Removing Roof Shingles

[KCTractors]

I have to remove some roof shingles about 175 square feet, not a big amount, but will a pitch fork work for removing the shingles?

 

[MarkB_MI]

Don't even try.

The money spent on a roofing shovel is money well-spent, even for a couple of squares. The problem with a pitch fork or a regular shovel is they will tear up the shingles and leave the nails behind. A roofer's shovel will remove the nails and shingles intact, so you don't spend a lot of time picking up torn shingles and pulling nails.

 

[Zachary Hoyt]

A manure fork might work but I would not think it handy, a pitchfork would probably just bend the tines. A flat ended shovel can work well, we also have a thing that I call the roof ripper that is heavy and has a kind of combination pushing and lifting action but I do not know its proper name. Nice thing with a shovel is you can slide it under a shingle or two and then push the handle down and it will sometimes pop the nails loose depending how old the roof is. 1.75 square shouldn't take too long any way you do it, just watch out for folks below you. Sometimes people seem to like to come and stand where things are going to fall down and hit them, I have never understood this but it seems to happen on occasion.
Zach

 

[Jaden]

Here's what you need. Also works for Ice removal in the winter.

 

[old]

If you have one a simple flat tipped shovel work ok for a small area but ya if you do not have one buy a shingle shovel and keep it around they are good for more then just shingles

 

[farmerjohn]

A fork will not work very well.

 

[Jim in Ma.]

Not with my pitch fork -re/yesterdays post about bending forks.

 

[sd pete]

Potato fork will work.

 

[Brian G. NY]

I've done a few roof jobs and I used a flat shovel which worked OK.
After I looked at a picture of a roofing shovel,I got out my angle grinder and "customized" my flat shovel and it worked real good after that.

 

[rustyfarmall]

(quoted from post at 05:54:31 09/15/11) Potato fork will work.

Ditto on the potato fork.

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Hi Brian,

You can't see it in that picture but it also has a wedge shaped piece of metal welded to the back side to serve as a fulcrum for additional leverage. (The wedge increasing in height toward the handle, of course.) It really helps.

Stan

 

[JML755]

KCTractors,
I use a trenching shovel that's about the same width as a roofer's shovel. If you've got one of them, for 175 sq ft, I wouldn't bother buying a roofer's version. Especially if you don't plan on doing a tear-off again. I leave very few nails behind in the roof, most are embedded in the several courses I pry up at a time. But, as the others said, the roofer's shovel IS designed for that particular task.

 

[Brian G. NY]

I did not know that; so now I"ve got to weld a piece on there.
However, at my age (70) it ain"t likely I"ll be doing any more roof jobs. LOL

 

[Anonymous-0]

Strap over the shingles and put steel on it.

 

[hd6gtom]

We used potato forks, did several homes, works well.

 

[KCTractors]

JML755,
I do have a trenching shovel, thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Anonymous-0]

Why don't you try it and see.

 

[Dave in MS]

What's a potato fork?

 

[casenut1]

depends on the age of the shingles as to getting them up in whole pieces or in little pieces.most people wait to long to do the job.