Many people every year think that they can do their shingle roof repairs themselves. Often they can, but a few of them get hurt, too. They back into the power lines that run near their roof, or they slip and fall to the ground and break bones because they were in too much of a hurry. Don’t let that be you. You’ll want to perform your roof repairs as safely and easily as possible, and you can do that if you follow some simple tips. Make sure the ladder is sturdy and well-placed. Get everything that you will need together so that you don’t have to keep coming back down the ladder for tools and materials. You risk injury each time you climb a ladder. Make sure that you wear rubber-soled shoes, as well, because you’ll have a lot lower chance of slipping and falling that way, and keep an eye on the power lines.
Know where they are at all times, and if you have to be near them, don’t move too fast. The actual repair is much easier than all the preparation and care that goes into it. Of course, if you’re concerned at all about your safety or your ability to do the repair the best thing to do would be to call in a professional and have him or her complete the repair for you. This will cost more, but you won’t be risking your safety and further damage to your roof.
If you’re determined to do it on your own, make sure that you carefully pry up the shingles that are on top of the one that you’re repairing or replacing. They have a thin line of roofing tar on them in most cases and they will stick to one another. You can gently work this loose so that you don’t damage other shingles. Then you can pry the nails out that are holding the damaged shingle and put a new one in its place. If you’re just repairing it, you won’t have to take it loose, and repairs (small ones) can be made with roofing tar and pieces of shingle that can be patched together, but replacing the damaged shingle is better and will last longer.
When you put the new shingle in place, try to use the same nail holes to avoid leaks, and put some roofing tar or liquid asphalt under the new shingle, just in case you miss the original holes. You can also put a thin line of liquid asphalt under the edge of the shingles on top of the new one to help them re-seal themselves.