What You Need To Know Before Going Up Your Roof

March 12, 2017

Going up and walking on the roof for inspection can be one of the most dangerous things that a homeowner can do. It is necessary for everyone to develop some kind of judgment and as well, skills that will allow him or her to safely walk around the roof for proper inspection.

Safety First, Always

There is no special formula or training necessary for roof inspection—practice and a little bit of study must be observed to ensure that safety can be practiced. Safety is important to prevent any damage or harm to the homeowner or even to the roof. If the homeowner mistakenly latches on to a roof part, they might rip some parts off or damage it to an extent. Even if it is only slight damage, it may lead to something bigger in the end.

Homeowners will have to make use of different materials, depending on what of home, as well as what the weather condition is like. Some of the other important things to consider are the owner’s own tolerance of risk—if he or she is generally scared of heights maybe or scared of anything a bit risky, this may be hard for them. The roof pitch, the condition of the roof materials, and also the exposure are the other things that need to be considered when going up the roof.

What is Risk Tolerance?

Risk Tolerance is when you have to consider the general risk of roof inspection at a bigger scope. Did you know that a lot of people are killed or injured because of their attempts at roof inspection? Some people who are afraid of heights but still go up anyway are at a big risk of falling because their fear will create a tension in their body. This tension builds up and will interfere with their sense of balance and then result in them falling down.

Pitch is another thing to consider because obviously, steeper roofs are more dangerous to walk on than flatter roofs. But even with that in mind, low-sloped roofs can be dangerous at times too. Metal roofs and even wood roofs or shingles tend to be slippery. Even if you have a low-slope roof and your roof is made of these materials, you can easily slide off from it. So even if you have a roof pitch of 6&12 but it is covered with a smooth metal material, it could be potentially dangerous for you to walk on.

Some professional inspectors purchase roof-walking boots that are available that can help them ease their jobs as the high-traction soles are highly beneficial.