I need to make some repairs to exterior pine shingles on my house. In the spring I normally just nail loose shingle back into place but this year I have to do some more extensive repairs. 1.How do I get new shingles "up and under" the upper layer-do I just shove up as much as I can(to measure) then remove and trim the top to fit? 2.I need to reshingle an area that used to be a window, but I filled it in on the inside. Right now it is "patched" with a piece of plywood flush with the shingles, but I want to shingle it to blend in. So I am planning to remove some of the shingles around the area and the exterior window trim, re-cut the plywood to fit inside the window opening. Then shingle it. Do I need to seal the plywood joins with anything. I have insulation in, I put plastic on the inside am I right in not using it against the exterior? Hope this is understandable! 3. How do all this without being eaten alive by black flies!!? ;) Thanks for the help!

-- Terri in NS (terri@softkits.com), May 10, 2002

Answers

terri:

they make a little flat tool like a flat ax with two heads is best way to describe it...you slide it under the bad shingkle and the head catches on the nail holding the shingle and cuts it off. then you can remove the bad shingle and slide a new one in its place all the way up to match the others. You could prolly get one at a good hardware store. Cant think what it is called, but Ive seen my dad use it years ago. I would caulk around that ply wood a bit and maybe some tar paper over it if you can manage it.

Just a simple hint...hope it helps

-- mark chenail (chenail@uiuc.edu), May 10, 2002.

Well, Terri, the trick is to get the nails (lower nails) out of the shingles 2 rows up from where you want to replace. Then you can get the new ones snugged up as far as need be. I would at least caulk the plywood joints. e-mail direct if you want more specific directions. I can't help with the black flies. I have noticed, however, that they tend to thin out come October. From just over the line in Maine ~ Good luck!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), May 10, 2002.