How to Remove Shingles: A Step-By-Step Guide

When replacing shingles, you must remove the old shingles and prep the roof before installing the new shingles. The first phase of this process typically costs an average of $1,000 – $3,000 for a roofing contractor to remove old shingles.

We recommend hiring professionals to handle the installation part, but if you’re looking to save on labor costs, you can consider removing the shingles yourself. While not recommended (or safe) for inexperienced individuals, most homeowners can expect to save a few thousand on roof demo costs by DIYing the shingle removal.

It’s important to set a firm date for your shingle removal for two reasons. First, it’s essential to lay new shingles as soon as possible after removing the old ones to prevent damage to your bare roof. So before you start, you’ll need to tell your roofer when to be there. Second, you’ll need a firm date to make sure you have other experienced people available to assist you in tearing off the roof shingles.

Before you tear off the old roof shingles, you need to know whether you or a professional will be installing the new shingles. Again, we recommend going with a professional to make sure the job is done right, but ultimately, it’s up to you.

If you’re hiring a roofing professional, the National Roofing Contractors Association is a great place to find qualified roofing contractors in your area. Angie’s List also shares some helpful tips for choosing a roofing contractor.

A small group of about four or five people can remove an entire roof’s worth of shingles in a day if you get an early start and have planned everything out thoroughly ahead of time. Just make sure all the friends, neighbors or family members you ask understand the hard work involved and how to perform their part in the process safely. Don’t forget to be a good host—treat these good Samaritans to some pizza for all their help the day of the project!

Depending on your location and the size of the job, you may need to get a permit before moving forward with your shingle removal project. Check with your city office to understand the requirements in your area. If a permit is required, getting it is usually a simple matter of going down to the city office with your plans for the project, having the plans looked over and paying the permit fee.

Now it’s time to collect the tools you’ll need to complete your roof work. Most of these should be available in your local home improvement store, but you can also order equipment online if needed.

Wear thick-soled shoes or boots with good grip to keep from slipping while moving around on the roof. Roofs get very hot, even on relatively mild summer days, so wear long pants and work gloves to protect your skin. Because removing shingles will cause them to shed granules, you should also wear goggles to protect your eyes. And of course, a safety harness is highly recommended when working in such a precarious environment.

You want to ensure that any shingles or nails that miss the dumpster, or other disposal method you’re using, don’t cause damage to your property. Place plywood over your air conditioner (with the unit turned off) and against any windows near the bin. Lay tarps over shrubs or other landscaping elements around the perimeter of your house. Set up your ladders in the area where they are the most stable and the least likely to be bumped by anyone passing by.

Finally, set up roof jacks, which are steel anchors that fasten to your roof and hold planks to walk on for safety. Space them no more than four feet apart and drive nails through the roof sheathing into a rafter. Use at least three nails per jack. When the jacks are secured, add in plywood boards. This forms a barrier to keep removed shingles from sliding off the roof, in addition to being a safety measure.

Another important part of roof prep is taking into account the other ways the shingle removal will impact your life at home.

Start at the peak of the section of your roof farthest from your dumpster or other disposal method. Work your shovel or fork under the ridge caps – the shingles at the peak of your roof – and pry them loose. Allow them to slide down to the jacks.

Once you’ve pried up the caps, you’ll be working your way down the roof, removing shingles in 2 to 3-foot sections. Use the same method you did on the caps: work your tool under the shingles plus the felt paper beneath them, pry them up and let them slide down to the jacks. For the moment, don’t worry if some nails get left behind in the roof. You’ll deal with those later.

When you’ve worked your way down to the jacks, gather the discarded shingles and toss them in the dumpster. Note: shingles are heavy. Especially if you had to remove multiple layers, even a small section’s worth of shingles will be very heavy. Do not overload yourself as you make your way to your disposal container. Take small armfuls in as many trips as necessary. You don’t want to risk stumbling and slipping as you move across the roof.

Now return to the peak and begin removing your next 2 to 3-foot section of shingles.

Inspect the flashing – the thin pieces of material that direct water away from the home – for signs of wear. If the material is free of cracks and rust, you can reuse it with your new shingles. If any of the flashing shows signs of wear, remove and discard it.

If you are keeping your flashing, remove the nails and bend it up and back with a pry bar to remove the shingles underneath.

Note: The flashing in valleys and around chimneys and plumbing vents usually has the same lifespan as your shingles, so you’ll want to remove it. Don’t do it just yet, though. You’ll return to this step after you’ve removed all shingles.

You’ve removed all the shingles down to the jacks on the part of the roof you’re currently working. Now it’s time to remove the jacks and take off the last remaining shingles under them. You can go about this in one of two ways.

We recommend spreading a tarp beneath the roof section you’re working on, allowing the shingles to slide off the roof onto it as you pry them up, then emptying the tarp into the dumpster once you’re done.

Once you’ve removed all the shingles on one part of the roof, it’s time to remove the flashing. Starting at the top of a valley, pry the flashing loose as you pull up, working your way downward. Pry the flashing from around all vents as well.

*Repeat steps 9-12 on all other parts of the roof. When your roof is completely bare, you can move on to the next step.

Go back over each section of the roof, pulling out any protruding nails. As you go, inspect for damaged sheathing. If you come across any rotted or otherwise damaged sections, these will need to be replaced by the roofers before new shingles go on. Next, sweep the roof clean with a push broom. Be careful, as shingle granules are slippery. Move slowly and cautiously as you sweep.

Now it’s time to install ice and water barriers. To do this:

1. Lay a chalk line 36 inches from the edge of the eaves. Note: if you have gutters, the barrier must cover all gutter flashing.
2. Align the barrier with the chalk line and staple it every couple of feet along the top edge.
3. Lift up the bottom part and remove the backing.
4. Let it fall back into place. The material will immediately adhere to the roof.
5. Now lift the top section (the staples will easily pull free), remove the backing and lay it down carefully to avoid wrinkles.
6. Move onto the next section, overlapping seams by 6 inches.

You’ll also lay barriers in all valleys and around chimneys, skylights, and other protruding roof features.

You’re in the home stretch now. Simply unroll your felt in sections and staple it down using lots of staples. Make sure you lay it flat, without bumps or ripples.

Congratulations! You’ve succeeded in removing your shingles. Now, it’s just a matter of cleaning up. Check your gutters to make sure they’re not clogged with roofing debris. Remove the plywood and tarps that were protecting your property. Toss any stray shingles into the dumpster. If you rented a magnetic broom, run it systematically over your lawn to clean up any stray nails from your yard.