[RE-wrenches] lifting shingles

[Bill Loesch]

Hi Benn,

I have never tried a torch on comp. shingles (nor do I believe I should). What I have used, even in freezing Midwest weather, is a heat lamp. When it is windy you need to fabricate/construct some type of "dam/shield" to minimize the wind effect. This technique is potentially even more involved than the torch but certainly less concern about collateral damage. Even more important is to use a flat bar to work your way through the glue strip rather than tug on the shingle itself.

What have you gained with a great solar installation if the end result is a roof leak? I promise you, whatever good the solar elec. or solar thermal brings the owner, that benefit, in the owner's mind, will be lost if you create a roof leak. Moreover, the roof leak may not be readily apparent in the living quarters until some time after the fact.

There are a number of new mounting products on the market today, hopefully all better mousetraps.

Good luck.

Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: benn kilburn 
  To: Wrenches 
  Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 4:05 AM
  Subject: [RE-wrenches] lifting shingles


  salute, 
  i was inspecting a (~3yr old) 2/12 pitch roof for an upcoming install that was going to have flashed roof connection points and noticed that i could not lift up any of the shingles for installing the flashing. the sealing strip that holds the upper shingle to the one below it, is aggressively stubborn.  i tried several in the area of the array location and they are all sealed down very well, much better than any other comp shingle i've come across, which typically lift and separate from the 'sticky strip' with a careful little tug on the shingle.  all the ones i tried began to tear the back off the top shingle that i was trying to lift.  i'm told these are a higher quality comp shingle and are well suited for low pitch roofs, they have a 35 yr warranty.


  i contacted the shingle mfg. tech support and after explaining what i was doing his suggestion was literally "try lifting them when its warm out then try when its cold out, see if that works.".... thanks tips!
  my first thought was to use a torch to heat and soften up the shingles' sealing strips that i needed to lift.  i'm not surprised that the shingle tech did not endorse this method.  i'm not thrilled about it either. just having a propane bottle and torch on the roof, risk of overheating (burning) the shingles, extra time to do this, are things i'd prefer to avoid. 


  i'm sure if done carefully this method would work, but i'm a little more cautious than just trying it without asking around so i've been contacting a few roofers i've worked with,  as well i'm wondering if any of you have come across this issue of having to lift particularly well-sealed comp shingles and how you have dealt with it.


  if the consensus is to stay away from the torch then i'm prepared to go with the good ol' l-feet on this one.


  cheers,
  benn


  DayStar Renewable Energy Inc. 
  benn at daystarsolar.ca
  780-906-7807 
  HAVE A SUNNY DAY 







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