How to Remove Roof Rails

Extend your ladder to a length that is 3 feet longer than the height of the roof where you are working. Place the base of your ladder at a level spot 5 feet away from the building with the top facing away.

Lift the top of your ladder and walk toward the building while walking hand over hand along the ladder lifting it over your head. Have a helper stand at the base of the ladder so that it does not slide; your helper can then assist in the lift.

Move the base of the ladder to position it at a 60- to 75-degree angle. Flip the base anchors so that the spikes are facing down if on dirt. Flip the base anchors flat-side down if working on concrete or asphalt.

Step onto the bottom rung of the ladder and bounce gently up and down to drive the anchor spikes into the dirt and to insure that the ladder is stable. Climb the ladder while your helper holds it securely from the back side.

Find a spot where there is a roof truss and screw your eye bolt completely through the plywood and into the truss with your pliers. Clip your lanyard to this eye bolt. The other end of your lanyard should already be attached to the safety harness you are wearing.

Hold the straight end of your nail puller and place the point of the angled end against the shingle 1/4 of an inch away from the edge of the nail head. Angle the nail puller so that the point meets the surface at a 30-degree angle.

Hit the back of the angled end of the nail puller with your hammer to wedge it under the head of the nail. Continue tapping until the shaft of the nail has become firmly wedged into the slot in your nail puller.

Pull the straight end of your nail puller away from the nail. Use the leverage of the angle of your nail puller against the surface of the roof to pull the nail free.

Pick up the loose nail and put it into your nail pouch for disposal or reuse later. Repeat until you have removed all of the nails. Throw any used shingles or other materials off of the roof in a direction where there is no person or property to hit. Dispose of these materials after completing the job.