If you need to replace some missing asphalt roofing shingles on your home's roof, then you need to use the proper procedures to ensure that the repair will not leak or damage the integrity of the roof. Simple things like placing nails in the wrong place or using the wrong type of nails can result in future damage to your roof.
Here are some simple things that you can do to make your asphalt roofing shingle replacement project easier and to ensure that you get a quality end result:
Use the Right Nails and a Nail Gun
All asphalt shingles should be installed using galvanized steel roofing nails. In addition, you should use a nail gun to make your life a whole lot easier while you are completing this project. You can rent a roofing nail gun at your local hardware store or construction equipment rental company.
Place the Nails in the Right Place
When you nail the new strips of asphalt shingles onto your home's roof, you need to take care to nail the shingles only on the areas that are marked. If you accidentally nail too low on the shingles, then you can cause the roof to leak.
When you nail the shingles to the roof, you need to ensure that the heads of the nails are sunk down into the tar strip so that they will not pop out of place when the roof gets hot in the summer months.
Use Only Fresh and Flat Strips of Shingles
If you have some extra roofing shingles from when your home's roof was initially installed on your home, then you should only use them if they were stored indoors, flat, and unopened. Once the package of shingles is opened then the tar strip will start to degrade in the air. This will keep the shingles from adhering to the lower shingles as they are supposed to, and it will lead to leaking and curled shingles.
Shingles that are not flat or that are damaged in any other way can easily lead to future damage and leaks on your roof.
Overlap the Felt on the Plywood Sheeting
Finally, if you need to replace any of the felt that is between the asphalt shingles and the plywood sheeting, then you need to install it with some overlap. It should overlap between pieces and it should hang over the edge of your roof for about an inch or two. The overlapping on the roof will keep water from getting on the plywood, and the overhang will help the roof drain off water into the rain gutter. Contact a roofing company like Homestreet Roofing Inc for more information.
