Tear-Off & Debris Disposal: the full procedure

Remove existing roofing down to a clean, sound deck and stage debris for disposal without damaging the structure or property.

• Applies to: Crew
• Frequency: Per replacement job
• Scope: Covers stripping old material and staging waste. Deck-soundness rulings, layer-count code limits, and permit requirements DEFER to a licensed roofer, local code, and a structural engineer; all height work follows OSHA fall-protection standards and the business safety plan.

What you need

• Tear-off shovels/forks
• Pry bars
• Dump trailer or roll-off
• Tarps/plywood for ground protection
• Magnetic sweeper
• Rope/chute or debris slide

The procedure, step by step

1. Set up fall protection and ground protection — Establish the OSHA-compliant fall-protection system per the safety plan, then tarp landscaping, AC units, and walls before any material comes off.
2. Stage the dump container — Position the roll-off or dump trailer for the shortest, safest debris path; protect the driveway surface underneath.
3. Strip from the top down — Remove caps, then field shingles, then underlayment in sequence so debris slides controlled toward the chute or container, not the yard.
4. Pull all fasteners — Remove or hammer flat every nail and staple so the deck is clean for new underlayment.
5. Remove old flashing as planned — Take out flashings slated for replacement; preserve any flashing the scope calls to reuse.
6. Expose and inspect the deck — Reveal the full deck and flag any soft, rotted, or delaminated sheathing for licensed evaluation and replacement decision.
7. Clear and sweep continuously — Keep debris moving to the container and run the magnet over the work zone throughout, not just at the end.
8. Confirm a clean deck — Verify the deck is bare, fastener-free, and ready for repairs before underlayment begins.

Quality check before you finish

• Fall-protection and ground protection in place before first shingle removed
• Deck fully exposed and free of old fasteners
• Soft/rotted decking flagged for licensed replacement decision
• No debris left in gutters, landscaping, or neighboring property
• Dump container loaded within weight/fill limits
• Magnet swept progressively through tear-off
• Reusable flashings preserved per scope

This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Roofing business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.

Sources

• NRCA (nrca.net)
• OSHA fall protection (osha.gov)
• GAF installer guidance (gaf.com)