Shingle Roof Repair

What Is Shingle Roof Repair?

A proper asphalt shingle repair replaces the damaged shingle rather than coating it: the repairer breaks the seal on the courses above, backs out or cuts the nails holding the target shingle (each shingle is held by its own nails and the row above's), slides in the replacement, nails it in the manufacturer's nail zone, and re-seals the lifted tabs with dabs of asphalt cement so wind cannot get under them again. The technique's limiting factor is brittleness: asphalt shingles lose flexibility with age, and on a roof past roughly its mid-teens the surrounding shingles crack during the lifting the repair requires — the point at which repairs start causing damage comparable to what they fix, and an honest assessment shifts toward slope work. Matching is the other constraint: color lots weather uniquely and product lines get discontinued, so a technically sound patch may be visibly mismatched — cosmetically acceptable on a rear slope, less so over the entrance. Done within those limits, targeted repair is the right and economical call on younger roofs with localized damage.

Important Distinction

Note: Sealant smeared over a damaged shingle is not a repair: proper shingle repair removes and replaces the damaged shingle, re-nailing and re-sealing the courses above it.

Also Known As

These are the search terms and phrases that commonly refer to this topic, so you can find it however you describe it.