How to Replace the Substitute Radiant Barrier for Felt on a Roof

Put on work gloves and rubber soled shoes.

Stand a sheet of plywood on its narrow end so one end is in the rented dumpster and the other leans against the house to form a slide for discarded shingles. Place additional plywood sheets against the wall in other areas around the perimeter of the home, particularly over windows to both protect them from falling shingles and help control the fall of discarded shingles.

Set up an extension ladder so its upper end extends at least 3 feet past the roof line. The extra height gives you something to hold on to when getting off the ladder coming up, and getting on the ladder coming down. You should not step on any rungs above the roof line. Put your tools -- tear-off shovel, hammer and push broom -- on the roof. Climb up and onto the roof.

Remove the existing shingles. Starting anywhere on the roof, but working from the top to the bottom, make downward strokes with the serrated edge of the tear-off shovel, putting the edge of the shovel under the shingle and prying up the nails with the notches on the edge of the shovel blade. Continue along the strip of shingles until you have loosened 4 to 10 square feet and push the debris down the roof.

Continue working along the roof and pushing the shingles down toward the edge of the roof. The improperly applied radiant barrier should come up at the same time.

Work a pry bar under shingles around any flashing and the roof ridge cap tiles. Cut through the roofing cement that secures the flashing to the roof with a utility knife.

Push the removed shingles and radiant barrier foil off the edge of the roof and into the dumpster or ground for later clean up.

Hammer in any remaining nails sticking up once all the shingles are off, and pull off any remnants of foil barrier. Sweep the roof sheathing thoroughly with a push broom.

Unroll roofing felt, also called tar paper, aligning its bottom edge with the roof line and roll it across the roof. Staple along the bottom edge every 3 to 4 inches. When you run out of paper, overlap the ends by 4 inches and start a new roll. Ensure the paper is free of wrinkles, then secure with staples down the short side of the paper and trim flush with the edge of the roof with a utility knife.

Lay the next course of roofing felt so it overlaps the top edge of the first row by 3/8 inch. Staple down as in the previous step. Continue working your way across and up the roof, cutting X-shaped slits in the felt and pulling it over any roof vents and overlapping by 6 inches when you get to a ridge, valley or hip in the roof.