Removing a Gravel Roof

Position thick plastic sheeting on the ground that surrounds the flat roof.

Scrape loose gravel across the roof into piles with a tear-off shovel — a flat spade with a cutting edge. Scoop the gravel piles off the roof onto the plastic sheeting below, using the shovel.

Push the sharp edge of the shovel blade through the tar on the roof. Apply downward pressure on the shovel handle to lever up a piece of tar. Remove the loose tar from the hole and set to one side.

Switch to using a spud hammer, a large metal tool with a concave-shaped blade, now that you have a gap in the tar surface. Drag the spud-hammer blade underneath the sides of exposed tar in the hole. Rock the spud-hammer handle backward to lift up the tar in chunks.

Work one square yard at a time. Lift chunks of tar with the spud hammer, then collect the pieces and discard the tar onto the plastic sheeting. In this way, you remove tripping hazards from the roof and keep your workspace clear.

Repeat Step 5 across the entire roof. Scrape residual tar from the roof deck with the tear-off shovel. Sweep the roof deck with a push broom to remove the remaining tar debris.