Successful Roofing Tools

Inventions often bring innovation and the ability to produce better products or make use of existing ones in a more efficient manner. Even industries that may seem to require more manual labor than anything else, such as the roofing industry, have had inventions affect the way work is performed. The integration of better performing tools or those that were nonexistent prior to a certain period have made the workers in such industries perform more efficiently and quickly. Let’s take a look at a few successful roofing tools that have significantly affected the industry in a positive way.

The Flashlight
Although you may assume that this important standard roofing tool has been around for ages, it wasn’t invented and manufactured until 1898. Where would roofing industry workers be without this standard tool that lets them inspect roofing tiles, nooks, crannies and attic damage?

Tape Measure
This small tool used by every roofer in the world wasn’t invented until 1868 by Alvin J. Fellows of New Haven CT.

The Drill
The first drill was invented in 1902 by A.I. Jacobs. Later in 1972, the horizontal directional drill was invented based on the first Jacobs drill. This is another important and basic tool used by all construction workers including those that work in roofing.

It is impossible to say who invented the hammer, as it is such an ancient tool and known throughout time by many other names such as: mallet, pestle, sledge, beetle and more. However, the pneumatic hammer used in roofing wasn’t invented until 1890 and wasn’t really placed on the market until the early 1900s.

Hydraulic Shears and Nibblers
As a result of the hydraulic hammer invention, other basic hydraulic tools soon followed. Some of these inventions included the hydraulic sheers and nibblers, both successful roofing tools used in the industry today.

Welder
The standard welding tool was invented in 1885 by Stanislav Olszewski and Nikolai Benardos. Although, this may not often be used by typical roofers, it is a tool that is certainly necessary when dealing with metal roof options.

Saws
The circular saw was invented by Samuel Miller in 1777. Later this invention was expanded upon by other inventors who made it both larger and smaller.

The Wrench
This is also a relatively new tool patented in 1835 by Solymon Merrick. What would any contractor do without a basic wrench?

As with other inventions, many successful roofing tools are the result of someone adding something useful to an already existing tool. It is the ability to identify a problem and see things differently that makes an inventor successful. Inventors throughout the ages have had creative streaks that help them see items a little differently, then by adding a little here and there, they create a new innovative product. 


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