Replies

1. 
   xMikeSmith | May 07, 2003 12:53am | #1

   65 sq.... the only way you're gonna save your back is by hiring a bunch of roofers..

    try a spading fork... some good gloves, and a curved claw hammer... you could bolt a one inch pipe to the back of the fork to give a little leverage..

   most of the ripping tools are made for asphalt shingles... they all work .. some better than others... and i've never seen two guys agree on which one works best.. like the old debate about long handled shovels VS. short handled ones

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   coonass | May 07, 2003 02:08am | #2

   joe,

   I like a wonder bar. I always set off insect bombs in the attic the day before ever since a fully occupied 6" wasp nest came up with a shingle. No where to run nowhere to hide. We also have roaches the size of birds here.

   PS Turn off all sources of ignition or you'll have a quick shingle removal going on.

   Down the bug free bayou,

   KK

2. 
   CAGIV | May 07, 2003 02:19am | #3

   Is there a layer of felt over the top of each coarse?

   Just did this 2 weeks ago.

   I used a fork coming from side of the shingle, lifted it up a little worked it under a few more shakes in the coarse from the side, then rolled them over, if you have two guys it goes pretty quick, relatively speaking that is, one guy with the fork lifting and prying the other rolling the shingles and the felt. 

   Make sure you trust the guy with the fork, and he is not a total idiot, gloves or not getting gashed in the hand with a fork hurts.

   It comes up in a big roll which is a lot easier to clean up then a bunch of shakes laying around.  The down side is not all the nails come up and you need to go back over the roof and pull all the nails.

   You need to be careful around flashing and remove those shakes individually.

   What tool cost $4125?

   Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professional build the Titanic.

1. 
   SHazlett | May 08, 2003 03:43pm | #4

   We use a tool made by the AJC Hatchet Company. I believe the product name is the Shingo shovel---although the tool in question is not a shovel. Primarily designed for asphalt shingles----it works very well on wood shingles also.

   CAG has part of the technique correct----tear off from the side. the tapered profile of the wood shingle will make it tough to get your tool under the top edge of the shingle----but will work from the side just fine. working from the side will also not loosen the decking as much as levering from the top and as a bonus---you can do the whole roof from the safety of a hook ladder if you want. If you keep a fairly new blade in this tool it will pull out most of the box nails as well.

   We sub out all tear-off clean-ups,so we don't really care if the shingles are broken into splinters---our clean-up cost is the same.clean up crew shovels 'em up just fine with big aluminum scoop shovels----like grain shovels. Make sure EVERYTHING lands on a tarp or on concrete.