I recently ran a contest about a "Shingle-Ripper." While this might look like a tool "Jack the Ripper" would use, the real purpose of this tool is something quite different. The tool is likely of little interest to the average homeowner----except maybe to poke things around in a fire or to depress the tongues of alligators (you might have to read the other blog to fully appreciate this visual). The device is indispensible to a roofer that wants to do the best job replacing damaged wood or slate shingles.
With this tool, the user will be able to easily remove the damaged shingle without destroying the good shingles around it. I made a series of pictures to demonstrate how this tool works.
1.
This picture shows how the "Shingle-Ripper" slides up behind the layers of shingles and hooks onto the nails which can then be drawn down and out from under the shingles.
2.
Then a new shingle is cut, fitted and driven into where the old shingle was.
3.
Next we come to the part that annoys Home Inspectors----and quality roofers.
EXPOSED NAILS
There is NO reason for there to be any exposed nails like the ones that show in this next picture.
The next picture shows how the replaced shingle can be nailed in place without leaving any nails showing. The shingle is slid into place except for about ½" (see Picture #3 above). The shingle is then nailed at an angle right at the base of the overlaying shingle. The shingle is then driven the rest of the way in carrying the nails underneath the overlaying shingle.
Pretty cool, yes? (If you just have to have one----they are available a really good roofing supply companies)
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Click on the Rose 
to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Now that you run that, I remember those. Used one years back with my father, who was a builder/remodeler.
Did you do the art work, Charles? The drawings were nice and clear.
Steve, I guess you should have put your remembering cap on
Barbara, yup, my drawings
Charles, can you guess I've never been a roofer?? Great art work on this post.
So it sorta is a tongue depressor!!! I rule. Good contest I don't think I stood a chance. I'll be looking out for the next one though.
Probably a basic builder question but how do you drive the shingle in the rest of the way with out cracking or damaging the shingle? wont the slate crack or wood split?
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana
Gary, thanks.
Klee, whether it is slate or wood shingles, you just put a block of wood across the end of the shingle and then hit on the block of wood. Good question though. Fruit flies gotta die!
I do remember the shingle ripper. It has been a long time since I have seen one though. I guess that you tricked all of us Charles...
Charles, another way to not have any exposed nails is one of my favorites, taught to me by a very old local roofer, who is a slate expert, and has renovated and replaced many historic buildings with slate. His method is to remove the old shingle, then install a long thin piece of flat copper, nailing it AT THE TOP of where the shingle had been removed.
Then, he slides the new shingle in place, and bends the exposed end of the flat copper piece around the end of the new shingle, cutting off any excess. This holds the new shingle in place, (without any exposed nails being even close to any edge). The copper, amazingly will not be seen after a month or two, as it oxidizes, blends in with the surrounding roof color, and is virtually undetectable, unless you are right up ther in front of it.
Charles, nice drawings.
Kevin, I have done that on tile roofs.
Michael, didn't mean to trick anyone:)
Kevin, I had heard of that way also---sometimes done with just a little strip of galvanized that doesn't go the whole width of the shingle
Phillip, thanks
We use to see a few home in Louisville, Kentucky with wood shingles, but I haven't seen any down here in Florida....At least I don't recall seeing any.
Sean Allen
ahhhh - thanks for the explanation Charlie!
Charlie,
I am so pleased for you that an AR member could identify your gizmo. Now perhaps you will know what to call it for that so crucial Ebay listing.
Sean, I personally don't like to see them anywhere anymore. They don't last very long any more and would probably be a fire hazard in Florida:)
Kara, you are welcome.
Steve-----if I ever get it back from you.
Thanks, I wanted to know how one worked. Nice Pictures also. I think that
you can get a "roof snake" to help install the blind nails. I think the
"shingle ripper will also work on regular asphalt (3 tab) shingles.
This site erases my comment and I have to write it again if I don't
get the type in graphic just right.
Jon, I feel your pain on having to rewrite comments. It helps if you can get in the habit of doing a "copy" of what you have written so that if you lose it you can then "paste" it in again. I do that with longer ones I don't want to risk having to type over:)