Like many homeowners, you may be handy at doing small home repairs. You may even feel confident making minor roof repairs to avoid having to call roofer repair services. Yet going up on the top of a house can be dangerous.
If you do choose to do small roofing repairs yourself, it is essential to practice good safety just like professional roofers. Use these roofer repair company safety tips below whenever you climb a ladder to work on the roof.
Use the Right Tools and Supplies
Before attempting any type of work on the top of your house, assemble all the tools and supplies necessary as well as a means to get them up there. Depending on the repairs being made, you may need replacement shingles, roofing nails, shingle cement or sealant, a hammer, a putty knife, a utility knife, and other items a roofer repair company would use to do this work.
Use a tool belt or put everything in a plastic bucket for safe, simplified containment. When equipped with the right tools and supplies, minor fixes should be quick and easy.
Use the Right Safety Gear
Climbing to the top of a house is always risky, even for roofer repair services. Be protected with the right safety gear such as that used by professional roofers. Safety gear should include head and eye protection, leather gloves, and non-slip rubber-soled shoes.
It is also recommended to use a safety harness that can be anchored with a rope to prevent a dangerous fall. A furniture pad or a piece of foam padding is also useful for protecting knees while working on the shingles.
Learn to Safely Use a Ladder
One big mistake people make when going up on the top of houses instead of calling a roofer repair company to do the job is using the wrong ladder or using a ladder improperly. Choose a ladder with a metal extension designed for roofers or other outdoor users, preferably one that can be secured to the side or ridge of the roof to prevent falls.
The ladder must extend at least three feet above where it is supported on the house and be set up level with its feet flat on solid, hard ground. For greatest stability, set the base of the ladder at one-fourth the height of where it leans against the house.
Choose the Right Day
Since roofer repair services will not work on wet or extremely windy days, avoid working in these conditions. Climbing onto a roof while the shingles are wet creates a significant risk of slipping and falling. High winds can unbalance you or the ladder, resulting in a dangerous fall. It is also not recommended that roofing work be done in extreme heat or cold as this can negatively affect the materials. Instead, choose a sunny day with low winds and mild temperatures.
As easy as it may seem to put a ladder up against a house and climb up to the top to do roof repairs, avoid injury by doing it the right way. Plan your work in the same way that any roofer repair company would and gather the right tools and equipment. If you don't have access to the right safety gear, the best option is to contact roofers to do the job. Experienced roofer repair services can get these minor fixes done quickly and safely!
