Start by finding the single row of nails that locks the damaged asphalt shingle to the course below it.

To locate that row, lift the overlapping shingle above the damaged shingle gently with a flat pry bar until you can see the nail heads or raised dimples beneath the adhesive strip. Work along the exposed edge and feel for the usual pattern of three to four nails set just above the tab line; the row you need is the one that crosses the body of the damaged shingle and sits under the overlap of the shingle above. If the nails are concealed by adhesive, slide a thin flat bar under the overlap at the far edge and rock it slightly to break the seal without tearing the underlying shingle. Use a steady pulling motion with the pry bar to lift the nail heads enough that you can grasp them with long nose pliers or a nail puller and pull straight out to avoid bending the shingle tabs. Keep the lifted overlapping shingle supported with one hand as you work so you do not rip additional tabs or disturb adjacent shingles. After removing the correct row of nails, slide the damaged shingle out along the course before installing a replacement and rese curving the exposure so the new shingle lays flat.

Common mistakes include pulling nails from the wrong row which rips the tab above and widens the repair area, so always confirm the nail line crosses the damaged shingle body and not just the tabs above before you remove anything. Another is prying too close to the shingle edge which can crack or fracture the tab, so position your pry tool under the overlap farther back toward the nail line and lift slowly. A third is pulling nails at an angle and bending the shingle or tearing the roof felt, so remove nails by pulling straight out and support the overlapping shingle to prevent movement.

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