How To Cut Asphalt Roofing Shingles

Use a chalk line to mark where you want the cut to be on a large stack of shingles.

How to cut asphalt roofing shingles. Walk through of using both. Cut along this line using a hook blade. You could use a utility knife to cut asphalt shingles and dull the blade or bloody your knuckles. Then use the saw as you normally would to cut through the entire stack at once.

Standard roofing tools like a hammer and roofing nails are all you typically need to cap a roof. Continue cutting away the excess shingle until your entire roof has been trimmed. Using upward pressure slide the knife toward you. But as demonstrated in this tip by todd smith a big pair of snips may be a better way to get the job done.

Using a straight blade and a hooked blade. Hook blades can be purchased at your local hardware store and are ideal for cutting through thick asphalt shingles with ease. Work quickly because allowing the blade to get too hot while resting against the shingles as it cuts through can start to melt the tar on the back of them and render them useless. Position the side of hook knife against the drip edge beneath the shingle with the blade facing upward against the shingle medium.