Q&A for How to Replace Damaged Roof Shingles

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Question

How can I prevent shingles from becoming damaged?

David Bitan
Roofing Contractor & Maintenance Professional
David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. With over 12 years of construction industry experience, David specializes in restoring, repairing, and maintaining residential, commercial, and industrial roofs. With over 60 years of combined experience, Bumble Roofing provides easy, friendly services to structures including residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and government buildings along with hospitals, hotels, and churches.

David Bitan

Roofing Contractor & Maintenance Professional

Expert Answer

Make sure your gutters are cleaned out every couple of months. Having gutters that are clogged causes water and debris to pool in certain areas of your roof, which can lead to damage.

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Question

Can I reuse shingles that have been carefully removed?

Community Answer

It is difficult to re-install old used shingles once they are removed. They are usually damaged and the nails have pulled through them. If nothing else, you have to use NP1 or equivalent sealant to re-seal the tabs since the sealant will no longer be any good on used shingles. You have to re-seal the tabs so the wind does not blow them up and cause further damage.

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Question

Can I re-shingle a roof without taking off the old ones? And if all shingles are to be replaced, what else should be done when redoing a roof?

Community Answer

You can leave on the old shingles, but really shouldn't. Every layer of shingles adds weight, which your rafters must now hold up. It's code in most places to not have more than two layers of roofing materials. If you have to redo your roof, you should also inspect the soffit and gable flashing, eve troughs, and flashing around any chimney, plumbing vent, attic vent, etc and consider replacing those as well. Especially if they are the plastic type, as they may look okay but be decayed by the sun to the point of being brittle.

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Question

How do I replace the shingles at the top where the roof peaks?

Community Answer

The ridge cap shingles are just regular 3 tab shingles that are cut and turned sideways. They are nailed down so that the nails are not exposed. Take a stack of regular 3 tab shingles and cut little v notches at the top edge of the shingles between the tabs. This also keeps the ridge shingles from being completely square and the corners tuck in nicely.

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Question

Can I reuse the shingles on my roof after replacing some plywood?

Community Answer

It depends. Most shingles have a 15-25 year lifetime guarantee, so it depends on the age and condition of the shingles if they can be used again.

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