Removing Old Roofing Nails

Be careful not to damage the flashing.

Removing old roofing nails. When replacing metal roofing removing the nails is a tedious and necessary procedure. But roofer says that it will add too much time to reroof process. Use a rip claw hammer to remove nails holding down bits of shingle and push the debris off the roof. Skylight and chimney flashings are often worth saving if they re in good condition.

Drive in new nails where necessary to secure. Old nails pounded in the decking seem to be easy reason for manufacturer to void warranty. The head should be visible on the side of the claw that faces you. Remove the shingles in layers as you work your way up the roof.

Place the claw securely around the nail you want to pull. 6 hammer down any remaining protruding nails. In this video learn how finesse and a few special tools help to free bent headless and the most stubborn of all galvanized nails. You will want to start from one side of your roof and work your way to the other side.

Remember there are roofing nails that keep many materials such as wood and asphalt shingles in place and these will be ripped out with impunity and discarded quickly. Make nail removal light work. Roofers will be pulling up the old roofing material the building paper and in many cases the old sub roof and tossing them all into the dump truck. Pulling nails from boards with a hammer claw using brute force is a sure way to create ugly gouges and to bruise your knuckles.

You can make the job easier on yourself with the proper tools which include a clay hammer cat s paw pry bar. This roof was being replaced because of of hail damage. Use a straight claw hammer or flat bar to remove the nails. Removing the shingles chances are the nails that will be securely seated in the wood so a bit of force will be needed with a twisting motion of the roofing shovel or spade.

If you re keeping the old metal flashing carefully remove nails and bend it upward off the shingles with a pry bar. Once it s out of the way pull any nails and remove any shingles and underlayment that are underneath.