How do you fix shingles on a roof?
Short answer. The fix depends on the damage: lifted tabs that are still intact get resealed, while missing, cracked or creased shingles get replaced by sliding a new one under the course above and nailing it in the nailing zone. Widespread curling, cracking or bald spots mean the shingles are worn out, and patching them stops making sense.
Match the fix to the damage
- Lifted but intact: Brush out grit and hand-seal with a few quarter-sized dabs of asphalt roofing cement, then press flat.
- Creased: A tab that folded back in wind has a crease line across it and will not reseal reliably. Replace it.
- Missing: Replace it with a matching shingle, and check that the nails in the course above were not pulled loose too.
- Cracked or split: Replace it. Sealant smeared over a crack hardens and reopens in the next heat cycle.
- Hail bruised: Soft spots with granules knocked away may be storm damage worth documenting before anything is touched. See Georgia hail season.
- Curling, cupping or bald patches roof wide: That is aging, not a repair job.
Getting a match
Bring a piece of the old shingle to a supplier, or look for the brand and color on leftover bundles in the garage. Even the same color from the same maker looks different after years of weathering, and shingles from 15 or more years ago may be discontinued. A slight mismatch on a back slope is usually fine; on the front of the house it can bother you, and it can matter in an insurance claim.
Safety first
Use a properly secured ladder, wear soft-soled shoes, and stay off roofs that are wet, steep, or higher than one story without fall protection. Most homeowner roofing injuries come from the ladder and the edge, not from the repair itself.