Walking on any wet surface can be slippery, but angled roofs are among the slickest. When placing your ladder, always make sure that it’s on flat ground. Don’t jump or move quickly between the tiles since you could break them if you step down too hard. Always transfer your bodyweight gradually from one foot to another while you walk. All rights reserved. Avoid walking on a tile roof unless you need to. In order to paint some areas of my two level house it is necessary to walk on a portion of the metal roof. Ladders can be dangerous if they aren’t used properly. Whether a structure has an asphalt shingle, metal, clay or concrete tile roof, walking on the roof for seasonal inspections and cleanings is inevitable. A harness will keep you from falling off the roof if you slip. Slate roofing tiles are very delicate and can easily crack and dislodge under your weight. Before attempting to walk a tile roof be sure to have a few replacement tiles on hand just in case. Mark those areas with a chalk line, so you know to avoid them until you have time to inspect them properly. Choose the Right Footwear To get started, you need good shoes. How to Walk on a Slate Roof. That way, you reduce the risk of damaging the tiles. It’s something that seems like it should be so simple, and yet presents so many risks. Written by: Josh Baum. Your roof seems like it should be strong—after all, it needs to be able to withstand massive gusts of wind, pelting from hail, dosing in rain that can add hundreds of pounds of weight, and so much more. Frost, snow or ice on the roof. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Working on a Roof and How to Walk on Tiles. It is not very steep but rubber sole shoes are just not good enough. Last Updated: October 14, 2019 If the roofs are made of slate or tiles, it is even more hazardous. The strength of both tiles will give you enough support to walk across them safely. If it rained recently or your roof is wet for any reason, wait 1-2 days so the tiles have time to dry before you stand on them. Learn more... Clay and concrete tiles are a great roofing material since they’re more durable than shingles, but they can break or crack if you apply too much pressure while you’re walking on them. Steep slope roofing is defined by roof pitches above 4/12, according to OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. no part of the body leaves the roof. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. 2) Before going up, take a look at the roof for anything that might make it slippery to walk on – Recent rain, dew, snow or ice can make a roof dangerous to walk on, even it has a lower slope. Though … When it comes time to repair the roof, however, or you must walk on it for any other reason, a tile roof can be a disadvantage. Obviously a flat roof is nearly completely safe to walk on, while a steeply pitched roof … Never walk on a roof without taking a great deal of precautions. Of course, we know that there are times that you will have to go up on your roof in the winter to get rid of some snow, or in the rain to lay a tarp over a leaky area. What’s more, some roofing industries have other prerequisites to these roofs such as don’t exert force on certain spots of the roof. Rubber-soled shoes are an essential part of walking safely on a roof. Avoid walking on the seams. When walking on a roof, the worker should walk in the pan of the roof cladding. If you climb a ladder, press on the ceiling. Oftentimes there may be something wrong with your roof vent or AC unit, and it’s necessary to get up on the RV roof to diagnose the problem, so it’s important to know whether you can walk safely on the RV roof or if you’ll need a ladder. Moss on a roof that is wet from dew or recent rain. [6] This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The strength of both tiles will give you enough support to walk across them safely. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. X This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Then attach the harness to a roof anchor with a rope. Before getting on any roof make sure it will support your weight. Generally speaking, it is as safe to walk on a metal roof 30 or 50 years after installation as the day it was installed. They come with the D-Ring on top, which is visually unpleasant and really stands out from the ground. Consider the Slope: The slope of the roof is also a key criteria on how safe – or dangerous – a roof may be. When walking on a pitched apex roof, use a roof ladder if possible. You want to walk on that overlapping part. Posted on August 11, 2014 by Dave • 0 Comments. This will ensure that you do not … You should have the feeling that your shoes are sticking to the metal. How to Walk on a Glass Roof Safely. Look for weak spots, holes, or any dangerous hazards. (Don’t be tempted to tie it to the car’s tow ball in case … The walk boards will distribute the weight across the roof rather than have it be concentrated in specific areas, and that’s going to be one of the best ways that you can walk that roof safely without damaging it. Some people (including experienced roofers) claim that it is safe to walk along the line of the purlins, where the roof sheet fixings are visible, but this is definitely not the case, since the purlins are usually quite narrow, often only a few inches wide. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. For this reason, it’s vital to inspect the roof before you start working, to remove any dangerous situations. Look for any dips in the surface that could indicate decaying or rotten wood. It should be a soft-soled rubber bottom that almost feels like it’s gripping the roof – it should feel somewhat sticky, especially on hot days. Climb onto the roof and fit the walk pads over your feet. What roof pitch that can be walked on can be determined … If you have to walk on the tiles, to avoid breakage, walk on the middle of the tile at the bottom edge where it overlaps the next tile below it. Roof work What you need to do. Nevertheless, sometimes walking on your roof cannot be avoided, and in such cases, knowing how to do it properly and safely is paramount, as the following article reveals.. How to Work on Slate Roofs. How to Walk on a Steep Roof Safely. Whether a structure has an asphalt shingle, metal, clay or concrete tile roof, walking on the roof for seasonal inspections and cleanings is inevitable. There are several ways to walk safely on top of your RV. Step 3 Lay a roofing ladder across the shingle roof if the pitch of the roof is too high and you are not comfortable walking on it. Moss-covered roofs can also be slippery. Rubber-soled shoes are an essential part of walking safely on a roof. Pay attention to the surface you are walking on and watch out for any loose shingles. While you don’t need a safety harness for a roof with a gentle slope, you can still wear one if you want to reduce the risk of falling down. To safely walk on your roof, you need to understand the roof type, have the right shoes, roof-top support equipment and ensure the conditions are right. % of people told us that this article helped them. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The plywood helps distribute your weight making it safer to walk. Wait until you have nice weather before safely climbing onto your roof. Don’t walk on any damaged tiles and keep your eyes peeled for any signs of chips, cracks or splits. You step on a tile roof be sure to have a few minutes a minor over! Peak of the visible tile working, to remove any dangerous situations do. 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