A few missing or cracked shingles can almost always be repaired. A roofer breaks the seal on the shingles around the damage, pulls the old nails, slides in a matching shingle and nails it to code. If the whole roof is brittle or curling, a patch won’t hold, and we’ll tell you that. At The Red Shirt Guys, we check the shingles around the damage before we quote anything.
When can a shingle roof be repaired?
When the damage is in one spot and the rest of the roof is still healthy. A storm tears off a few tabs. A nail backs out and lifts one shingle. Those are repairs.
Look at how the surrounding shingles behave. Do they bend, or do they snap? Healthy shingles flex when they’re lifted. Old ones crack, and lifting them to make a repair can damage the shingles next door. That’s when repair stops making sense. We walk through that call in more detail in roof repair vs replacement.
Why do shingles fail on Midlands roofs?
Mostly water and heat working on the seal strip. Every shingle has a band of sealant that bonds it to the one below. Once that bond lets go, wind gets under the tab.
Columbia gives that seal a lot to deal with. The city averages 45.24 inches of rain a year across 108.6 wet days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). Average humidity runs 70.2% (same normals). Heat softens the sealant, cool nights stiffen it, and eventually the bond quits.
Bad nailing finishes the job. A shingle nailed too high or with too few nails will lift in the first strong storm.
What does a proper shingle repair involve?
It starts with breaking the seal, not ripping the shingle out. The shingles above the damage get pried loose so the nails underneath can come out cleanly. IKO, the shingle maker, notes that hot weather makes the sealant gooey and harder to separate cleanly. Rushed summer repairs tear good shingles.
The new shingle has to match. IKO says a replacement “must be the same size as the old one.” Color and brand matter too. A mismatched patch ages differently and shows from the street. We carry CertainTeed, ATLAS, GAF, TAMKO and Owens Corning, so we can usually get close.
Then it gets nailed to code. The 2021 South Carolina Residential Code requires “not less than four fasteners per strip shingle” (Section R905.2.6). The shingle also has to meet the wind rating for your area (Section R905.2.4.1). Skipping nails is a shortcut we see a lot. A short-nailed shingle is the first one to lift in the next storm.
Should you fix shingles yourself?
No. A roof is a bad place to learn. IKO itself recommends “only properly trained professional roofing contractors” repair roofs. You can check from the ground with binoculars. Missing tabs, dark bare spots and granules piling up in the gutters are worth a call. Our roof inspection checklist lists what to look for without climbing a ladder.
Who should repair shingles on a Columbia home?
A roofer who’ll tell you when a repair isn’t worth doing. We’ve spent over twenty years on Midlands roofs, and we’re veteran-owned. Our residential roofing services cover shingle repair, inspections and full replacement. Financing is available if the answer turns out bigger than you hoped.
Frequently asked questions
Can you repair just a few shingles on a roof?
Yes. A shingle roof repair of a few tabs is routine. The shingles around the spot get lifted, the damaged ones come out, and new ones go in with four nails each.
Will repaired shingles match the rest of my roof?
Usually close, rarely perfect. Sun fades shingles over time, so even the same product can look newer at first. Matching brand, size and color keeps the difference small.
Is a shingle roof repair covered by insurance?
It depends on what caused it. Wind or hail damage may be reviewed as a storm claim. Shingles that failed from age usually count as wear. Your insurer decides that, not your roofer.
How do I know if I need repair or a new roof?
Count the problem areas. One or two spots on a healthy roof means repair. Damage all over, curling shingles or bald patches across the roof usually means it’s time for a new one. These signs you need a new roof will help you tell the difference.
Ready to get those shingles fixed?
Call The Red Shirt Guys at 803.243.3968. We’ll look at the damage and the roof around it, then tell you straight whether it’s a repair. Or book a free roof estimate online.
Not sure what your roof needs?
Get a free, no-pressure roof inspection from The Red Shirt Guys.
Request a free inspectionor call 803-243-3968