Roofing Tools and Equipment for Every Roofing Company

Automatic Staple Gun

Automatic staple guns save a lot of time and energy, so you can complete jobs quickly and efficiently. Electric staple guns can be corded or cordless. The corded option is available for a cheaper price point, at around $30.

However, cordless tools are more efficient for roofing. A cordless roofing staple gun costs about $100.

• Top Brands: Arrow, Stanley, DeWalt
• Usage Tips: Choose a model with adjustable depth settings for different materials.

Get an automatic staple gun on Amazon.

Cordless Drill

Cordless drills are a versatile tool for roofers, offering the convenience of rechargeable batteries and no cords. Prices start at $30 for a cordless drill.

• Top Brands: Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch
• Usage Tips: Invest in high-capacity batteries for longer usage between charges.

Get a cordless drill on Amazon.

Tarps

All roof contractors should have tarps on hand while at a job. During a roofing project, pieces of shingles, nails, and other debris will fall off the roof. Tarps are there to catch these loose items and keep the job site clean, safe, and free of damage.

You can find different kinds of tarps at most stores starting as low as $15, depending on the quality and size.

• Top Brands: Tarps Plus, B-Air, Tarpco Safety
• Usage Tips: Use heavy-duty tarps for better durability and protection.

Get a tarp for roofing on Amazon.

Sturdy Ladder with Extension

Ladders come in all shapes, sizes, slopes, and heights. Picking a reliable ladder is crucial—it’s not just about access to the roof, it’s also about safety.

How many ladders you need depends on the size of your team. Additionally, you’ll need at least one extension ladder to reach higher roofs. Ladders cost between $165 and $400.

• Top Brands: Little Giant, Werner, Louisville Ladder
• Usage Tips: Ensure ladders are rated for the weight they will bear and have proper anti-slip features.

Get an extendable ladder from Amazon.

Broom

An outdoor bristle broom comes in handy on most job sites. The last thing a customer wants is a messy yard and driveway.

Be sure to clean up the yard and surrounding area once you complete the roof project.

Outdoor brooms start at $8.

• Top Brands: Libman, Quickie, Rubbermaid
• Usage Tips: Use a stiff-bristled broom for more effective debris removal.

Get an outdoor broom on Amazon.

Roofing Software

When contractors think about roofing tools, things like tarps, drills, and nailers probably come to mind. All those tools are important, but there is another tool that is less tangible but equally important: a great roofing software solution, like JobNimbus.

Roof software can increase your profitability, maximize efficiency, and make business management easy.

Essential Roofing Safety Equipment

In addition to the tools and machinery roofers need to install a roof, safety equipment is also necessary. Contractors should take personal protective equipment requirements, or PPE, very seriously for their crew. 

Check out this comprehensive safety guide for roofers to help keep your team safe.

Hard Hats

Hard hats protect workers from falling debris and other hazards. Unfortunately, research shows that workers don’t wear them—the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that only 16% of those who suffered head injuries wore hard hats.

Hard hats are a crucial piece of roofing safety equipment, available starting at just $7.

• Top Brands: MSA, Bullard, 3M
• Usage Tips: Ensure hard hats are properly fitted and regularly inspected for damage.

Gloves

Gloves protect workers’ hands from heat, sharp tools, and other dangers. The best working gloves for construction work are reinforced with leather or coated with polyurethane or nitrile.

These types of gloves range anywhere from $10–$50.

• Top Brands: Mechanix Wear, Ironclad, Youngstown Glove Company
• Usage Tips: Choose gloves with reinforced palms and fingers for added protection.

If you want some help finding the best gloves for roofing, check out our guide to choosing and using roofing gloves.