Tools for roofing contractors
Jason Carnes of J. Carnes & Son Roofing, Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, got his start roofing with his dad.
Jason Carnes of J. Carnes & Son Roofing, Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, got his start roofing with his dad, who owns a roofing company in Massachusetts.
After he moved to New Hampshire, Carnes decided to continue doing what he knew and start his own roofing business.
“The toughest part of launching a business is finding customers,” says Carnes. Instead of using print advertising, he focuses on online marketing and improving his local search engine ranking, which he says has proven to be more cost-effective.
Once he finds customers, Carnes says, he maintains good relationships with them to keep his business growing. “If there are any issues, we resolve them immediately,” he says. “Our goal is maintain great rapport with our customers at all times.”
Being factory-certified by manufacturers has also helped Carnes build his business. “If you’re certified through the manufacturer, you can offer the best warranties,” Carnes says, “so customers have more peace of mind.”
Stanley PowerLock 25-foot tape measure
“When I’m working on a roof, this smaller Stanley measuring tape (model #33-425D) is great because it fits into my pouch. I have Stanley measuring tapes in lengths up to 100 feet. Each has its own purpose. Always in my list of basic tools for roofing contractors.”
Qualcraft 6-inch 90-degree fixed roof bracket, #2502
“Qualcraft brackets are pretty much the standard in the roofing trade. They’re durable and they last a long time. I have both these 6-inch steel fixed roofing brackets and 12-inch wood staging brackets for different uses.”
Estwing 22-ounce milled-face framing hammer
“I like the construction of this hammer and I always include it in my list of toods. This Estwing 22-ounce milled-face framing hammer, #E3-22SM, is made with solid steel and a rubber handle. It’s just more durable for roofing. My personal preference is a fairly heavy hammer.”
Ames 24.5-inch D-handle aluminum scoop, #2672100
“When shingles come off the roof and we’re cleaning the ground, we use this shovel to trash them into wheelbarrows. This Ames model has a really wide mouth and is durable for cleaning rocks. One of the tools for roofing contractors that I always have with me.”
Echo low-noise handheld gas blower
“This Echo blower (model #PB-250LNAA) has a maximum air volume of 391 cfm and a maximum air speed of 165 mph. We use this professional blower for final cleanup on the ground and to clean out gutters. Most tools I have to replace at some point, but this leaf blowers are trouble-free and don’t give me any issues.”
True Temper 6-cubic foot wheelbarrow, #C6ORUT14
“The tire on this wheelbarrow is solid rubber, so it’s a lot more durable for roofing. There are nails everywhere. With other wheelbarrows we’d be guaranteed a flat tire. It also has steel handles.”
Razor-Back D-handle roofing tool
“These tools actually remove the shingle and nail in one swoop. Back in the day, we used pitchforks, which took twice as long because they would remove the shingles but we had to go back and remove the nails by hand. This Razor-Back model #2594100 has a fiberglass handle that’s lighter than wood. ”
