3 Ways To Stay Safe While Roofing

Roofing can be tremendously dangerous if you aren't careful, simply due to the fact that you are high above the ground. Luckily, there a number of precautions that you can take to make sure that you aren't injured. Follow these three tips to ensure that you are able to get on and off the roof safely and that you are able to continue your work safely.

1. Secure the Ladder

Just having someone hold the ladder is not enough. A person holding the ladder can make sure that the bottom doesn't slip, if that person is strong enough, but that doesn't do anything to make sure that the top of the ladder does not slip. One way to do this is to install a ladder stabilizer, which is a piece of hardware that you can attach to the top of your ladder to make sure that it is fixed securely to the roof. If your ladder is going to be on unpaved ground, dig two small holes where the ends of the ladder will go. This will ensure that the bottom of the ladder does not shift either. If your ladder is on a paved surface or a patio, then you can take a board and attach it to the bottom of the ladder. By doing this, you can make sure that it doesn't move around. 

2. Add Traction to the Roof

There are two easy ways that you can create enough traction or obstacles on the roof so that it is almost impossible for you to fall off. The first is to take a second ladder and attach it to the roof temporarily using larger nails. This way, if you start to fall, you will have something to grab or something to stop you. Another thing that you can do is nail 2x4 boards to the roof to make sure that you have a non-slick surface to work on. You don't have to cover the entire roof. You can just move the 2x4 boards around to the section where you are working.

3. Watch the Weather

Check the weather before you start working on the roof. If you notice that there are going to be extremely strong winds, consider not working that day, or waiting for them to die down. This may seem like it will make the roofing process take longer, but the extra time you wait will be nothing compared to the time you would have to wait if you are injured for being blown off the roof.

If you follow these tips, you can make your roofing process much safer. If you'd rather leave it to the professionals instead, contact Classic Remodeling Corporation.