How to Cut Through a Tar Roof

When cutting a tar roof with a circular saw equipped with a wood-cutting blade, heated tar may stick to the blade's surface. The caked tar will eventually clog the blade's teeth and slow down the cutting process or even damage the power saw. Avoid this problem by using specialized blades designed for cutting through tar. These blades' teeth are spaced wider apart, which reduces heat buildup and provides less surface space for caked tar.

Paint marker
Chalk box
Circular saw
Roof-cutting blade
Safety glasses

Instructions

- 1
  Place opposite marks on the tar with a paint marker for easier visibility. Stretch a chalk line between the two marks and snap a straight line across the tar roof surface.
- 2
  Equip a circular saw with a 2-, 3- or 5-star roof-cutting blade. Adjust the circular saw's blade depth to 1 or 1-1/4 inches so that it only penetrates the tar material and roof sheathing.
- 3
  Set the circular saw table's front edge against the roof surface with the blade and guard raised 1 inch above the tar. Pull the blade guard back with the tab located at the top of the saw to expose the roof-cutting blade to the tar roof.
- 4
  Squeeze the circular saw's trigger and allow the blade to rotate at the full RPMs before plunging it into the tar roof. Push the circular saw in a forward motion and follow the snapped chalk lines.

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