How to Remove and Replace Roofing Shingles

When to Replace Roofing Shingles

The time to replace the asphalt shingles on your roof depends on several factors. Of course, if your roof is leaking, the time to replace it is now! Here are a few tips to let you know when to replace your shingle roof before water infiltration becomes a problem.

Lifespan of Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are an affordable option for most homeowners but as with everything in life, they do not last forever. Usually you can expect to get 15-30 years of life out of your shingle roof. If your home is in the shade, a lot of moisture retained in the roofing materials can lead to moss, mold, mildew and fungus growing on your roof and shorten the life expectancy. We have seen trees take root on rooftops and grow! Direct sunlight can also shorten the life of asphalt shingles. Moderate temperatures and moisture levels can lead to a long life time of 30 plus years.

How to Remove Shingles

If you are attempting to remove roofing materials yourself, you need to be sure you pick a day where it is not unbearably hot or cold outside. Temperature extremes can make roofing extremely dangerous. In any case, you will need plenty of sleep, water and food to survive this challenge! First set up your staging around the perimeter of the house and cover the sides and ground with tarps to collect the debris created during the work process. Bring a few friends with you, as many hands make light work! Using a “rip-shovel” makes the job go faster as you jam it under the leading edge of each shingle course and pry it up with a lever action. Repeat this process until all of the shingles are removed! Now you can remove the felt paper or whatever substrate the last roofers used as an underlayment and inspect the roof sheathing and replace if necessary.

Choosing Shingles for Your Replacement Roof

The old three tab shingles are now being phased out by manufacturers in favor of newer and longer lasting architectural designs. Often three tab shingles are used only to match an existing older model. Architectural shingles have more and thicker layers of material to withstand the elements in the ever-changing New England seasons! Color is more than a decoration. Black is old school but makes it hotter up there and white can lower the temperature and energy bills in your home but is subject to cracking in the cold and not heating enough to melt the snow. A color choice in the middle of the spectrum can fair well. Stepping Stone Construction can help you choose the right replacement roofing option for your home.

Prepping the Roofing Substrate

After all the hard work of removing the shingles and under-lament, you also need to remove any nails that were loosened. You want your plywood sheathing to be as smooth as a bear’s bottom! Stepping Stone Construction recommends using a superior quality ice and water shield at least 3 feet up from the eaves to prevent any water penetration from snow dams or ice buildup. covering the rest of the sheathing with a 30lb felt is a great idea. After this you are ready to start banging on the shingles!

Materials Needed for Shingle Application

You will Need:

• Hammer
• Roofing Nails
• Pneumatic Nailer
• 30# felt
• Razor Knife
• Asphalt Shingles
• Rip Shovel
• Chalk Line
• Hours and Hours of Daylight!
• Good Luck!

Banging on the Shingles

Measure and mark lines with a chalk line and begin staggering each course of shingles according to the manufacturers instructions in order to qualify for the manufacturers warranty. A starter strip of shingles on the first course will get you started and finish it off at the peak with a high performance ridge cap. Today’s architectural shingles make the job easier than ever with wider nailing strip for those days where the roofer may be below peak performance! As they say industry,

“If you are seeing double, shoot at the one in the middle!”

Roofing industry quote

Capping Off the Roof

Remember, roofing is very labor intensive work and you want to be sure it is done by a qualified professional who takes great care and pride in their roof-top prowess! Stepping Stone Construction is the one to call today!