Working On Steeper Roofs

Spencer

Do any of you guys use safety harnesses on roofs 8/12 and higher. I have a cousin who says a harness has saved him from taking a tumble several times.

Starting next week I will be doing my first big tear off on a larger 8/12 roof with 2 layers of shingles. Any tips of tearing off quickly on roofs like this.

Also, I am used to using a square shovel with the jagged edge for tearing of shingles but the guy I work for now uses something like a gardening pitchfork. What do you guys use.

Grumpy

Setup roof jacks near the bottom. This helps for getting on and off the ladder and also helps with sliding down. You may also want to set up the jacks periodically spaced across the roof field.

A harness, while clumsy and cumbersome, will save your life; so it's never a bad thing. OSHA has some pretty specific rules regarding roof heights and pitches. check out www.osha.gov and see for yourself.

In regards to tearing off a pitch fork is about the best method I have found for tearing off shingles. They make nice all metal pitch forks, where everything is welded together. These accomplish the same things as the wood handled pitch forks but are sturdier and will last you alot longer.

I have seen lots of gimicks for tearing off from special shovels to air powered tear off machines. I will say some of the special shovels which have "teeth" are real nice for yanking out the old roofing nails after tearing off. They suck for actual tearing off because they constantly get caught up by the nails thus are not productive.

Glasshousebltr

Pitchfork leaves the nails, however, great for shake or shake under. The toothed tearoff shovels save the back a bit.

As far safty gear, roof jacks at the eve make a nice spring before the dive, just tie a rope around your neck....why suffer.

Bob

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Bob

bob the builder

An 8/12 pitch isn't considered steep in my book, it's still barely walkable. I would setup roof jacks on the bottom of the roof then go to the peak and rip of the cap and start ripping. If the shingles aren't to brittle you should be able to get under tar paper and roll the shingles down the roof. Just picture taking the whole roof and rolling it up like a roll of tar paper, but unfortunatley you can't do the whole roof at once. This works real well with at least 4 guys at a time.

As far as the shovels the one you use works good for asphalt shingles, but not cedar because of the smaller head nails, so I'll grind in a smaller notch. problem with renting is they might need grinding anyways. Pitch fork is old school and in my opinion less upward thrust on prying. Now days there are alot of different styles sometimes a short handled one works better.

I have rock climbing gear, not OSHA approved, and the only time I used it was on a dome roof. So for safety equiptment I'm not going to have good input on, I see no need, but I'm prepared to meet my maker....

Bob

bob the builder

I hate when your making a post and submit and there are 2 people who beat you to it, that weren't there before.............

Bob

AaronB.

Just get used to workling in the harnesses, and it will soon be second nature. You will always be able to work in compliance with OSHA, too.

AS far as tear off tools, I say the pitch forks are the LEAST productive way.

Check theses out http://www.panthereast.com/pages/det...?pid=Eater6126

For roofs on plank decking I like the Shin-go tool as you pull the nails as you go.

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Free roof inspections within 12 miles of our locale.

bob the builder

That link you posted seems nice for a small pitched roof so you can stand and rip. Usually I sit on a steep roof, doesn't look good for that...

Bob

AaronB.

Oh they are...we use them for all pitches, and theyre very effective.

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Seamless Industrial and Commercial Roofing Systems, Residential Repair. For Those That Demand Quality!
Free roof inspections within 12 miles of our locale.

bob the builder

No I never said they are. It looks like they wouldn't be and obviously since I have never used one I wouldn't know. I always see new tear off shovels and wonder if there better but will never know unless I buy it....

So good input............

Bob

Peladu

Grumpy posted at 2:28, then Glasshousebob posted at 2:33, then you at 2:40.

So it took you 12 minutes (or more) to write that post?

I thought I was bad at the hunt and peck method…but you have me beat! But not buy much

Cole

Harness, what is that.

In Tejas, no way.

In case OSHA sees this, I use them all the time.

BTW- Anything over 10/12 is steep to me.

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bob the builder

I'm not ttttthhhhhaaaaaaaattt slow, but yeah I try and keep my posts short for that reason....

Bob

jproffer

I think one of us misunderstood Aaron. Could'a been me, but I think he was making a statement "Oh, they are "...not a question "OH, they are??? ". Sounds like Aaron uses the ones in his link and "they ARE!!" good for steep AND low roofs.

Obviously this is just from where I sit, but I don't think if Aaron was asking a question he would have said it as condescending as that, like: "Oh, they are????, well you're just an idiot for thinking so" (just so I don't start anything...mind you I'm saying that it's almost a sure thing that he did NOT mean that.)

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AaronB.

It was a statement.

They are good for all situations I have encountered so far.

__________________
http://www.roseroofing.net/
Seamless Industrial and Commercial Roofing Systems, Residential Repair. For Those That Demand Quality!
Free roof inspections within 12 miles of our locale.

bergenbldr

I agree with arron on the shingle eater type tools being the best all around tearoff tool. I own a few of these as well as the shovel type tools ,as for fall protection i set 90 deg. toe boards at the eave of any pitch steeper than 8/12 ,i also set roof ladders on toe boards no need to use roof hook this is a quick method to use around side walls chimneys etc..I also am big on sweeping off the roof deck, the dust from cutting a few sheets of plywood is enough to kill.

bob the builder

I think it was clear enough what he meant....he meant oh really.... Which doesn't matter because like I said I have never used one. I like the discussion though because there are many shovels I haven't used, and it's nice to hear input on them. Until there is an acid that eats away at the shingles I don't think I'll be happy anyways.,,,

Bob

dougger222

In 10 years I've not found a better tool than a short handled potato fork for tearing one or two layer's of shingles. For tearing off multi-pull layers of shingles the toothed shovels have there place. For most one or two layered roofs I use pitch forks to tear off the shingles and the shovel to pull out the nails. With the shovel you can sit on the roof and pull nails way faster and easier than a hammer.

On most 8/12's I try to toss as much debris into the dump trailer so possible which means putting down some boards. Two 2/4's nailed on top of each other on the eaves works good as does regular 90 degree roof jacks. On steeper houses I nail tarps up under the bottom row of shingles and let it buck!

Working off a harness will slow you down, no questions asked, but it could save your life. I've got two harnesses and put them on only if I feel I have to.

Going back several years my father was told he needed to supply his crews with ropes systems. My father was very reluctant at first but decided to go ahead and try them on one crew. When the supervisor and my father was watching the crew roof with the ropes one of the roofers stepped on a rope and fell off the roof. My father pointed up and said that wouldn't have happened if the rope wasn't there and the rope idea was scrapped.

Yesterday, my father got an early start on a new house he's helping me on and when I got there the rope was nailed to the peak and he had ignored in and had gone ahead and ran the entire bottom in off the 2x4 nailed flat to the roof. The house is a 68sq 10/12 and a good two stories in the back. Once my brother and I got there he was ready for jacks and 2x6's. BTW, my father just turned 49!

Grumpy

Aaron again I don't like those tools because the teeth cath the nails and it prevents you from removing as much shingle in each swing. I prefer a one two process of first ripping off the shingles then ripping out the nails. This tool, because of the teeth is very effective for removing the nails.

AaronB.

YEah, to each his own, I just prefer to do it all at once.

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Seamless Industrial and Commercial Roofing Systems, Residential Repair. For Those That Demand Quality!
Free roof inspections within 12 miles of our locale.

Grumpy

And I suppose I can see how doing it all at once can save time and as I sit and think about it, it probably does save time in the long run. However my personal preference is that short tiny stokes while tearing off shingles and constantly getting jambed up on every other nail sucks major butt. It's easier to have the apprentice clean up the roof with one of those toothed shovels after the shingles have been torn off.