How to Replace Asphalt Shingles
Simple instructions for removing and replacing asphalt shingles on your roof
When an asphalt shingle roof has been properly installed, it generally requires little maintenance, which is one of the main advantages of a shingle roof. However, it may happen that a repair is necessary. Fortunately, it is easy to remove and replace asphalt shingles in just seven steps
however, that only appropriately trained professional roofers undertake the installation and repair of shingle roofs
however, that only appropriately trained professional roofers undertake the installation and repair of shingle roofs
First, remove the nails holding the shingle to the roof deck. To access the nails, you must lift the shingle; however, it is probably glued in some places of the underlying shingle with bonding bitumen
Although this adhesion is strong (strong enough to resist uplift under the action of the wind), it can be broken by carefully sliding a flat lever under the edge of the damaged shingle
It is best to take off in cold weather. When hot, the sealant is more sticky and tenacious, which makes it more difficult and messy to take off the shingle
Caution: In cold weather, the shingles are stiffer than in hot weather. Avoid distorting the shingle more than is necessary
Once the adhesion of the damaged shingle has been broken, the same technique must be used to break the adhesion of the overlying shingle or shingles in order to gently lift it up to expose the nails of the damaged shingle
Since the shingles of the successive rows towards the top of the roof are offset from the previous rows, you will no doubt also have to perform this step under a shingle to the right or left of the overlying shingle
Step Three - Remove the nails
Sometimes the nails can be removed by tearing them off directly. However, trying to tear them directly from the shingle can damage the granules on the surface. It is therefore preferable to lift the shingle AND the nail AT THE SAME TIME
You must therefore have access to the underside of the damaged shingle Slide the lever below the shingle as close as possible to each nail and lift the shingle
which also lifts the nail driven into the deck. Lift the four nails holding the damaged shingle. (In the photo below, we illustrate this step at the edge of the roof for a clearer view of the step
Step Four - Remove the nails from the adjacent shingles
The four nails were lifted and removed from the damaged shingle. But you still cannot remove the shingle in question because of the nails planted in the shingles of the upper row which also penetrate into the upper edge of the damaged shingle
The fact that each shingle on the roof is held in place by TWO rows of nails is a key factor in the wind resistance of the entire roof system
You must therefore also break the adhesion of the shingles in the two rows overlying the damaged shingle, then remove the nails from the shingles in the row immediately above the damaged shingle
Step Five - Remove the damaged shingle
The adhesions were all broken and all the nails were removed. The damaged shingle should now be easy to
remove
Step Six - Install the new shingle
Slide the new shingle (which must be the same size as the old one) into place. Nail it, then nail the overlying shingles again in the same places from where they were removed
Step Seven - Seal the shingles again
Finally, the shingles must be adhered to the other shingles again. Even if over time the new shingle will adhere to the adjacent shingles under the heat of the sun
it is recommended to seal it manually at this point. Apply three small dots of bonding bitumen under the legs of the new shingle, spacing them evenly along the length of the shingle, then press the shingle flat on the surface
Adhere any adjacent shingles whose adhesion could have been broken, in order to maintain the ability of the roof to resist wind, as before