7 Roofing Safety Tips For Florida Homeowners

Keeping your roof in good condition at all times is a big part of taking good care of your home. But safety must still come first. When you have a roof repair need, roof maintenance to attend to, or it’s finally time to replace your old roofing in full – you want quality work, high-grade, durable materials, timeliness, and affordability. But nothing is more important than keeping the job and the job site as safe as possible.

Below, we will look at the top seven roofing safety tips that Florida homeowners would do well to pay attention to.

1. Don’t attempt a roof repair if you aren’t used to working on roofs.

It’s always better to contact a professional roofing contractor if you aren’t sure how to handle a specific roofing problem. If you don’t feel safe on a rooftop or aren’t used to walking roofs, it would be safer to trust the job to an experienced roofer.

There is no shame in calling in the pros. DIY jobs can sometimes save you money, but only if they are done right, fast, and safely. Plus, if the job isn’t done right the first time, it could end up costing more than if a contractor had just handled it from the get-go.

2. Never work on a roof during inclement weather!

Bad weather can do a lot of damage to roofing, but it can also be a safety issue during a potential repair. Far better to delay roof repair a bit than to venture out onto a wet, icy, or windy roof.

A professional contractor can attend to an emergency repair and can place protective tarps or other temporary coverings (if necessary) when a repair can’t be done immediately. It’s never worth it to work on a roof made too dangerous due to ongoing severe weather.

3. Watch out for power lines whenever you board a roof.

All too often, people forget to look out for low-lying power lines when moving a ladder around the house to lean against the roof’s eave. Or, they may touch a power line while walking on the roof itself.

Simple alertness can prevent death or serious injury when it comes to being aware of power lines.

4. If you walk on a roof, know how to do it safely.

Anyone walking on a shingled roof needs to exercise certain basic safety precautions. These include:

• Board the roof from a firmly planted ladder set at a safe angle against the roof eve. Inspect the ladder before using it for cracks or problems, and test it before ascending it.
• Wear shoes/boots that have enough friction to grip the roof shingles and not slip. But don’t wear spikes that will damage the roofing. Makes sure the footwear is tied tightly to your feet and fit snugly or your feet can slip inside and cause your body to shift.
• Take careful, planned, deliberate steps. Plant one foot firmly before lifting the next one. Be aware of any give that may occur if the roof deck is weak at points or if a shingle is loose and slips underneath your foot.
• Never venture up a portion of a roof (or a whole roof) where the pitch is too steep for you to feel safe. If you don’t feel safe walking a roof at all, don’t be shy to call a local contractor for help.

5. Inspect roof damage as much as possible without going onto the roof.

Knowing how to safely walk a roof – or when to avoid doing so, is one thing. But there are many things you can learn about your roof without going up onto it.

You can often find hidden roof damage/leaks by inspecting your attic roof at night with a flashlight or the attic floor for telltale insulation damage. You can also view your roof from the ground by walking the perimeter at a distance. Many people also use binoculars.

6. Exercise good roof maintenance over the years.

One of the best ways to keep your roof safe is to simply take good care of it (consistently) over the course of its lifespan.

Having roof repairs taken care of quickly, ordering an annual roof inspection, clearing away debris from the rooftop, and unclogging gutters and downspouts – for example, makes your roof safer, extends the life of your roofing, and saves you money!

7. Know when it’s time to invest in full roof replacement.

Finally, an old, decaying roof can become an accident waiting to happen. It also may require too many roof repair calls per year to make it worthwhile to keep that old roofing.

You may actually save money in the long run, and reduce property damage risk due to potential roof leaks, by simply re-roofing.
To learn more about how you can be safe in regard to your roofing, or to schedule a roof repair, roof inspection, or roof replacement job, contact Sheegog Contracting in Central Florida today!