How to Replace Shingles

Shingles are great to look at when they’re new and shiny, but not so much when age takes a toll on them. Not to mention those grape-sized hailstones that pour down from the sky straight to your precious shingles. Regardless of how well you take care of your shingled roof, sooner or later, you might have to replace them.

You may hire professionals to replace your shingles for you, but not a lot of people are willing to take that road. Most people would rather roll up their sleeves and do it the old-fashioned way. However, you first need to know how to replace shingles.

We’ll tell you one thing, replacing shingles isn’t easy, and it’s not a one-person job too. You’ll probably need a helping hand or two for that matter.

Replacing shingles is more than just nailing shingles on top of your old shingles. Remember, you want your new shingles to last much longer than your old ones.

You can’t do that by hammering shingles haphazardly on the roof. Keep reading, and we’ll show you how to replace shingles step-by-step.

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Step 1: Get Your Team ready

As mentioned earlier, replacing shingles isn’t a one-person job, so you best get your buddies to help you out. The first step of replacing your shingles is getting everyone on board. You can use Facebook, Whatsapp, or any other platform to get the band together.

Get about three to four people, but the more, the merrier. Once you assemble the whole group, you can move to the next step.

Step 2: Don’t Forget Your Safety Equipment

Remember, you’re climbing a roof that’s a couple of feet tall. You don’t need anyone to tell you what happens should you slip and fall. That’s why it’s super important to take the necessary precautions before getting to work.

That means wearing safety equipment, including gloves, safety boots, and the likes. Repairing shingles is a dangerous job; don’t do it without proper safety gear.

Step 3: Prepare the Tools

After getting your safety gear, it’s now time to prepare your tools and equipment. For adequate preparation, you’ll require the following items:-

• A pry bar
• A hammer
• New shingles
• Shingle nails
• Leather gloves

For perfect preparation, make sure you get all the necessary equipment early on. Try your best to avoid any last-minute rush. That way, you won’t compromise on the tools or materials you use for your shingle replacement.

Step 4: Get the Permit

You’ll still need a permit regardless of whether you’re installing a new roof or re-roofing your old one. Check with the local authorities to get your re-roofing perming. Applying for a re-roofing permit is straightforward, especially since it’s a re-roofing permit.

Before the state grants you your permit, you might need the following:

• Proof that you own the property
• Statement of repair
• Permit application

If you have the above at hand, then getting that permit will be a breeze. In some states, you might require architectural drawings of your home.

Step 5: Remove the Shingles

Now that you have the permit, you can climb up the roof and get to work. The first step is to remove the existing shingles from the roof.

To do so, you’ll need a pry bar, or you can use a shingle scraper, a flat shovel, or even a pitchfork. Use any of the mentioned tools to pry the shingles from the roof. The nails should come off with the shingles, but you can use a claw hammer to remove the nails if they don’t.

Step 6: Secure Any Loose Boards

You might have loosened a few boards while prying off the shingles. Secure these loose boards back in place to prevent them from collapsing under your weight. Also, cover any open holes after you’ve removed the old shingles.

Use aluminum flashing for large holes, but ordinary caulk will do for small gaps or holes. After doing so, you can move to the next step.

Step 7: Time for the Underlayment

To install the underlayment, you’ll need a staple gun, and roofing felt. You then have to lay the roofing felt across the roof’s bottom edge to the roof’s top. While you’re at it, use the staple gun to staple after every six inches.

Step 8: Find the Roof’s Center Line

Locating the roof’s center allows you to align your shingles evenly. You can measure the center-line from the edge of your roof to the other edge. Use a tape measure to do so, then mark the center of the roof

Step 9: Place the First Row of Shingles

The first row of shingles will go a little over the drip edge. For three-tab shingles, you might have to use a utility knife to remove the tabs. Next, line up the slot found in the middle of the shingle to your roof’s center-line.

Extend the bottom of the shingle so that it’s about a quarter way past the drip edge. Tack or hammer the shingle in place. Repeat the same for the other shingles until you complete the first row.

Step 10: Place the Second Row of Shingles

The second row goes on top of the first row. Remember, you’ll have removed the tabs from the first row of shingles. Let the shingles go a quarter way past the drip edge for extra water protection and easier roof repair.

Repeat the process for the rest of the shingles until you’ve covered the entire roof. However, make sure your shingles overlap by at least five inches. If the shingle extends past the roof edge at the top, tack it down for uniformity.

All you have to do now is install the ridge cap to protect the exposed shingles at the top. Install the ridge cap, and you’re good to go.

That’s How to Replace Shingles

Now that you know how to replace shingles, we hope you’ll have a blast the next time you’re up replacing shingles. Don’t forget to get the necessary permits before you get to business. Most importantly, never forget to wear the proper safety gear for your own protection.

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