Green Building Library
Weatherization Tips
How to Remove Shingle Siding
- Shingle Siding must be removed before drilling into wall cavities to install insulation.
- Removing the whole shingle is better than cutting through it, because the cut can be seen and might allow rain to get behind the shingles.
Step 1
Cut Paint to Free the Shingles
Use a utility knife to cut through the paint along the sides of each shingle. Free the shingle you plan to remove and the two above it. Be careful not to catch the edge of the shingle and create a sliver.
Step 2
Loosen Shingles Above
With a pry bar, gently lift the shingles above the one you plan to remove. Sometimes the nail pulls through the upper shingle as that shingle is removed. (if the nail doesn't pull through, clip it off with wire cutters.) If the nail lifts out a bit instead, use the pry bar to pull the nail.
Step 3
Loosen the Shingle to Be Removed
Pry up the shingle to be removed. Remove the lower nails.
Step 4
Remove the Shingle
Hold the butt end of the shingle firmly, work it loose, and pull it down. Nails near the top of this shingle usually rip through the thin end of the shingle. If they don't, clip the nails with wire cutters. Tack the shingle you removed to the wall or tuck it under another shingle. It will be handy when it's time to replace it.
Step 5
Drive Nails
If the nails pull through, drive them flush with the sub-siding (or lower course of shingles).
Step 6
Drill and Fill
Drill through the sub-siding or the lower course of shingles. After filling the cavity with insulation, drive a wood plug flush with the sub-siding (or lower course.)
Step 7
Replace the Shingle
Slide the old shingle into place so that the butt lines up with the adjacent shingles. If you need to drive the shingle, place a block of wood on the butt edge so you don't damage the shingle with hammer blows. Drive new finish (4d or 6d) nails through the shingles. Fill the nail holes and prime them.
Damaged Shingles
Old shingles can be brittle, so don't be surprised if you break a few. Always bring a supply of new shingles and primer, so you can replace broken ones.
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© Copyright 1993 Iris Communications, Inc.
