Though it’s recommended that you call an expert, you may need to climb onto your roof from time to time. Knowing proper safety recommendations before you even step foot on a ladder can help insure that you make it back down in one piece. We’ve got some standard safety tips to make sure you stay as safe as possible on the roof.
There are some times when you should never attempt going on your roof. Some of the times that you should never attempt to get on your roof include:
- When the roofing material is slick from rain, snow or ice.
- When lighting is poor such as at dawn, dusk and of course at night.
- When high winds are over your home.
- When any type of severe weather is over your area or even threatening your local area. Lightning strikes may occur miles away from what appears to be the center area of a storm.
- If there is a chance that parts of your roof may be structurally compromised.
- You have a steep sloped roof, only professionals should attempt to climb steep sloped roofs.
Now that you know all the situations when you shouldn’t get on your roof, let’s talk about safety precautions when you are on your roof:
- Only use a stable ladder in proper working order. Secure the ladder at the top of the structure if you can. The ladder should extend 3 feet above the gutter and 1 foot away from the ground for every 4 feet of height to the eaves.
- Wear proper footwear while on the roof such as boots properly laced up. Never climb on your roof in sandals, flip flops or slip on shoes.
- Take calculated steps along the roof watching for anything that may trip you up. There is also no reason you should walk along a roof’s edge, leave that to a professional.
- Wear sunglasses if glare is an issue, poor vision is much more likely to lead to accidents.
To sum it all up, if you must get on your roof you need to make sure you do it as safely as possible. If you are hesitant at all simply call a roofing contractor to get up there for you.
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