How do you remove roofing nails without damaging shingles?
Short answer. To remove roofing nails without wrecking the shingles around them, first break the sealant strip on the shingle above, then slide a flat pry bar or shingle ripper under it to pop or cut the nail, working gently in cool morning hours when shingles are less soft. Each shingle is held by its own nails and by nails from the course above, so you usually need to loosen two courses to free one shingle.
Tools
- Flat bar: a thin, wide pry bar slid under the shingle to lift the nail head.
- Shingle ripper: a long, flat blade with hooks that cuts or pulls nails hidden under the course above.
- Hammer and cat's paw: for nails that are exposed.
- Roofing sealant: to reseal shingles afterward.
Method
- Work when shingles are cool but not cold. Hot shingles tear and scuff, and cold ones crack.
- Slide the flat bar under the shingle above the nail and gently break the sealant bond.
- Lift that shingle slightly, slip the bar under the nail head, and pry with a short motion. Many pros tap the bar to pop the nail rather than levering hard.
- Repeat for nails from the course above that pass through the shingle you are removing.
- Seal any old nail holes that will not be covered.
- After installing the replacement, hand-seal the shingles you lifted with dabs of roofing sealant.
Common mistakes
- Bending shingles too far back and creasing them. A creased shingle is a damaged shingle.
- Leaving nails half pulled, which pushes up the shingle above.
- Leaving open nail holes, a classic source of slow leaks.
Safety
Falls are the real danger in roof work. Use fall protection, stay off wet or steep roofs, and keep tools from sliding. On roofs with brittle or storm-damaged shingles, a repair attempt can do more harm than good, and it can also disturb evidence you may need for an insurance claim.
See common causes of roof leaks and signs you need a new roof.