How to Fix Roof Shingles: What You Can Do Safely

Updated 2026-10-24 · Sources checked

"I think this is now worse since water will come down the shingles and get trapped underneath the tape."

A homeowner who started a thread on r/Roofing wrote that about a patch done with waterproof tape. Replacing a few damaged shingles is a standard repair, but unless you are experienced, hire a professional roofer for this work¹. What you can do today is look from the ground, write down what you see and get a price.

Quick answer:

Look up at the roof for creases, folds, tears and missing shingles or pieces of shingles, the signs wind damage leaves behind².
Make a list of the damage and take clear pictures before any temporary repair³.
Check your deductible and what your policy says, then contact your insurance company or a roofer you choose, not one who shows up uninvited⁴.
Leave the repair itself to the roofer, and keep the pictures for the estimate.

On this page

Is it a few shingles, or a bigger problem?
Step 1: Look from the ground and write it down
Step 2: Why does a lifted shingle matter?
Step 3: What does the repair involve, and what can go wrong?
If you already tried tape, caulk or a quick patch
If you were told it is an easy fix, or that you need a whole new roof
Step 4: Get the estimate and pay safely

Your pictures will show whether you have flipped and creased shingles or just a lifted one, and that decides what to ask next.

The stages: look from the ground and write it down, understand why a lifted shingle matters, know what the repair involves, then get a written estimate and pay safely.

Is it a few shingles, or a bigger problem?

Start with what the shingles look like. Wind damage that leaves lasting evidence shows as creases, folds, tears, or missing shingles or portions of shingles². A shingle that is lifted but has none of those marks is a different case: a shingle that is simply not adhered is not evidence of wind-caused damage⁵. Note which of the two you see on each shingle. Creased, folded, torn or missing ones go on your list of damage²; a lifted one with no marks is a question for the roofer about the seal, which Step 2 explains.

How many damaged shingles before the roof isn't really repairable anymore? A roofer has to answer that after looking, so ask for the answer in writing. In Florida, for example, a roof built to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later only needs the repaired part brought up to code when 25 percent or more of it is repaired⁶. Wherever you live, ask your local building department whether a similar limit applies to your roof.

Several shingles gone on an older roof, and unsure whether to keep patching? How to tell if a roof needs repair or replacement.

Step 1: Look from the ground and write it down

Walk around the house and look up. Write down and photograph:

Creases, folds, tears and missing shingles or pieces, from the ground², and separately any shingle that is only lifted.
A list of the damage, shingles included⁷, and clear pictures, all done before anything temporary goes on.
If you may file a claim, any pieces that came off: avoid throwing out damaged items until the adjuster has visited⁸.
Receipts for whatever you spend, because you may be able to submit them to your insurance company later⁸.

If you may file a claim, there is one more thing to know. In Texas, for example, temporary repairs to protect the house are fine, but permanent repairs wait until the insurance company sees the damage⁹. A tarp is roof work, so have a roofer you chose put it on. Wherever you live, ask your insurer whether the same wait applies.

Step 2: Why does a lifted shingle matter?

A lifted shingle has lost its seal. The adhesive seal strip bonds each shingle to the one above it, reducing the chance of wind damage and water getting in¹⁰.

The recommended fix is to check shingle adhesion, especially around the edges, and hand-seal loose edges to manufacturer or industry specifications¹¹. From the ground you can see a lifted edge. Checking it and sealing it is the roofer's work.

Did the damaged shingles sit right along the peak? Can a missing ridge cap piece let water in.

Step 3: What does the repair involve, and what can go wrong?

Missing shingles should be replaced, holes repaired and cracks filled, and the method depends on the kind of roofing and the extent of the damage¹. Homeowners are strongly urged not to attempt repairs on their own¹², and you should avoid walking on patched sections¹.

What can go wrong is worth asking about before the work starts:

Ask how the roofer will avoid tearing up the shingles around the repair.
Ask how close the new shingles will match the old ones.
Ask what happens if they find damage under the shingles, and what it will cost.
Ask the roofer to say, shingle by shingle, whether it will be replaced, resealed or filled, so you can judge the quote.

Staying on the ground and wondering what to ask the roofer? Questions to ask a roofer before you hire one.

If you already tried tape, caulk or a quick patch

Tape or caulk over a lifted edge. Ask a roofer to check the edge and hand-seal it if it is loose¹¹.
A temporary cover. Photograph it and list what is damaged now.
A patch that tore other shingles. Stop there, have a roofer look, and add the torn shingles to your photos.

If you were told it is an easy fix, or that you need a whole new roof

Both answers float around. One commenter on r/DIY wrote:

"Super easy fix. Just replace the missing shingles"

A commenter in another thread said the opposite: "Gonna break more shingles than fix, new roof time."

"Easy fix." It sounds like it shouldn't be that hard, but it is roof work: leave it to a roofer you choose.
"New roof." Not automatically. In Oregon, for example, if the wind blows a few shingles off, homeowners insurance will likely replace those shingles but will not provide an entire new roof¹³. Wherever you live, ask your insurer what applies to you, and ask the roofer which shingles are damaged and why a repair will not do.

Step 4: Get the estimate and pay safely

If you may file a claim, read your policy to see exactly what your responsibilities are⁸. Then get a written estimate from a roofer you chose yourself, which helps you decide: if repairs cost about the same or less than your deductible, filing may not be worth it¹⁴.

Ask the roofer to put the repair price in writing, and the price of any hidden damage found once the work starts. You can send this:

Please write down the price to repair the damaged shingles, and the price of any hidden damage you find once the work starts, before you do it. Please send photos of anything you find under the shingles. How will you avoid tearing the shingles around the repair?

If a roofer pushes you to sign today or won't put this in writing, that is an answer too: weigh it against the bids that do.

On payment, don't pay the full amount up front; some states limit the down payment a contractor can ask for¹⁵. Leave the last payment for the end. In Wisconsin, for example, never sign a completion certificate or make final payment until you are satisfied and all work is done as specified¹⁶.