From About This Project
Let’s face it -- roofs are dangerous places. But sooner or later you’ll have to clamber up there to fix a leak, replace a vent or evict a family of squirrels. In this article, we’ll show you a few simple ways to make roof work a lot safer.
A minimal investment in roof brackets will immediately reward you with much greater roof safety and convenience. But if you have to spend a lot of time up there or have an especially steep roof, we recommend that you also buy a roof harness system (about $300). It’s the next best thing to a parachute. We’ll tell you what to buy and how to use it, and give you some general roofing safety tips too.
Sweep the roof as you work to remove debris and loose shingle granules that cause slippery footing. Keep the lanyard adjusted to minimize slack in the rope between you and the roof anchor. Tie or wire the top of the extension ladder to nails set in the rafter ends.
Roof Smarts
When it comes to roofs, even the best safety equipment is no substitute for common sense and good judgment. Here are
some tips for working safely on a roof:
Leave steep and/or high roof work to the pros. The few dollars you’ll save by doing it yourself aren’t worth the risk of death or a lifelong disability if you fall.
Pick a clear, calm, cool time of day to work on roofs. Wet roofs are slippery. Wind also poses a danger, and excessive heat softens the shin-gles, making them vulnerable to damage.
Wear shoes with a soft rubber sole for extra traction.
Keep the bottom of your shoes free of mud and dirt, and the roof swept clear of dirt and debris.
Rope or mark off the ground beneath your work area to let people below know you’re working above. Even the most careful worker eventually drops a tool off the roof. Always look and call out before tossing anything down.
When you’re not using your power tools, secure them with short lengths of rope or Bungee cords. Keep hand tools and supplies in a 5-gallon bucket hung on a roof bracket. Carefully position ropes and extension cords so they’re not underfoot; they’re very slippery.
Stay off slate and tile roofs. Loose tiles or slate can fall out and the surfaces are easily damaged if you’re not experienced.
Getting up to the Roof Safely Is the First Step
If you don’t own one already, buy ($200) or rent (about $30 per day) a sturdy extension ladder that extends at least 3 ft. above the roof edge. Aluminum is the lightest, but fiberglass ladders provide better protection against electrocution in case the ladder accidentally touches a power line or live wire. If possible, set the ladder on firm, level ground. On uneven ground, place squares of plywood under one foot to level the ladder base and then secure it with wire or rope tied to stakes. Fasten the top of the ladder with rope or wire tied to a secure anchoring point such as a 20d nail driven into a rafter. That will keep it from sliding sideways as you step onto the roof.
Stepping from the ladder to the roof or from the roof to the ladder is precarious and can be unnerving. Here are a few pointers to make it easier and safer:
If possible, avoid carrying anything up the ladder. Use a helper and a bucket tied to a rope to hoist up tools and supplies.
Extend the top of the ladder at least 3 ft. above the roof edge so you’ll have something to hang on to as you step onto and off the roof. Never step on any of the ladder rungs above the roof.
Keep two hands on the top rung of the ladder as you step onto and off the roof.
Installation
Buying Roof Safety Gear
Safety Harness
The harness is only one part of a personal fall arrest system. It’s called a “system” because all the components -- the harness, lanyard, rope-grab, rope and roof anchor -- are carefully engineered to work together. One brand is DBI/SALA (800-328-6146). The company sells a “roofer’s kit” through local distributors for about $300 with everything you’ll need, including 50 ft. of rope and a storage bag. You can also check at roofing suppliers (see “Roofing” in the Yellow Pages). Consider splitting the cost with friends or neighbors and sharing the kit. I don’t know a single carpenter or roofer who hasn’t had a close call on a roof, but most will readily admit they were doing something stupid at the time. Roofs are inherently dangerous places, but if you follow our suggestions and stay focused on safety, you’ll greatly reduce the chances of an accident. And with the roof brackets and personal fall arrest system in place, if you do slip, at least you’ll live to tell about it.
Roof Brackets
Roof brackets are available at hardware stores, lumberyards, roofing suppliers and home centers for $5 to $10 each. Buy
enough 90-degree brackets to place one bracket every 4 ft. along the edge of the roof below where you’ll be working. Use brackets designed to hold a 2x6. Larger planks are too hard to step over when you’re getting onto the roof. You’ll want additional rows of brackets and planks about 8 ft. apart across the roof to rest supplies on and provide secure footing.
Buy the best 2x6s you can find. Make sure the knots are small (under 1 in. diameter) and don’t go all the way through the board.
Build a "Slide Guard" With Roof Brackets and 2x6s as a First Line of Defense
Once you’re safely up to the roof, you’ll want to set up roof brackets and planks all along the eave. These serve a dual purpose. They allow you a safe place to step onto and rest tools and materials. And they also act as a slide guard that will help prevent you from falling off the edge of the roof if you lose your footing higher up and slide down.
Each roof bracket should have a label on it with complete instructions. Read and follow them carefully.
First locate a truss or rafter -- the roof brackets must be nailed through the sheathing and into these structural members. The exposed rafter tails on our roof made this easy. If you’re not so lucky, listen and feel for a solid spot as you tap across the roof with a hammer. When you locate solid wood, carefully slide the blade of a pry bar under the shingle to separate it from the shingle underneath, and gently bend the tab up. Then you can place the nails where they’ll be covered by the shingle. If you feel the nail miss the rafter (it will penetrate easily), pull it out and put a dab of caulk or plastic roofing cement on the hole to seal it. Then move the nail over an inch and try again.
Rafters in older homes are usually 16 in. apart, while trusses in newer homes are usually 24 in. apart. Both have 1-1/2 in. of nailing surface. Measure from the first bracket to find more rafters or trusses. Complete the slide guard by adding the 2x6 plank. Now you can safely work your way up the roof by adding more brackets and planks about every 8 ft.
When you’re done on the roof, remove the brackets and planks in the opposite order, starting at the top and working down.
You Can’t Just Tie a Rope to Your Belt
On low-pitched roofs where footing is no problem and the eaves are less than 12 ft. or so from the ground, you may feel safe working with just roof brackets and planks in place. This is OK. But for the ultimate in roof safety, especially on steeper roofs or big jobs, invest in a safety harness and rope.
The roof anchor must be fastened securely to solid wood like a rafter, truss or ridge beam, not just through the roof boards or plywood. Models vary slightly, so read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them carefully. Here are a few of the key points:
Inspect the harness and lanyard for loose stitching and worn webbing. Never reuse a harness or lanyard that has been subjected to a fall. Send them back to the manufacturer for inspection. Examine the rope for fraying.
Adjust the harness buckles for a snug fit.
Locate the roof anchor directly above where you’ll be working on the roof. Don’t work more than 4 ft. to the side of the roof anchor. Relocate the anchor or add more anchors if necessary.
Mount the roof anchor to the peak no closer than 6 ft. from the edge of the roof.
Reposition the rope-grab as you work to minimize the amount of slack in the rope between you and the roof anchor.
Clicking on Page 2 of this article take you to a wallpaper article. Where's the "rest of the story?"
What do you think of any of the fall protection kits offered by Amazon.com? I found some on <a href="http://www.RoofHarness.net</a>, and want to know what you think.