Having to do roof repair jobs should always give one pause. Repair work on the roof entails at least some degree of danger, and the safest way to accomplish it is to hire someone else to do it. However, when that option isn't available, it is wise to take extra precaution to maximize safety and minimize risk. Home inspectors have little choice about the matter, being required by Standards of Practice to traverse the roof whenever possible. This article presents some tips home inspectors have learned over the years that have enabled them to get on and off roofs day after day without harming themselves or the roofs they traverse.
Examples of roof repair-like tasks that may not warrant the expense or bother of hiring a professional are patching roof leaks, replacing portions of the roof, scraping off encrusted moss, spreading moss treatment, and clearing gutters and roof of leaves and other debris. Before attempting any of these repairs, it is imperative to ensure that one is in good condition both mentally and physically, and that weather conditions are conducive. It is also imperative to be using equipment that is up to snuff, to understand how to handle a ladder, and to know how to maneuver one's body in the safest manner, both while ascending or descending the ladder and while on the roof.
Be smart and defer your repair work if your mental or physical wellbeing isn't at one hundred percent. Any tendency to get dizzy, faint, or imbalanced is pushing beyond the edge of safety. And you have to be able to maintain enough presence of mind of your whereabouts, not only while on the ladder but also the whole time on the roof, not to get distracted by the job at hand. Don't flirt with crummy weather either; wind and rain heighten danger and can cause unforeseen hazards such as blown-over ladders.
Equipment in good condition is a must. Don't use a ladder with loose or missing parts. Check that its weight rating exceeds the combined weight of you, equipment, and tools. Wear slip-resistant shoes on your feet and make sure the base of your ladder is slip-resistant. In setting up the ladder, walk it vertical while the base is in the corner formed by wall and ground, and then pull out the base from the wall a distance about one-fourth its height. Stabilizing the ladder both at the base and at the eaves is a really good idea. Memorize and follow as many roof repair tips on ladder safety as you can.
Before you set in to do your repairs, familiarize yourself with how best to comport your body to stay safe. The technique is essentially borrowed from rock climbers. The core concept is maintaining three points of contact (two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot) at all times. This means that only one extremity is moving at a time, while the other three are anchored to stabilize the body. In addition, avoid leaning too much and keep your center of gravity low.
The technique applies both on the roof and on the ladder. Obviously, you can't climb a ladder this way if you are carrying tools or equipment in your hand, for that hand would always be the free one and you couldn't go anywhere. Hence, carpenters' belts, pulley systems, and similar mechanisms are much safer ways to get both you and your materials up on the roof.
Clearly roof steepness greatly influences safety. A flat roof accommodates doing repairs almost without concern once you're up there, whereas a steep tile or metal roof gives you much more pause. Home inspectors usually will not traverse roofs with a pitch greater than seven in twelve, and you are well advised to do the same. Hiring a professional to do your roof repairs is well worth avoiding undue risk.
Examples of roof repair-like tasks that may not warrant the expense or bother of hiring a professional are patching roof leaks, replacing portions of the roof, scraping off encrusted moss, spreading moss treatment, and clearing gutters and roof of leaves and other debris. Before attempting any of these repairs, it is imperative to ensure that one is in good condition both mentally and physically, and that weather conditions are conducive. It is also imperative to be using equipment that is up to snuff, to understand how to handle a ladder, and to know how to maneuver one's body in the safest manner, both while ascending or descending the ladder and while on the roof.
Be smart and defer your repair work if your mental or physical wellbeing isn't at one hundred percent. Any tendency to get dizzy, faint, or imbalanced is pushing beyond the edge of safety. And you have to be able to maintain enough presence of mind of your whereabouts, not only while on the ladder but also the whole time on the roof, not to get distracted by the job at hand. Don't flirt with crummy weather either; wind and rain heighten danger and can cause unforeseen hazards such as blown-over ladders.
Equipment in good condition is a must. Don't use a ladder with loose or missing parts. Check that its weight rating exceeds the combined weight of you, equipment, and tools. Wear slip-resistant shoes on your feet and make sure the base of your ladder is slip-resistant. In setting up the ladder, walk it vertical while the base is in the corner formed by wall and ground, and then pull out the base from the wall a distance about one-fourth its height. Stabilizing the ladder both at the base and at the eaves is a really good idea. Memorize and follow as many roof repair tips on ladder safety as you can.
Before you set in to do your repairs, familiarize yourself with how best to comport your body to stay safe. The technique is essentially borrowed from rock climbers. The core concept is maintaining three points of contact (two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot) at all times. This means that only one extremity is moving at a time, while the other three are anchored to stabilize the body. In addition, avoid leaning too much and keep your center of gravity low.
The technique applies both on the roof and on the ladder. Obviously, you can't climb a ladder this way if you are carrying tools or equipment in your hand, for that hand would always be the free one and you couldn't go anywhere. Hence, carpenters' belts, pulley systems, and similar mechanisms are much safer ways to get both you and your materials up on the roof.
Clearly roof steepness greatly influences safety. A flat roof accommodates doing repairs almost without concern once you're up there, whereas a steep tile or metal roof gives you much more pause. Home inspectors usually will not traverse roofs with a pitch greater than seven in twelve, and you are well advised to do the same. Hiring a professional to do your roof repairs is well worth avoiding undue risk.
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