When you’re more than 20 feet above the ground and trying to force a shingle off your roof, it becomes apparent that you need to find the safest ways to fix your roof. Although back in the day most homeowners would just use a sturdy wooden ladder and get their hands dirty with a flat bar and a strong hammer, roofing experts can usually point out dozens of safety concerns associated with that approach.
If you don’t want to injure yourself, and you want to finish the work as quickly and as confidently as possible, consider listening to the safety tips and recommendations that your local Livermore roofing contractor will recommend.
What You Might Need
If the pitch of your roof is not too steep, then a ladder and some basic safety gear, such as special boots and gloves, will be all you need. The idea, however, is to make sure that you are able to walk safely on the roof and use the safest ways to fix your roof without feeling like you might fall off.
For steeper roofing structures, where it becomes more difficult to walk around, most experts will recommend the use of sturdy wooden planks supported by roofing brackets. These are not as expensive as you might think, and they can be an extremely helpful addition to prevent you from falling. Moreover, for the steepest roofs, or just to make yourself feel safer, you can also consider a sturdy harness. The harness used together with a few roofing brackets will provide you with the safest means to get around your roof without even worrying about a slippery roofing surface causing you to slip.
Of course, trying to fix your roof when it’s still wet and slippery is definitely not recommended. Also, you will have to learn to use these tools properly before you consider going up there. From the angle of your ladder to the way you adjust your harness and brackets, every detail counts when it comes to staying safe.
Using Your Safety Tools Responsibly
Learning how to use your extension ladder is one of the most essential parts of repairing your roof responsibly. The extension ladder has to be placed at an angle of 4 to 1. This means, for every 4 meters you go up, you lean the ladder 1 meter closer to the house than its base. The actual angle is irrelevant as long as you stay close to this simple ratio.
Also, make sure that the extension ladder is capable of extending at least 3 feet above the edge of the roof. While aluminum ladders are considered best, fiberglass ladders can also be helpful, especially if you want additional protection against being electrocuted.
When you’re on the roof, it’s important to use a harness that is secured to a rope capable of holding at least 700kg without breaking. This will ensure that you are safe, even if you end up actually falling and the rope is yanked violently in the process. The rope should be tied securely to a structurally sound part of the home, or to a sturdy tree.
When it comes to finding the safest ways to fix your roof, you really can’t go wrong with the tips shown above, most of them being highly recommended by the most dependable and professional Livermore roofing contractors in the business.