Flat roof tear-off
Flat and low-slope roofs are everywhere in Los Angeles, on mid-century homes, apartment buildings, garages and commercial buildings. Over the years, many of them pick up multiple layers of roofing material, gravel and patches. Tearing them off is heavy, messy work.
Our crews scrape and cut the old layers, remove gravel, and carry or chute the debris straight down to our trucks. The roofer gets an exposed deck they can inspect and repair before the new system goes on.
Pitched roof removal
On sloped roofs we remove shingles, underlayment and old flashing as scoped. Debris is sent down to a truck or trailer below rather than thrown onto the yard, and the ground around the house is protected and cleaned daily.
Tear-off as part of a remodel
Roof tear-off often goes along with bigger projects. A second-story addition may need the existing roof removed over part of the house. A full remodel may replace the roof at the same time as an interior gut. Because we do interior and exterior demolition too, we can handle all of it on one schedule with one crew.
What roof tear-off includes
Every roof is different, but tear-off usually covers the following.
- Removal of all roofing layers down to the deck
- Gravel and ballast removal on flat roofs
- Removal of old flashing, vents and roof jacks as scoped
- Protection of landscaping, walkways and windows below
- Daily cleanup of nails and debris around the house
- Haul-off of roofing debris in our own trucks
Garage and outbuilding roofs
Detached garages, workshops and carports often have roofs that are older than the house and in worse shape. We tear these off the same way, down to the deck, and haul the debris. If the structure itself is being replaced or converted to an ADU, we can remove the roof as part of a larger garage demolition or interior gut.
Access and truck staging
Getting roofing debris from the roof to a truck is most of the work. We plan where the truck or trailer will sit, keep the drop zone clear and protected, and load continuously so piles never build up in the driveway. On narrow streets, we keep the truck positioned to leave room for neighbors to pass.
Weather and timing
A roof should not be left open longer than necessary. We coordinate with your roofer so tear-off and dry-in happen close together, and we only open as much roof as can be covered the same day when that is the plan. Most of the year Los Angeles weather is on our side, but we still plan for the occasional rain.
Older roofs and testing
Some older roofing materials may need testing before they are removed. If your home or building is older, we will tell you whether testing may be needed and what is required before tear-off begins.
Clean property after tear-off
Roofing debris is full of nails and small fragments. We protect the yard and walkways, sweep and pick up around the house at the end of each day and do a final cleanup when the tear-off is complete.
