No roof repair job should be taken lightly. The smartest roofing job is to hire a professional to do it, but if that’s not in the cards, it involves having people and equipment in good repair, exercising proven methods of handling the ladder, and using proper climbing techniques. State and national practice standards stipulate that home inspectors must go through the roof if it is possible and cite reasons for not going through it when it is not. By far the most common reason for not crossing is endangering the roof and/or inspector.
Deck repair work involves a certain degree of risk during all phases of the work and whatever the task. This is especially true for the do-it-yourselfer, if only because he is more likely to get caught up in his work and forget that precautions are constantly needed. Examples of tasks are patching leaky roof areas, replacing all or part of the roof, freeing gutters and roof of debris, and removing established moss by scraping or incipient moss with chemical treatment.
The phases start with getting the ladder safely into position and getting yourself and the team safely up onto the roof. While up there, one needs to maintain a constant awareness of one’s position in the back of one’s mind. Precautions are appropriate at all times to minimize slips or falls and to keep equipment and ladder in place. Once the job is complete, extra care is needed to get equipment and personnel back on the ground.
Having a person in good condition means being prudent and not trying to repair it unless you feel 100 percent well. Don’t be too proud to wait another day and then regret it. In addition, weather conditions are an important factor. The roof is exposed to the elements, and there is enough danger without aggravating it. All it takes is enough wind to throw one off balance or to push the ladder over and seriously endanger life and limb.
In addition to having the right specific equipment to perform repairs correctly, general equipment must be in good condition to ensure safety. The best shoes for going through the roof should have non-slip soles like Vibram. Do not climb a ladder with loose or missing parts or base feet that do not show firm, solid traction. And don’t climb a ladder whose rated weight is less than the sum of all your tools, equipment, and your body.
Place the ladder where nothing on the ground can interfere with it. It’s a good idea to use some type of stabilizer for the ladder on or near the roof. This holds the ladder in place during repair work and possibly prevents it from damaging the gutters or eaves. The ideal distance between the base of the ladder (on the ground) and the wall of the house is a quarter of the height of the ladder. The best practice is to anchor the ladder at ground level, either with rope or heavy objects.
Use recommended climbing techniques while going up and down the ladder and while doing roof repairs. This means maintaining three points of contact on the ladder or roof at all times, never moving one hand and one foot at the same time. At all times on the roof, try to be mindful of keeping your center of gravity low and balanced.
By approaching your roofing tasks with these etched precautions in mind, you’ll take the utmost care to maintain safety.