Shingle repair: how to replace damaged or missing shingles

By Daniel Brooks, Home maintenance writer and appliance troubleshooting specialist based in Charlotte, NC. Reviewed [date — human adds].

Quick answer

Repairing damaged or missing shingles rarely requires a full roof replacement. A single shingle, or a small cluster of them, can usually be replaced in under an hour with basic tools, as long as the decking underneath hasn't been exposed to water for long. If you're not yet sure shingles are the actual source of a leak, the complete roof leak diagnostic guide covers the full triage first.

Safety first

Don't work on the roof in wet, icy, or windy conditions. Use a ladder secured at the top and bottom, wear rubber-soled shoes for grip, and keep a second person nearby while you're up there. Avoid walking on a roof pitched steeper than about 6/12 without proper fall protection.

Types of shingle damage and what they mean

Not all shingle damage means the same thing or needs the same response.

Cracked shingles. Usually age or weathering. Often repairable on its own without touching neighboring shingles.
Curling shingles. Also age or heat related, but curling frequently signals that nearby shingles are approaching the same point, even if they still look intact today.
Missing shingles entirely. Almost always wind damage, and the most urgent to fix since the underlayment underneath is directly exposed to weather.

What you'll need

Replacement shingles matched to your existing roof as closely as possible
Roofing nails
A flat pry bar
Roofing cement
A utility knife

One honest note: an exact color match isn't always possible on a roof more than a few years old, since shingles fade unevenly with sun exposure. A close match from the same manufacturer's current line is usually the best you'll get.

Step-by-step shingle replacement

A couple of terms come up in the steps below. A shingle's tab is the exposed lower section you can see on the roof, the part that takes the weather. A course is one horizontal row of shingles running the length of the roof, with each row overlapping the one below it. The steps themselves differ depending on the type of damage, so work from the section that matches what you're dealing with.

Replacing a missing shingle

Slide the replacement shingle into position under the course above it.
Nail it in using the standard four-nail pattern.
Seal the tab with a small amount of roofing cement to hold it flat.

Replacing a cracked shingle that's still nailed down

Lift the tab of the shingle course above to expose the nails underneath.
Remove the old nails with a flat pry bar.
Slide out the damaged shingle.
Slide the new shingle into the same position and renail it in the standard four-nail pattern.
Seal the tab with roofing cement.

Resealing curling shingles as a stopgap

If a shingle is curling but not yet cracked or missing, lift the edge slightly and apply roofing cement underneath to hold it flat against the roof. This buys time but doesn't fix the underlying aging that caused the curl in the first place, and it's worth watching that shingle over the next season or two.

When shingle damage means more than a single-shingle repair

A few signs point to something bigger than what this page covers:

Damage spread across a wide area rather than a small, isolated spot
Granule loss (the small mineral granules on a shingle's surface washing off and collecting in the gutters), which signals broader roof age rather than just this one spot
Damage that keeps recurring in the same area even after a repair, which often points to a flashing or ventilation problem underneath rather than the shingles themselves. If that sounds like your situation, roof flashing repair covers that specific cause.

When to call a roofer

Call a roofer if damage covers more than a small cluster of shingles, if the decking underneath has been visibly wet or soft, or if repeated shingle failures in the same spot suggest an underlying issue rather than isolated wear. A full slope showing granule loss or widespread curling is also a sign the roof is nearing the end of its service life rather than needing spot repairs.

Photos for this guide

Missing roof shingle exposing the underlayment beneath. — Real photo of a missing or damaged shingle on a roof section.

PHOTO — human adds

Real photo of sliding a replacement shingle into place or nailing it down.

FAQ

Can I repair one shingle without replacing the whole roof?

Yes. A single damaged or missing shingle is one of the most common DIY roof repairs and doesn't require any work beyond that immediate area, as long as the decking underneath hasn't been exposed to water for an extended period. Larger areas of damage are a different situation and may point to broader roof age issues.

How do you replace a shingle that's still nailed down but cracked?

Lift the shingle tab above it to expose the nails, remove them with a flat pry bar, slide out the damaged shingle, slide the replacement into the same position, and renail it in the standard four-nail pattern before sealing the tab with roofing cement.

What does it mean if shingles are curling but not missing?

Curling usually signals age-related wear or heat damage and often means nearby shingles are approaching the same point, even if they look fine today. A single curling shingle can be resealed as a short-term fix, but repeated curling across a section points to a roof nearing the end of its service life.

Will a replacement shingle match the color of my existing roof?

Not always, especially on a roof more than a few years old, since shingles fade unevenly with sun exposure. A close color match is usually possible from the same manufacturer's current line, but expect some visible difference, particularly on a highly visible slope.

How many missing shingles is too many for a DIY repair?

There's no fixed number, but if damage covers more than a small cluster or spans multiple courses, it's worth having a roofer assess whether the underlying decking or underlayment also needs attention. Isolated single or double shingle damage is generally within DIY scope.