Removing Roofing Nails

[Oldhack]

I need to remove some trimclad roofing sheets on my garage, to gain access to the trusses for a carport extension, this roof has been in place for a number of years and is fastened with old style Gal roofing nail. I wish to reuse the roof sheeting, but Im worried about damaging the roof sheets profile when removing the nails.

anyone got ant suggestion or tips to make this a bit easier. ?

[springwater]

grind

the nail heads off

[rwbuild]

Grinding will only create the dread brown measles on the roof.
The slowest way is centre punch the head of the nail and then use a drill of greater diameter than the shank of the nail or equal to the diameter of the mushroom head that holds the weathering washer and drill down until the weathering washer pops off.

The other method is a piece of 3/4 waterpipe in the valley adjacent to the nail and use a small nail bar to pull the nail out.

Is it possible that the nails have come through the bottom of the batten, if so you can hit the nail up enough to get the claw of a hammer or nail bar under the head of it and pull it out.

Another method is to use a reciprocating saw and cut the nails from underneath the sheets.

[bryn23]

20 litres of unleaded, a match then in 48 hours you can pick up the nails off the ground

but doing it rwbuild's way, is a better idea, but not as fun

the last thing you want is swarf rusting the roof sheets

[Bohdan]

I have had contractors remove corrugated roofing sheets that were nailed down. Used a pinch bar and a packing to push against. As long as the packing prevents the metal from being crushed there is no permanent damage. The slight collapse of the roofing when you hammer the bar under the nail springs back.

The idea of using a piece of pipe in the trough sounds like a good one but I think even a piece of board of the right thickness would work well.

When the sheets were replaced we used screws into the same holes as these have fewer tendencies to slowly creep out.

[Oldhack]

Thanks guys, some good suggestions, I'll try the Pipe idea first , then progress to cutting the nails if needed.
Will definitely be using Self drilling roofing teks when re fitting the roof sheets.

[robbygard]

Thanks guys, some good suggestions, I'll try the Pipe idea first , then progress to cutting the nails if needed.
Will definitely be using Self drilling roofing teks when re fitting the roof sheets.

the pipe idea has worked for me or at least i used a piece of rake handle which is a similar idea ... i used a nail bar but put the nail bar on and give it one sharp tap with a hammer ... this separates the washer from the nail head and makes it both easier and less likely to be damaging

regards david

[rwbuild]

Thats exactly how you do it

[ian]

Thanks guys, some good suggestions, I'll try the Pipe idea first , then progress to cutting the nails if needed.
Will definitely be using Self drilling roofing teks when re fitting the roof sheets.

given that Trim Deck is flat, a board might be a little easier than a pipe that works best with wriggly tin

[damian]

My house is heritage listed and has a belcon roof. A couple of years ago I fitted insulation. This required taking out all the sprung nails, lifting the old gal corro fitting the foil sarking and batts, then refitting the old iron with tek screws. The iron is stuffed, it's actually got rust holes in a few places and I need to buy new but that's another story.

Anyway I started with a claw hammer and tried a few tools to hand, then I decided to invest in a dedicated nail puller. I bought the cheaper one from bunnings. It was a revelation. I could never have imagined how much quicker and easier it made the work. Yes there were a few dings in the corro once I'd finished, but it was pretty bad to start with.

Hart 305mm Double Ended Nail Puller | Bunnings Warehouse

$16 worth it's weight in gold. YMMV.

[rwbuild]

Use a straight claw hammer or flat bar to remove the nails. place the claw securely around the nail you want to pull.

This thread is 3 yrs old, I';m sure its been sorted

[damian]

Argh, I missed the dates. Sorry...