When it comes to the exterior of your home, you may think that a damaged or missing roof shingle is the least of your concerns. You’ll likely be more focused on the appearance of your home than on what’s going on beneath the surface. However, a missing roof shingle can lead to significant amounts of water and moisture damage in other areas of your home. This article will give you some tips to help you find and replace those missing roof shingles. Keep reading to learn more. If you’re living in an area prone to strong storms, hurricanes, or even seasonal rains, then you may have experienced a missing roof shingle at one time or another. Missing roof shingles are almost always a result of natural wear and tear over time combined with high-stress weather conditions. Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do right now to prevent further damage and also find and replace any remaining shingles as soon as possible.
Check for Damage
Before you start looking for missing shingles, make sure you don’t already have some damage that needs to be repaired. If you see any signs of water damage or rotting in the roof itself, you’ll want to make repairs before replacing any shingles. If you don’t address the existing problem, you could end up missing shingles once again in short order. It’s also important to keep in mind that any damage caused by a missing shingle can quickly spread to the remaining shingles. That’s why it’s critical to make repairs as soon as possible. If you find that your shingles are damaged but not actually missing, you’ll want to make sure you treat the problem as soon as you see it. Damaged shingles don’t just look bad – they can also lead to leaks and other serious issues. If you catch a damaged shingle early enough, you can repair the shingle yourself or have the roofer who installed your shingles do it. This can save you money in the long run, as you’ll be able to fix the problem before it causes larger issues in your home.
Get a Pro to Inspect Your Roof
Once you’ve determined that you actually have missing shingles, it’s a good idea to get them replaced as soon as possible. A missing shingle can create a gap in your roof that water can easily seep into. This can cause significant damage to your home’s interior, including mold, rot, and an increase in your energy costs because of the need for increased heating and cooling. While you can try to find and replace the missing shingles yourself, it’s always a good idea to get a pro to inspect your roof first. A roofing expert can help you find the best shingle for your home, as well as make sure your roof is structurally sound enough to support the additional weight of new shingles. If you’ve had a shingle fall off your roof and you don’t have enough to cover the missing shingle, you can always use a tarp to cover the gap until you can get it repaired. Tarping a roof isn’t as permanent as replacing a shingle, and it can increase the risk of leaks, but it’s better than nothing. You’ll just want to make sure the tarp is securely fastened and that you check it frequently for signs of wear.
Examine the Underlying Cause
Before you replace any shingles, it’s a good idea to examine the underlying cause. Sometimes the damage is so extensive that it makes more sense to replace the entire roof than to repair the shingles. If so, you’ll want to get started on a roof replacement as soon as possible. You may also need to replace the underlying support structure of your roof, which could add a significant amount to the cost of a roof replacement. If you’re not sure, speak to a roofing expert about the best course of action. Roofing specialists are trained to identify the underlying cause of the damage and can help you determine whether it makes more sense to repair or replace the shingles.
Repair as Needed
If you’re repairing a single shingle, there are a few different ways you can do it. If you have a shingle that’s been torn in half, you can splice the two halves back together and secure them with roofing nails. It’s important to use nails that are long enough to penetrate at least 3/4 of an inch into your shingles. If you have a shingle that’s been completely torn off, you can nail it back in place, or you can use an adhesive-backed shingle repair patch. Repair patches have a sticky side that you can stick to your roof, as well as a patch that covers the hole left by the missing shingle. These work great in a variety of different situations, including on steep roofs.
How to Find and Replace Missing Shingles
Once you’ve repaired any damaged shingles, it’s time to find and replace those missing shingles. If you’re lucky, the missing shingle was one of the lower ones and you can reach it by standing on a chair or ladder. However, if you’re missing a shingle near the roof’s edge, you may need to get a little more creative to find it. One easy trick is to use a strong magnet to pull the missing shingle towards you from the roof. You can also check local home improvement stores for special roofing tools designed to help you find and replace missing shingles. Choose the shingle that best matches the color of the rest of your roof. If you’re in an area that gets a lot of sun, you’ll want to avoid shingles that are very light in color. Likewise, dark shingles can be pretty hot when the sun is shining on them. It’s also important to make sure you’re choosing the right size shingle. Roof shingles come in three different widths, so make sure you choose shingles that fit your roof’s width.
Conclusion
Roof shingles tend to wear out over time, especially if you live in an area with lots of rain or snow. Even if you live in an area with little precipitation, your shingles can still wear out if they aren’t installed correctly or if they’re made from poor-quality materials. Missing shingles can let heat and cold in, as well as water, which can lead to expensive repairs and problems with mold and mildew. Roof shingles cost hundreds of dollars, so it’s best to find and replace missing shingles as soon as possible. There are a few ways to find and replace missing shingles, including using a magnet, checking the shingle size, and repairing any underlying problems. Once you’ve replaced missing shingles, it’s important to keep an eye on your roof to make sure it’s structurally sound.
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