Once the construction of your roof is complete, one of the many questions you might ask yourself is, should I keep extra shingles?
A lot can actually be done with leftover shingles. It takes a lot of creativity to devise other viable ways to use them.
In this article, we will not only be discussing whether it’s okay to keep extra shingles but sharing several things you can do with these durable roofing materials.
Here’s if You Should Keep Extra Shingles:
You should keep extra shingles because they could come in handy later on. It is not unlikely for installed shingles to come loose before their expected date of expiration, so it’s important that you keep extra shingles from your roof construction and store them properly.
What to Do With Extra Shingles?
Now that we’ve established that you can keep extra shingles, you might be wondering if this is the only thing you can do with these roofing materials.
The truth is shingles are a bit difficult to repurpose but you can put them in better hands if you fear that you won’t be able to put them to good use.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of all the things you can do with extra roofing shingles.
- Return to the Store
Some stores accept purchased products such as leftover shingles but they must be in the bundle you bought them in.
Shingles are usually packed in bundles, so if the ones you have left are still well packed, you can return them to the store you purchased them from.
Make sure you go through the return policy of the store you got your shingles from before attempting to return them. Also, have your receipt with you when returning to the store.
- Keep Your shingles
If you didn’t succeed at returning your leftover shingles to the store you bought them from, you can store them until a need arises for them.
As I mentioned earlier, it is not unlikely for installed shingles to come loose before the expected date of expiration.
So, if you’re worried that you won’t be able to find anything to do with your shingles and therefore waste them, keep in mind that you’ll need them for future replacements.
Who knows, by the time you have a need for your shingles, inflation might be higher than ever, and you will be happy you decided to keep them.
It’s important that you store your extra shingles properly so that they do not sustain significant damage before you put them to use.
- Donate to a Human Cause
Making donations to humanity clubs or local communities in need of building materials is a great way to get rid of leftover building materials.
Also, it is a good way to give back to the community or play a part in making life comfortable for other people.
Aside from humanity clubs, you can give your shingles to friends or neighbors carrying out small projects in their homes.
- Use Them for a Smaller Project
If you plan on building a small structure in your home like a shed, you might want to hold on to your leftover shingles.
This would save you some money and keep you from wasting your extra shingles.
Your shingles can also come in handy around winter, especially if they are made of asphalt.
By laying your leftover shingles on your walkway before it starts snowing, you can make your walkway super safe to walk on as the rough surface of the shingles will keep you from slipping in the snow.
Also, the shingles will protect your walkway from sustaining damage from de-icing products.
- Decorate Your Walls With It
You can decide to be creative with your extra shingles and use them to decorate the walls in your home. The materials used to make shingles, such as asphalt and bitumen, are good for making murals.
You can let your creativity run wild with the extra materials you have at hand. As long as you have a proper guide and an idea on how to repurpose or recreate these materials, whatever you come up with should turn out fine.
Why Should You Keep Your Extra Shingles?
When the shingles you order or buy are more than enough for your project, you’ll most definitely end up with extra shingles.
You have nothing to lose if you decided to keep your extra shingles.
Here are reasons why you should keep extra shingles,
- You will need the extras to repair or replace the current ones on your roof when they weaken and sustain damage.
- You might have other projects that will require the shingles. For instance, a DIY shed or parking slot.
- You might need it for your house terrace. Asphalt is often used for making road paths; you can improvise with your asphalt shingles.
Only throw away extra shingles if they are damaged. Extra shingles should be kept and stored in a conducive place. if you’re certain that you won’t have any use for your leftover shingles years down the line consider giving them out.
How Do You Store Extra Shingles?
Knowing that you should keep your extra shingles is not enough. You should also know how to store them well so that they do not amount to waste at the end of the day.
Here’s how to store extra shingles.
- Read through the manual that accompanies the shingle package. The manufacturer usually includes clear instructions concerning storage in there.
- Ensure that the storage space you intend to keep your extra shingles in is cool and well- enclosed. It should not be exposed to water or be too hot.
- Asphalt shingles are manufactured to have adhesives that are activated by heat. When you store your extra shingles, ensure that you do not keep them directly under the sunlight. When the glue in the shingle is activated before use, you will need to manually apply it on the shingles which can be uncomfortable.
- Endeavor to keep the shingles in stacks or bundles as the case may be. Do not scatter it across your storage space.
Summary
You should keep your extra shingles as they will be of good use to you in the future. You can use it for repair or replacement of the current shingles you have on your roof.
You can also use it for other projects you might have within your home, like the building of a shed, or creative murals.
Storing your extra shingles should be done carefully. Asphalt shingles are delicate, their seals are activated by heat, so when stored, you should keep them away from heat.
garagejournal.com/forum/threads/should-i-keep-leftover-shingles.402254/
stateroofing.com/blog/roofing/3-incredible-uses-for-leftover-roofing-shingles/
homeguides.sfgate.com/storing-roof-shingles-safely-80611.html
