How to Repair a Curling Roof Shingle

When you notice shingles on your home with edges curling up or down, it's a sure sign that the roof is near the end of its useful life. If you can't afford to replace the roof just yet, monitor the area for signs of a leak before calling for roofing estimates or installing a new roof yourself. With only a few isolated curling shingles, however, you may be able to delay the inevitable by carrying out temporary repairs.

Ladder
Paint brush
Roofing cement
Bricks or cinder blocks
Hammer
Roofing nails

Instructions

- 1
  Place a secure ladder against the house and have a helper hold it steady while you climb up to inspect the roof.
- 2
  Examine both sides of the roof carefully. If most of the decorative gravel is worn away and bare dark patches are showing through, the roof is on its last legs. However, if the shingles still look good and the surface has a reasonable coat of colored granules, go ahead and carry out temporary repairs.
- 3
  Lift the curling shingle carefully and sweep away any loose debris from underneath, using a dry paint brush. Spread a layer of roofing cement over the area below the shingle with a putty knife and press the shingle flat.
- 4
  Scoop a cupful of colored granules out of the gutter and sprinkle some over any exposed adhesive to cover the repair. Weigh the shingle down with bricks or a cinder block if the slope of the roof is shallow enough. If not, nail the edges of the shingle down by hammering a roofing nail through each corner. Seal the nail heads with a quarter sized dab of roofing cement before sprinkling granules over the repair.
- 5
  Allow 24 hours for the adhesive to set before removing the weights and re-examining the shingles for signs of lifting.

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