Shingled roofs installed by experienced roofers are attractive, long lasting, and very economical in comparison to other, more expensive material. Yet shingles do require a certain amount of maintenance for them to last as long or longer than the manufacturer's advice. By using the following tips from professional roofer services, any homeowner can easily provide the maintenance necessary to keep their shingled roof in the best condition with fewer problems and a longer roof life.

Keep the Gutters Clean

Gutters are an essential part of every roof system; however, they tend to fill with dirt and vegetation fairly quickly. When this happens, water pools up in the gutters instead of flowing into the downspouts. It can also cause serious problems with shingles if water build-up is enough that the ends of the shingles become submerged. This can lead to shingles soaking up water and damage to the underlying adhesive and underlayment as well.

Shingles will begin to loosen and in colder temperatures experience ice damming as the water under the shingles begins to freeze, pushing them up off the decking. Although it may appear minor, roofers know that dirty gutters have the ability to ruin an entire shingled roof.

Keep Branches and Leaves Cleared Away

Branches can damage shingles in a variety of ways, from scraping and cracking them to pushing them up off the decking or chipping the edges. Large branches can penetrate the shingles, making a hole in the entire roofing system. On the other hand, leaves can lay on the surface of the shingles or collect in the gutters, causing them to retain water or grow moss and mildew.

To prevent these types of problems, roofer services recommend keeping all trees trimmed back from the house so that branches and leaves cannot affect it.

Clean Off Vegetative Growth

Moss, algae, and even mildew will grow on shingles in wetter areas, creating a fuzzy or slimy coating that can become damaging after a while. Any growth can prevent shingles from drying out sufficiently and over enough time, cause the shingles to peel, swell, or decompose in other ways. When moss or some other type of growth is discovered on a shingled roof, it is important for homeowners to call expert roofers to remove this growth by scrubbing the shingles clean.

Inspect the Roof Often

Homeowners should inspect their roofs often and look for potential concerns that need attention. View the surface from afar, looking at all sides to see if anything seems out of place, then try to take a closer look. Before climbing a ladder for that closer look, roofer services stress that homeowners should never walk on the top of their house, just observe from the ladder. Look for missing flashing, damaged shingles, and anything else that seems to be in disrepair. Check for evidence of leaks in the attic and try to get an idea of the overall shingle condition. When this is not possible, hire roofers to inspect the shingles instead.

With the helpful suggestions from professional roofers referenced above, homeowners can keep their shingles in great condition year after year. Naturally, if any of these tasks are too difficult or if any other problems with shingles are an issue, homeowners should make a call to local roofer services who can help!

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Roofing can be a dangerous job when the right precautions are not taken. It is one of many professions that falls under OSHA’s protection, whose policies state that all roofers must have the proper protection to safely perform this essential job. Roofer services must ensure their employees adhere to these regulations that are designed to prevent or reduce the number of serious accidents occurring in this profession each year.

Provide Proper Training

Before climbing up onto the top of any homes or other buildings, roofers must be thoroughly educated on roofing safety and how to prevent falls. Besides learning the job itself, employees must also learn the many ways to keep themselves safe while working and how to use fall prevention safety gear. The company they work for should provide training so the worker knows how to plan and perform each job and understands the importance of fall prevention and protection before ever climbing up onto any roof.

Provide the Right Safety Gear

Along with safety training and a good work plan, roofer services must provide employees with the safety equipment necessary to prevent falls. Every worker should be equipped with the right Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) and trained about proper setup. When a full body harness and secure anchorage is used correctly, it protects workers by stopping a fall in progress.

In addition to a PFAS, employers should also provide fall restraint systems, such as guardrail systems, which stop falls by preventing workers from reaching the edge of the work areas where they could fall or slide. Other systems such as warning lines, warning alarms, and even safety nets can be used to protect employees from falls.

Plan Jobs Ahead of Time

Good planning should be an essential part of every job performed by roofers. Without a plan, accidents are more likely to occur. To prevent falls and other injuries, a preliminary inspection must always be done of any building where employees will work. Then generate a work plan addressing any challenges that are present, while maintaining employee safety through the use of fall arrest gear. Part of this planning must also include where and how to set up PFAS so there is no question about attachments or fall distances once the work begins.

Create A Rescue Plan

Planning ahead also means creating a rescue plan in the event that an accident does happen. Workers should be trained in what to do if a worker falls while wearing a PFAS as well as how to handle any other safety emergencies. To reduce injuries that could still occur with a PFAS, all roofers should understand that the fast rescue of fallen workers is important to prevent suspension injuries. All workers should know how to reach a fallen worker and get them to safety as well as what to do if an injury does occur during a job.

Teach Safe Use of Equipment

In addition to all of the above-mentioned measures, roofer services must also ensure that workers have safe and usable ladders, scaffolding, platforms, and any other necessary equipment. They must also know how to properly use all of this equipment. Instruction on how ladders can be used during rescues should be provided, along with training on how to securely set up scaffolding and guardrails plus the safe use of aerial lifts if they are required.

Although many roofers may be highly skilled at their jobs, accidents are always still possible. To prevent potentially deadly falls and other accidents, roofer services must provide essential work and safety training to all employees. Workers must be provided with safe, stable equipment and gear designed specifically for fall prevention or arrest. With proper planning that includes the above safety measures, employees can achieve job efficiency with the least amount of risk!

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