuses to lift out, you can cut a “v” shaped notch out of the new shingle to allow room for that nail. This will eliminate a bump that can attract moisture. If the corners are turning up or there is a crack running down a shingle, you can use sealant on the underside to adhere it down and you do not have to replace the whole shingle set.

If you need professional assistance in replacing your shingles, feel free to call us at Peak Roofing & Construction at (972) 335-7325. We are happy to send out a roofing expert to assist you with your shingles.