How To Repair Damaged Shingles

Consider The Benefits Of Capsaicin

How To Remove and Repair Composite Shingles By: Everything Home TV

Another topical treatment is made from chili peppers, and research has shown that it can help with shingles pain reduction. Capsaicin comes in OTC and prescription forms, and it can be applied topically as a cream or by wearing a patchbut its tricky to administer properly. A report in Molecules noted that capsaicin can cause a burning sensation on the applied area, especially if applied in frequent dosages. In rare cases, it can also cause blood vessel constrictions. Be sure to get your doctors guidance before trying this method on your own.

Specific treatment for shingles will be determined by your healthcare provider based on:

Your age, overall health, and medical history
How long the shingles have been present
Extent of the condition
Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the condition
Your opinion or preference

There is no cure for shingles. It simply has to run its course. Treatment focuses on pain relief. Painkillers may help relieve some of the pain. Antiviral drugs may help lessen some of the symptoms and reduce nerve damage. Other treatments may include:

Creams or lotions to help relieve itching
Cool compresses applied to affected skin areas
Antiviral medicines

What Questions Should I Ask My Roofer

To find the best roofing contractor near you, there are a number of questions you should ask. Below are some of the most important ones to address.

Are your workers licensed?
Can you provide proof of liability and workers comp insurance?
What permits are necessary and are these included in the estimate?
What is the quality warranty for work done on the roof?
What types of damage are not included in that warranty?
If the roof requires replacement, does removing the old roof factor into the cost estimate?
What will you do with the leftover debris?
Do you use ladder stabilizers or standoffs to protect the gutters?
How will you protect my landscaping while youre working on the roof?
What are the plans to clean up the property after the repairs are complete?
What will you do if theres bad weather during my repair project?
Is your company doing the project, or will you work with a subcontractor?

If youre hiring someone to repair or replace the roof on your house, you want to ensure they will do exactly what you need at a reasonable cost. On top of that, all costs should factor into your initial estimate with no hidden fees. You should also make sure they will be respectful of your landscaping, gutters, siding, and all other parts of your property.

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Do Remember That People Notice

If your roof is in disrepair, it can be seen for miles around. The optics dont bode well. Curb appeal is important 40 percent of the view of your home is the roof. When selling, a roof replacement is an excellent, low-cost home upgrade and, in some quarters, returns over 50 percent of the cost on resale.

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How To Repair Asphalt Shingles

Step-by-step expert advice on repairing curled, torn, or damaged asphalt roofing shingles. Includes advice to stop a roof leak quickly.

Its important to fix or replace torn or curled asphalt shingles before the problem gets severe enough to permit leaks or the pieces break apart and blow off the roof.

If you dont have close-match replacement shingles for your roof, repairing a torn or curled shingle will be your easiest and best option. On the other hand, if you have replacement shingles that match your roof, entirely replacing the damaged shingle will result in better, less noticeable repair. For more about replacing a shingle, please see How to Replace a Damaged Asphalt Shingle.

Buying Asphalt Roofing Shingles

Working on top of a roof can be challenging and dangerous. Unless your roofs pitch is relatively low and you have the necessary experience, tools, and confidence to get the job done safely, you should leave this work to a professional. In this case, please see our affiliate partner, HomeAdvisor, to receive free bids from local asphalt shingle roof repair pros.

Common Causes Of Damage To Roof Shingles

Before you run with the idea of repairing your damaged roof, you need to understand what explicitly caused or can lead to the so roof shingle damage or what makes the shingle to be easily blown away. Although shingles are prone to be blown off by several factors, be it as it may, storms are always the most common factor.

In roof installation, every minute detail counts. Things you may consider non-circumstantial, like placing a nail a little too high up on the shingle, can create a weak spot, making the shingles an easy prey to the obnoxious effects of wind.

And then, we have the action of algae, fungi, and pests. Once either of these organisms inhabits any area of your roof, they will feed on the organic base of the shingles. This will inadvertently culminate in the deterioration of the roofing shingle. Insects, when they feed on the wood, could propel the roofing nails to give up so easily to the pull of winds.

Shingles may damage or blow off as a result of prolonged exposure of the roofing system to the unfavorable elements. Good roofing materials can last over 20 years. But even the long-lasting material can be subdued by the effects of the elements with time. Above all, age can make your roofing system prone to the impact of a storm.

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How To Repair Curled & Cuffed Roof Shingles

The roof of your home endures a lot over the years, between sunlight beating down, heavy rain falling, high winds howling, and other elements that pummel it throughout the seasons. As a result, your roof may show some signs of light wear and tear, like curled and cupped shingles. These wont necessarily warrant a full replacement quite yet you can bide yourself some time by repairing the curled or cupped roof shingles yourself.

What Are The Risks Of Diy Roofing

While its possible to replace a missing shingle yourself, there are some risks involved. These include:

Injury: Climbing onto your roof can be dangerous, especially if youre not used to working at heights. Its important to take precautions and be careful while youre up there. Roofing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world , so be sure to only take on this task if youre able, comfortable, and have the proper safety equipment.
Damage to Your Roof: If you dont know what youre doing, you could end up causing more damage to your roof. This can lead to bigger problems down the road and ultimately cost you a lot more money.
Voiding Your Warranty: If you have a warranty on your roof, replacing a shingle yourself could void it. This means that any other damage that would have been covered under warranty in the future would no longer be eligible for coverage. Its always best to check with your roofing contractor or the manufacturer about the status of your warranty before you make any changes to your roof.

Most Popular Roofing Material

For residential roofing, there are six basic types: fiberglass/asphalt shingles, fire-treated wood shakes and shingles, clay or concrete tile, real and synthetic slate products, hot far, and modified roofing. 80% of homes are roofed with asphalt shingles. Theyre durable, versatile and economical, high quality at an affordable price. With an enormous range of colors, shapes, and textures available, asphalt shingles can affordably match many design choices.

So What Is Postherpetic Neuralgia Exactly

What to do when a roofer won’t help with a leak

Most people with shingles will not develop PHN but certain factors, like age, may place you at a higher risk of developing it.

If youre still experiencing the pain of active shingles, sans rash, youre likely experiencing PHN, a complication of shingles. Pain in the aftermath of shingles that persists for longer than 3 months, is PHN. Unfortunately, for some people that pain is chronic and can linger for years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , an estimated 10% to 18% of shingles patients will develop PHN.1 You may be at higher risk of developing it if you have one or more of the following risk factors:

Risk Factors for Developing Postherpetic Neuralgia

Age: People older than 60 years of age are at increased risk of developing PHN and experiencing longer lasting, more severe pain. According to the CDC, about 10% to 13% of adults aged 60 years or older with shingles develop PHN, whereas PHN is rare in people younger than 40 years old. 1 Older people who have shingles have about a 50% chance of developing PHN.
Severity of your shingles symptoms: If your shingles symptoms are severe, or if shingles affects your eyes, youre more likely to develop PHN.
Other health conditions: People who have suppressed immune systems are more likely to get PHN.2,3

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Look For A Lidocaine Patch

Lidocaine is an anesthetic agent that temporarily numbs the area where its applied, which can help with PHN pain. With significant postherpetic neuralgia, I find that the topical lidocaine patch is usually the most useful, says Camille Kotton, M.D., clinical director of transplant and immunocompromised host infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Lidocaine is available as a prescription or OTC, though Dr. Kotton notes it can be difficult to get covered by insurance.

How Long Should You Wait Before Replacing Your Roof Shingles

When having your roof installed, the first thing you probably asked your contractor is the lifespan of the type of material you chose. There are different types of shingles, with those made with asphalt being the most common ones.

Asphalt shingles can last anywhere from 10 to 50 years, while wood ones have a life span of 25 to 30 years. Wood shake shingle roofs stay strong from 35 to 40 years.

The best way to make sure that your roof is in optimal condition is to conduct regular check-ups. If you have minimal experience with roof repairs, a simple visual inspection can tell you a lot. You will be able to easily spot cracked, curled, and missing shingles.

A much more reliable route is to get professionals to inspect your roof once in a while. These individuals know exactly what to look for not only on a superficial but also on a deeper one because they have the skills and tools to do the job.

Once issues are found, you can take the vital steps of repairing your roof. Make sure to wait for a day with optimal weather, preferably moderate. Do not do the job while cold as this can crack the shingles, nor while hot as this can make the sealing material harder to manage.

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Fix Curled Roof Shingle Corners With Caulking

As asphalt shingles get older, their corners often begin to curl downward or upward. If you notice a shingle starting to curl, you can forestall the inevitable curling by gluing down the curled section.

Use a caulking gun to apply a dab of roofing sealant under the corner. Weigh it down with a brick leave the weight in place for at least 24 hours until the sealant dries. That’s all there is to it.

When Can You Repair Or Replace Roof Shingles

Before grabbing your ladder and climbing on top of the roof to repair or replace a damaged or missing shingle, there are some things you need to know. We spoke with Kyle Shirley, owner of Sol Vista Roofing, to get his take on when you might be able to handle the repairs yourself, when you should call in a professional, and how to fix your roof the right way.

Replacing shingles doesnt require as much precision and may be easier for the DIY homeowner. But it isnt always possible if the manufacturer discontinued the shingle you need to replace. In some cases, theres a good replacement product thats the same size, but sometimes theres not, Shirley says. If you cant find a product thats the right size, your best bet is to replace the whole roof. Cutting a wrong-size product to fit your roof is risky because it can cause other shingles to buckle and nails to pop.

You may also need a whole roof replacement if the wood underneath the shingles is rotten or theres a large volume of work. If the wind blows off a couple of shingles, we can probably repair . But if the wind blows off 15 or 20 shingles at that point, its probably more cost-effective to replace the whole roof, Shirley says.

Depending on the cause of the damage, your homeowners insurance may cover a new roof.

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How To Repair Roof Shingles Directions

To fix curled or cracked shingles:

Collect your tools and materials and mount an extension ladder securely at the base of the roof.

For a curled shingle, load tube of roofing sealant into caulking gun.

Squeeze sealant beneath the curled shingle and press it down flat.

Weigh the glued shingle down with a brick for 24 hours.

For a cracked shingle, apply sealant beneath the crack.

Press the shingle down and apply more sealant over the crack.

Spread sealant smooth with a putty knife.

Collect some shingle granules from the rain gutter and sprinkle over wet sealant to camouflage crack repair.

To fix broken shingles:

Gather up your pry bar, hammer, utility knife, replacement shingles, and some 1-1/4-inch roofing nails.

Climb on to the roof.

Slide pry bar beneath the row of shingles directly above damaged section.

Lift slowly to break sealer strip connection and expose first row of nails.

Move pry bar under damaged shingle and lift until the nails pop.

Release shingle and pull out lifted nails with hammer claw.

Now use the pry bar to lift the shingle above the damaged shingle and expose second row of nails.

Remove second row of nails in the same manner as the first row.

As an alternative, use the utility knife to cut damaged shingle away from second row of nails.

Cut Vs around nails and pull off damaged shingle.

Slide the replacement 3-tab shingle into place.

Nail down the new shingle with 4 roofing nails.

Preventing Shingles From Blowing Off

The best way to prevent shingles from blowing off is to regularly inspect and maintain your roof. This includes:

Cleaning your gutters
Checking for loose or damaged shingles
Making sure your roof is in good repair
Clearing off debris
Watching for interior signs of water damage
Scheduling professional inspections after major storms

If youre not sure how to inspect or maintain your roof, you can always call a professional roofer to help you out. They can give you advice on what to do to keep your roof in good condition and help you spot any potential problems.

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How To Find A Roof Leak

Locating the source of the roof leak is the first step to repairing it. While you can follow the steps below to try and find the leak yourself, this is not required. RoofClaim offers free roof inspections, so youre free to put the problem in the hands of our professional inspectors at no cost to you.

Which Antiviral Medication Is Best For Shingles

HOW TO FIX CURB RASH | Scratches on rim

The antiviral medications used to treat shingles are , , and . They are all effective at helping shingles rashes crust over and heal, and they help reduce pain as you are healing.

In head-to-head studies, a 7-day course of valacyclovir worked faster than a 7-day course of acyclovir at reducing pain. Famciclovir is equivalent to valacyclovir for healing shingles rashes and reducing pain from them. Acyclovir needs to be taken 5 times a day, while Famciclovir and valacyclovir both need to be taken 3 times a day.

Its worth noting that these antiviral medications dont prevent postherpetic neuralgia, which can happen to some people with shingles. And antiviral ointments like Zovirax will do nothing for the rash from shingles.

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The Two Most Common Roof Shingle Wind Damage Repairs

From tree branches to hail, wind can damage your roof in many ways. Heres how to fix two of the most common problems.

Replacing Missing or Badly Damaged Shingles If the shingle is still in place, youll need to remove the first row of nails using the prybar and hammer. Use the prybar to lift the nails about one-quarter inch and pull them out the rest of the way with the hammer. Lift the shingle above the space you are filling, put the new shingle in place and fasten it with roofing nails.

Fixing Curled or Cracked Shingles Left untreated, curled shingles can easily lift in even moderate wind and let moisture get into the roof system. And cracked shingles can do the same. For curled shingles, apply the roofing adhesive to the underside of the section of the shingle thats curled. Press it into place and use a brick to keep it in place. Let the adhesive set for at least 24 hours.If a shingle is cracked, but not badly enough to warrant replacement, apply a bead of sealant to the underside of the crack and press it into place. Then apply a bead of sealant along the top of the crack. Use the putty knife to spread the sealant in the shape of the shingle. Check your eavestrough for granules that have worn off your asphalt shingles. Sprinkle them onto the surface sealant and no one will know youve made a repair.

Of course, itll never hurt to leave this kind of work to the pros. Call our helpful team of experts and well be happy to take a look and assess what your home needs.