You’ve noticed that your Charleston roofing is missing a few shingles here and there, and while this may not be a major problem now, you’d better correct it as soon as possible if you want to avoid significant moisture damage. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be a big-budget job; if you’re only going to replace a limited number of damaged patches, you can do it on your own. Here’s how to get started.
Many residential shingles are attached with nails, but adhesives are also used to create a tighter fit. If you’re going to replace a shingle that is only partially cracked or damaged, you need to remove the old bits first.
Get rid of any nails by carefully prying them out using the claw of a hammer or another appropriate tool. Be careful not to apply too much force as you might damage the surrounding tiles. You can then deal with any adhesives left behind.
With a pry bar, lift the damaged shingle to separate it from the others. It ought to come loose as the bonding agent breaks, but if you find that this is not working, you may have to take the additional step of cooling the tile down. Hot adhesives are a bit springier, so apply some water to cool the area if it’s been soaking up sunlight for a while.
After removing the old shingle completely, make sure the affected spot is clean and relatively smooth, but never use abrasives that will compromise the integrity of the roof felt membrane beneath the tiles.