How to Tear Off an Old Roof: Step-by-Step Instructions and Pictures

Step One
Position the trash container for easy loading. If you're able to position it directly under one of the lower eaves, you'll save extra work by dropping debris directly into it. Put old sheets of plywood under the wheels to protect your driveway.

Step Two
Cover foliage near the house with reinforced plastic tarps to catch debris for easy cleanup. Lean sheets of plywood against walls to protect windows and doors, siding and electrical fixtures.

Step Three
Remove the old shingles with tear-off shovels. It doesn't matter where you start or stop. Work from the top, bottom and sides to save back muscles. Clean the roof with a push broom and remove or pound in any remaining fasteners. Besides being tripping hazards, they can work through and damage the new shingles.

Step Four
Cut ice and water barrier to about 8-ft. lengths, remove the backing and adhere the sticky side to the roof sheathing along eave edges, so you may need two rows on homes with wide soffits. Staple down the felt with 5/16-in. staples every few inches along lapped joints and every 6 in. or so in the open areas between rows.

Step Five
Felt right over ventilation holes. Prevent accidentally stepping though the camouflaged holes by covering them with tacked-down scraps of plywood. Snap shingle layout lines and nails down lath for wind protection.

Step Six
Clean up loose scrap by dragging around a trash can to transfer debris to the large container. Go over every square inch of area around the house with a magnetic broom to pick up stray fasteners (or risk putting a nail through your patio door with the lawn mower!)

Step Seven
Have the lumberyard deliver your shingles with a boom truck or conveyor. You'll save hours of misery hauling thousands of pounds of shingles up ladders. Unload and distribute shingles by strategically placing them for easy reaching when you're shingling. To cut down on rehandling bundles, figure out before delivery how many bundles of shingles each roof section needs.