Is Walking on Your Roof Safe?

Although not an everyday occurrence, you may sometimes have the need to get up on your roof. Whether to clean off debris, fix a broken shingle, or to unclog the gutters – some things are easier done from the roof.

But is walking on your roof safe? Before you get up on top of your home, consider the following:

Should You be Walking on Your Roof?

The short answer to that question is almost always “no”. There are several reasons why it is never good idea to climb on your roof. If you have any issues which require attention, we recommend that you call a local Sarasota roofing professional to assist.

Structure: Newer roofs in South Florida are likely strong enough to handle the full weight of an adult, but the roof structure was not built for that purpose. Older homes may also be experiencing some deterioration underneath which is not readily visible, and you could break through if you walk on a weak spot of the roof. While falling through the roof is a rare occurrence, you could cause structural damage to the integrity of the roof.

Damage to Roofing Materials: If you have an asphalt shingle roof, you are far less likely to cause damage by walking on your roof. Shingles are flexible, and can usually handle people walking on them without sustaining too much damage – although you do have to watch out for causing granular loss which could cause a reduction in their lifespan. On the other hand, clay tile roofs are very easy to break. Walking on a tile roof will often cause tiles to crack, and once this happens, leaks are likely to occur. Tile roofs are also harder and more expensive to repair and replace, so you want to be very careful about damaging them.

Safety Issues: You never want to climb up onto a roof if the surface is wet, dirty or covered in debris. Roofing materials can get very slippery, and depending on the slope of the roof, it can become a dangerous situation for someone who is unskilled in walking on these areas. Even a fall from a one story home could involve a 12 or 13 foot drop, and a two story home can be as much as 25 feet. No roof concern is worth the type of serious or permanent bodily damage which may occur should you fall.

Consider the Slope: The slope of the roof is also a key criteria on how safe – or dangerous – a roof may be. Obviously a flat roof is nearly completely safe to walk on, while a steeply pitched roof should not be attempted.

In general, you can accomplish much of what you need to do without stepping on the roof. You can visually inspect the roof from the top of a ladder, and clean out the gutters in the same way. If you believe that you need a thorough roof inspection (after a storm, for instance), call in a roofing professional who will not only protect your roofing materials, but have trained eye for any minor damage which may become a problem later on.

If you do have an issue with missing or damaged roofing materials, call Avery Roof Services today. Delaying these types of repairs may cause the summer rains to infiltrate your home and cause unnecessary damage. While strong sunlight and heavy rains are a given in South Florida, damage to your roof does not need to be. Call us today to discuss any needed inspections, repairs or maintenance on your Sarasota area residential roof.