Steps to replace broken or missing shingles the right way. Broken shingles are both ugly and a leak waiting to happen. As long as we can find matching shingles and the weather is not too hot because they scar and as long as it’s not too cold because they crack we can get started.

First we will determine which ones to replace and carefully remove the bad shingles with a pry bar making sure not to tear the shingle above and remove the nails.

Now it’s time to insert the new laminate after pushing the shingle in place put the nail in place tap it until it stands alone and then drive the nail on in. After we have replaced the new shingles we can go ahead and seal the shingles in place. The reason we do this is because when you remove the tabs you break the seal so now the shingle doesn’t have any adhesion it is only held by nails and this is not acceptable. We only use the best sealants such as GEO Seal and Solar Seal these products keep their elasticity. Usually you will put a few dabs where the nail go and push the shingle into it. This prevents any future blow offs in that area.

Here in the Mid-Ohio Valley we have high winds and lots of shingle in need of repair and replacing. This is not for the do it yourselfer you need to call an experienced pro. It usually is not expensive to repair a few shingles.

 The removal of ice and snow off your roof is extremely dangerous and you should call a professional  contractor.

  In the Parkersburg WV area we have some pretty bad weather at times and when the snow builds up on the roofs it causes many things to go bad. The expansion of the ice will lift up shingles push gutters and flashing around. A lot of leaks we are called out to look at have had snow sitting on them for quite some time, the constant dripping finds it's way in the home eventually. It really acts like a constant rain for days, and end up soaking through the roof decking, the attic insulation, and then the drywall. One of the main problems is the weight, we all know snow is very heavy, and this is not good for the older 2 and 3 layer roofs, they have been known to collapse.  Surprising enough 2 square feet of snow can weigh up to 20 pounds.

Here are some of the ways we remove the ice and snow.

One of the main things we do is make sure our ladder is dry, we do not want to slip on wet ladders. We also use an extendable pole that has a flat shovel on the end and we simply push it up the roof line. We do not get on any roofs with snow on them. Another way is using a rope thrown across the roof to another person who then drags the rope across the roof field.

They do make steamers for removal, they are popular up north of Parkersburg WV

As far as the gutter goes we are very careful with the proper harnesses and simply move our ladders down the gutter run and the areas that our hands can't get to we have extendable poles.

 Be careful Mid-Ohio Valley, and stay warm.

http://www.hardtroofing.com/

The new Owens Corning Duration Shingle have installed a nailing strip that has lots of advantages over the competition. The strip is a tough woven fabric that is installed where the nails go. What this means to the customer is no more over driven nails. Over driven nails can cause lots of problems, from leaks to shingles blowing off.   The wide strip nail area covers both layers of the shingle, so when it comes to nail proofing this is the toughest shingle I have installed in the Parkersburg WV area to date.-David Reinhardt http://www.hardtroofing.com

   I have found that this shingle lays flat without cupping. Right out of the package it’s flat, and it’s flat when I lay it. This keeps air voids out of underneath the shingle even before it seals.

When I install shingles here in Parkersburg WV I will always advise the client to use Owens Corning for lots of reasons. Starting with the 130 mile wind resistant warranty. There are not many days in this area that come close to 70 mile per hour winds.

 I started roofing in the late 90’s and the architectural shingle warranty was 25 years and then they changed it to 30 and now it’s lifetime. I can’t say I noticed a lot of changes with the shingle other than the sure-nail strip, my personal thought is that they did not know the shingle was this good.

 A lot of real estate pros have asked me about colors for their projects. The first thing I tell them is to keep it neutral. Owens Corning offers some really good choices. My favorite is the estate grey and driftwood. I hope this blog helps any thinking of purchasing a new roof.

David Reinhardt

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