After years of wear and tear, it’s a good idea to invest in shingle removal and replacement to keep your roof at peak functionality. There are a few steps to replacing torn shingles, and the task is best left to the professionals. Here’s how they remove and replace roof shingles.
SHOULD HOMEOWNERS PERFORM SHINGLE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT THEMSELVES OR LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS?
If you recently received a poor report after your roof inspection, you may be anxious to get repairs started immediately. Some home improvement projects require little to no professional experience, but roofing is different. It’s best to allow experienced roofing contractors to perform shingle roof maintenance to avoid dangerous accidents and skyrocketing costs. You’ll also save yourself time and effort.
Residential roofing is usually made of asphalt shingles, the most common roofing material in the United States. They’re popular because they’re affordable, versatile, and attractive. Plus, asphalt shingles are easy to install and require little maintenance. They’re easy to work with, but roofing projects often turn out to be more complicated than expected. If you’re not an industry professional, save yourself the trouble and hire experienced roofers for shingle removal and replacement.
WHAT CAUSES SHINGLE DAMAGE?
Shingles have many benefits, but they also have a few drawbacks, like their short lifespan compared to other materials and high vulnerability to weather damage. Heavy rain, hail, and high winds severely damage asphalt shingles. Many homeowners choose to pay more money for Impact Resistant (IR) shingles for better protection against outdoor elements. Others purchase light-colored shingle tabs for optimal UV protection.
Those with traditional asphalt roofing with no reflective top coat must be mindful of excessive heat, thunderstorms, and fallen debris, which can ruin their roofing structure. Both daily wear and tear and thermal shock can lead to shingle damage. If it’s been a while since your roof has been inspected, it’s best to invest in intensive repair or ask a contractor when to replace a shingle roof and begin budgeting for the near future.
HOW DO PROFESSIONALS PERFORM ROOF SHINGLE REPAIRS?
Once roof repairs are long overdue, professionals can transform your structure with shingle removal and replacement. Additionally, they can also put a plan in place for shingle roof maintenance and preventative care to keep future issues away.
When the roofers arrive at your home, they’ll set up a ladder angled at a 4:1 ratio: the ladder is placed one foot away from the house for every four feet of height they have to climb. As an added safety measure, they also make sure that the ladder is nowhere near any power lines. Once they’re on your roof, they perform the following:
REMOVE DAMAGED SHINGLES
The first step of roof shingle removal is to break the sealant strips. Roofers slide a pry bar under the bottom edge of the shingle and gently push up to free the shingle from the roof deck. Once the sealant strip is broken, they use the pry bar to remove the nails from the damaged shingle.
INSPECT ROOF UNDERLAYMENT
After shingle removal, roofers will assess the area and take note of any additional damage. If the felt paper is ruined, they repair these layers before installing the replacement tabs. Next, they remove a decent amount of shingles and underlayment to expose at least two rafters of plywood. Then they remove enough decking to allow a new piece to fill the void.
Once the deteriorated roof decking is removed, a new piece is put in its place that’s just as thick as the existing roof deck. Finally, roofers attach the decking to the rafters, driving nails deep enough to tightly secure the new deck.
REPLACE DAMAGED UNDERLAYMENT
After the roof deck is repaired, they cover the area with new underlayment and attach it with staples or roofing nails.
INSTALL NEW SHINGLES
Once the new underlayment is applied and attached, roofers can install the new shingles. They might have to cut them to the appropriate size if the damaged shingles were smaller than average. After the shingles are cut to the correct size, the roofers attach them using roofing nails. New shingles are nailed into different areas, not the same holes damaged shingles were driven in.
REFASTEN SURROUNDING SHINGLES
Roofers may have removed nails to install the replacement shingles. If so, they refasten the surrounding shingles in these areas.
SECURE SHINGLE TABS
A small dot of asphalt mastic (a mixture of asphalt and crushed rock) below the shingle tabs goes a long way. They also place the mixture on other affected areas that were loosened during shingle removal.
Can’t find an expert you can trust? Let Stone Creek restore your faith in roofing contractors.
STONE CREEK IS YOUR SHINGLE ROOF MAINTENANCE EXPERT
Fallen tree branches, hail, and trapped moisture from rainfall and melted snow all take a toll on your residential roof and ultimately lead to mandatory roof shingle removal. If this is the case, there’s no need to worry or look up DIY roofing information online. Stone Creek is trusted across Colorado and Wyoming for all of your roofing needs, be it shingle roof maintenance, replacing torn shingles, or new construction.
Stone Creek is more than just a residential and commercial roofing company. We also specialize in homeowners insurance claims. Roofing worries are already frustrating, and the last thing you want to be concerned with is the hassle of filing a claim. Stone Creek’s strong insurance background helps its clients get through the process as quickly and efficiently as possible. Our mission is to provide world-class customer service and peace of mind. No matter what your property needs, call us today to get started immediately.
