The Essential Roofing Tools List: 20 Different Types & Their Uses

Whether you’re a professional roofer or a homeowner that likes to do everything himself, one thing is true: you’re only as good as your supplies. But how can you know which roofing tools are an absolute “must-have?”

That’s where we come in. Keep reading to discover our guide to the essential roofing tools that every handyman must have!

The 20 Different Essential Roofing Tools

1. Ladder

Some of the tools you need are pretty basic, including the humble ladder. After all, you can’t exactly get to the top of your house without it!

2. Shingle Removal Shovel

When you’re removing shingles from your roof, not just any shovel will do the trick. With a special shingle removal shovel, you can make short work of shingles and nails alike, all while making your roof look cleaner than ever!

3. Hammer Tacker

A major part of roofing is attaching the roofing paper to the wood before you start shingling. But this can be very difficult without the right tools! With a good hammer tacker, you can secure the roofing paper in record time.

4. Ripper

With any luck, your shingle removal shovel will be enough to handle all of your shingles. But just in case, you need to pack a ripper that can help you remove even the most stubborn of shingles and nails from the surface of your roof.

5. Pry Bar

There is one quality that all of your best tools have: they can tackle more than one task. And that’s the case with the pry bar, which is just as useful for removing unwanted nails as it is for removing different parts of your roof.

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6. Utility Knife

Nothing wrong with relying on some class tools. In this case, you’ll quickly find that a good utility knife can cut shingles just as easily as it cuts everything else.

7. Roofing Hatchet

As the name implies, a roofing hatchet was specially designed to meet your roofing needs. It removes nails and shingles and generally makes life easy thanks to its design: the hatchet side helps you to lift up shingles while the flat side helps you to pound nails in until they are nice and secure.

8. Cordless Drill

Drills are great when you need to use fasteners other than nails. And while corded drills can be very handy in your home or garage, cordless drills are your only real option when working on the roof.

9. Pneumatic Nail Gun

Every handyman lives by a simple code: “work smarter, not harder.” And since roofing involves more nails than you can count, you may want to invest in a pneumatic nail gun to ultimately save much time and effort.

10. Wheelbarrow

Removing shingles is one thing, but do you have a reliable way to take move old pieces out of the way? A simple wheelbarrow can make moving pieces easier and prevent fatigue after a long day of roofing

11. Caulking Gun

On the most basic level, a good roof is meant to protect you from the elements. To prevent any unwanted leaks, you need a good caulking gun to help spread the sealer around any exposed areas.

12. Framing Square

When cutting shingles, it can be difficult to get the precise cut and shape that you want. But with a good framing square, you can make sure each cut is picture-perfect.

13. Tin Snips

Roofing often requires delicate work, including cutting flashing and cutting fittings (these are for your drip edges and gutters). To make these cuts easier, you need a good pair of tin snips.

14. General Toolkit

If you want to be ready for anything, you have to be ready for everything. That’s why it’s good to bring your toolkit out with you. Assorted tools (including hacksaws, hammers, wrenches, chisels, and screwdrivers) can help you overcome different roofing challenges.

15. Magnetic Sweeper

You might think a magnetic sweeper is more at home on the beach than on your roof. However, this tool makes it much easier for you to find any unwanted nails in your roof that you need to remove

16. Chalk Line Kit

If you’re worried about making your shingles nice and symmetrical, a chalk line kit can help you make sure everything is perfectly lined up.

17. Roof Ladder Hooks

Earlier, we mentioned the need for a good ladder. By adding reliable roof ladder hooks, you can help ensure your ladder stays in place while you work.

18. Non-Slip Shoes

Speaking of staying in place, it’s important to make sure you don’t slip while working on your roof. Non-slip shoes can keep you secure and provide great peace of mind while you work.

19. Tool Belt

When roofing, you need to be able to access any tools you need at a moment’s notice. Channel your inner “Batman” by investing in a tool belt that can house all of your wonderful toys–er, tools.

20. Broom

It may take a long day (or two) of work, but your roofing tasks will eventually be complete. Make sure you have a good broom and other tools to make cleaning up after the fact that much easier.

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