Having the right tools to complete a job is one of the most important principles in construction. So what are the right tools for roofing jobs? As professional Denver commercial roofers, we can help answer that question.
The Sol Vista Roofing management team was recently interviewed by The Spruce to help their readers understand how to select the best air compressors and impact wrenches, among other roofing tools. When it comes to roofing jobsites, there are certain tools you will see on every one because they are indispensable to roofers.
Commercial Roofing Tools and Equipment
You won’t catch our roofing crews on a commercial construction site without these tools:
Roofing Hammer
Roofing hammers have a distinct look because of what they’re used for. They appear more like a hatchet than a hammer, but do allow for nail driving like traditional hammers. These are used to drive nails, remove material, and clean an area.
Scoop Shovel
Roofing shovels are deep and broad instead of flat and pointy, and are used for removing roofing material when an existing roof is getting replaced. They are helpful for removing gravel-built-up roofs, modified bitumen, and asphalt shingles.
Utility Knife
Roofing projects involve lots of cutting-to-size. To accomplish this, roofing crews will always have a trusty utility knife. This is used for cutting commercial roof membranes like TPO or EPDM, as well as cutting asphalt shingles and other materials.
Roofing Ladders
Roofers are comfortable working at heights, and need ladders to get their. Roofing crews commonly carry ladders up to 40 feet tall, allowing them to reach rooftops to perform roofing construction.
Hard Hats
Safety on construction sites is a top priority. To keep our roofing crews safe, they are equipped with hard hats that are OSHA approved and meet ANSI safety requirements.
Roofing Shoes
Our teams need to be outfitted properly for our roofing jobsites. That often means the right shoes or boots. Those with steel-toes and soft-soles are ideal for roofing construction. For steep-slope roofing, adhering shoes like Cougar Paws are popular among roofers.
Air Compressor
A high-quality air compressor is a staple of many commercial roofing jobsites. It powers the crew’s nail guns, and even applies forced air to clean certain areas of jobsites.
Magnetic Sweeper
A magnet rake sweep is a high-powered magnet that makes jobsite cleanup much simpler. The magnets pick up nails and metal debris that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Reciprocating Saw
Power reciprocating saws are used when cutting roof decking to size and also removing old objects from a roof.
Circular Saw
Another type of power saw you’ll see on many roofing projects is a circular saw. They are used for making quick, straight-edge cuts to wood material
Metal Snips
Metal flashing, trim, and standing-seam roof panels need to fit together with precision to prevent roof leaks. That’s why roofing crews carry metal snips (aka aviation snips) for making precise metal cuts.
Hot-Air Welder
Hot-air welders are used specifically for welding seams of TPO roof membrane together. TPO commercial roofing is a thermo-plastic that welds to itself to create a water-tight roof. Hot-air welders come in large, push-wheel form or in small hand-held form.
Roofing Tarps
Large tarps are used to protect areas of a property from roof debris during tear-off of existing roofs.
Power Drills
Many commercial roof projects require fastening of large roofing screws (up to 14” long). It’s common to find both corded and cordless drills on roofing jobsites to make this task more simple to execute.
Residential Roofing Tools and Equipment
Similar to commercial roofing, residential roofing projects require certain tools to get the job done right. Some of the items listed above as commercial tools are also used regularly in residential roofing, such as scoop shovels, utility knife, roofing ladders, air compressor, nail guns, magnetic sweep, power saws, and roofing tarps.
Nail Guns
Air-driven nail guns allow Denver roofing crews to fasten shingles quickly without manual hammer-swings. Certain roofers prefer hand-nailing their shingles, but most are done with nail guns in present times.
Hammer Tacker Stapler
A hammer tacker stapler is used to secure underlayment (aka roofing felt) to the roof deck. Underlayment is required on all steep-slope roofing as an extra layer of waterproof protection.
Shingle Removal Shovel
Shingle shovels are used to remove asphalt shingle roofing systems. There are versions that look like pitchforks, and some appear more like traditional shovels with spikes at the end.
Nail Bar
Nail bars are common for residential roof repairs as they allow roofers to remove nails from underneath shingles or tiles without damaging the rest of the roof.
Tools for Denver Roofing Construction Sites
When you need a professional roofing team with the tools on-board to get the job done right, contact Sol Vista Roofing!
