How To Tear Off Roof Shingles | Family Handyman

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For some homeowners, the most intimidating part of a roofing project is the "tear-off" – the process of removing and disposing of the old roof. But while it's dirty work that requires preparation and caution, it isn't beyond reach for most DIYers.

I spoke with Matthew Consolo, the owner and CEO of Air Force Roofing, and Niki O'Brien, of Custom Exteriors, and asked them what homeowners should know about roof tear-offs. They shared hard-won tips and tricks from their combined decades of experience, that will show you how to prep for a tear-off, how to remove asphalt shingles quickly, and how to protect your home (and yourself) from accidental harm.

Several steps are dedicated to preparation and protection. That's because a roof tear-off is one of those tasks where proper prep work is essential to a smooth, safe project.

Before you start tearing into your roof, review the three S’s to ensure that this is a job you want to do yourself.

You’ll save money by doing your own tear-off, but make sure the savings are worth the strain. The cost of professional roof tear-off varies with location, the style of the roof, and how many layers of shingles it has. Some roofers will give larger or smaller credits to the overall job price, while others only give slight reductions to cover themselves in the case of homeowners who don’t do a thorough job.

Part of understanding a project’s scope is understanding your own skills and capabilities. As O’Brien points out, “Your roof is high, and it requires ladder safety as well! Many people have physical limitations preventing them from doing this job safely.”

“For your typical homeowner, I’d only recommend tackling a single-story home with a relatively low-pitched roof,” says Consolo. “Anything more challenging, it’s worthwhile calling in the pros purely from a safety and logistical perspective.”

If you have a large roof, it may make sense to tear off and re-roof one section at a time, or it might be more sensible to tear off the entire roof at once.

If you’re having a contractor apply the new shingles, coordinate the tear-off so the new shingles will be installed right away. Keep the time between the tear-off and re-shingling to a minimum, and wait until clear weather is forecast. Although the underlayment should protect against water infiltration, the felt paper can easily tear or blow loose, making your home vulnerable to rain damage.

Lastly, remember that roofing work is extremely obvious from the street, so local inspectors will likely be aware of your work. Before removing a single shingle, ensure you’ve met any permit requirements and local building codes.

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Every roofer I spoke to agreed that the number one priority for homeowners should be personal safety.

“As a minimum, invest in a good safety harness complete with hooks,” advises Consolo. “Even more so if you’re going to tackle a relatively steep roof. Make sure you have a support person around to help if needed.”

O’Brien agrees. “I think the main advice every homeowner needs to consider when removing shingles is the aspect of safety. A fall off your roof can absolutely kill you, so this is the most important step and should not be skipped.”

When tearing off a roof, take these safety precautions:

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You’ll need to protect your home as well as your body.

Here are some of the tools you’ll need for a tear-off.

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This is the heart of the tear-off.

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As the old roofing material piles up at the roof edges, toss it into the trash container below.

Many homeowners are tempted to reuse flashing around chimneys, skylights, and dormers. Sometimes it pays off to preserve and reuse difficult-to-replace types of flashing, but in the majority of cases it makes more sense to start fresh. Why sabotage a new roof because you skimped on a $5 piece of flashing?

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Once a section has been completely stripped, go back and tidy it up.

When the roof is clean and bare, inspect the sheathing for damage.

Roofing tear-offs are messy, so you’ll need to clean your yard and driveway of debris.

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I asked both experts for any parting tips they had for homeowners considering a roofing tear-off.

From Matthew Consolo:

For me, music is the answer. It helps you get into a rhythm. I can really lose myself doing a tear-off.

Being based in Florida, we’re both blessed and cursed with year-round sunshine. Working on a tear-off, we miscalculated the time it’d take and did not pack the sunblock. Needless to say, it was a scorcher, and we certainly got scorched.

From Niki O’Brien:

When removing your shingles, you may discover you have spaced roof decking. In most jurisdictions, this will have to be replaced with a solid surface decking before installation. It’s just a good thing to know when removing your shingles. It’s smart to have a plan in place in case you discover this and are forced to replace it for code reasons. It’s also a good idea to take a look at your insurance coverage BEFORE you start to see if you have “code upgrade” coverage. If you don’t, you will be on the hook for the price of the decking replacement.