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I own a 1920 two story arts and crafts bungalow with gable end walls and dormers of cedar shingles, installed over 1×8 skip sheathing. the shingles are painted and starting to show their age by cuping or splitting. I would like to just replace the damaged ones but, I’m not sure of the procedure over the skip sheathing and hiding the nails. I think that the shingles themselves are 16 to 18in. long and 4 to 6in. wide with a 5in. exposure, is this within todays standards? Any suggestions on how to remove the old and install the new???
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Steve, the first question I have is whether it is easier to repair or replace.
When repairing shingle exterior walls, the top course of th repair will show nails. No big deal, you can spackle over them, and prime and paint, but the nail heads will be there.
I use a 20% rule. If 20% or more of the shingles are damaged, then, we rip the siding off, pull off the nailers, install plywood and a breathing layer, and install new shingles.
To repair, we use blade with a couple hooks in it, that slips underneath the shingle, and pulls out the nails by head and the shingle. You then just slip in another shingle, and nail it in place. This is fairly labor intensive for large areas.
I think you will find that unless there are only a few shingles to repair, that it is easier to simply leave the shingles in place until the majority of them are cupped and brittle, then take them all off.
*Mr. steve I would have to agree with scooter about the replacing over repairing. If you have just a few to repair then I would go about repairing but if a good amount of them are bad, well then it would be better to replace. When it comes to hiding the nails, you just hold the shingle down about 1/2 inch and then toe nail two 4p box nails near the to of the shingle. Then you tap the shingle up that 1/2 inch and the nails will be carried up under the other shingle. Just use that nifty shingle ripper that scooter if talking about and set the nail heads by sticking it under the top shingle and over the nail heads and then tap the bar.best of luck craw
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Great idea, Crawdaddy! I was covering holes where I removed two windows today and sure could have used your toenailing trick.
I was using the most ancient shingle iron I have ever laid eyes on - something someone found in a basement and gave to a friend of mine. Hand forged, broken four times and repaired four different ways. This thing ought to be a feature exhibit in a museum, but nobody sells shingle irons around here now and I don't own one. Are they still available in the more enlightened parts of the world?
Ron
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I own a 1920 two story arts and crafts bungalow with gable end walls and dormers of cedar shingles, installed over 1x8 skip sheathing. the shingles are painted and starting to show their age by cuping or splitting. I would like to just replace the damaged ones but, I'm not sure of the procedure over the skip sheathing and hiding the nails. I think that the shingles themselves are 16 to 18in. long and 4 to 6in. wide with a 5in. exposure, is this within todays standards? Any suggestions on how to remove the old and install the new???