How to prepare for roofing work
Roofing is a work that requires high professionalism, because it is designed to provide a reliable, durable and high-quality result. The roof should not only protect the house from rain, snow and wind, but also ensure proper heat exchange in the room, protect the house from freezing, condensation, dampness, mold, mildew and rotting of wooden surfaces. Therefore, carrying out such work requires the use of high-quality materials and careful training of a specialist.
In addition, roofing works are classified as high-risk works. Therefore, they are allowed to persons at least 18 years old who have passed special professional training and safety instructions. The passage of such instruction must be confirmed by an appropriate certificate. Also, roofers undergo a mandatory medical examination, safety instructions and trainings before starting a new work.
Let’s look at the basic rules for roofing works.
1. Roofing work must be carried out in overalls and using personal protective equipment. These include a helmet, safety harness, rope, connector and locking device.
Every person who is in the area of construction work should have a helmet. Such a helmet should have a chin strap for reliability and comfort. Take care of your own safety!
But a specialist who directly performs work at height must be provided with a safety harness that covers the entire body.
2. Works are carried out in the absence of rain and wind force.
3. Before starting work, it is imperative to check all the reliability of every equipment.
Metal or Shingles
You decided to start building your own house. And already at the stage of the project you need to decide which roofing material to choose: metal or shingles.
Let’s give a brief description of each material.
The metal tile is a metal profiled galvanized steel sheet. From the outside, the metal tile is covered with a layer of polymers of different colors (primary colors: red, brown, green). Main advantages: low weight, affordable price. Disadvantages: tendency of metal to corrosion, high consumption on a complex roof, noise.
Shingles are small flat bituminous sheets with certain shaped cutouts on the underside of the sheet. The basis is fiberglass, which connects 2 layers of oxidized modified bitumen, sometimes with various additives. Soft tiles are produced in various shapes (rectangle, hexagon, oval, rhombus, two-layer “under shingles”) and in various colors and shades. Main advantages: a large selection of shapes and colors, noiselessness, well suited for complex roofing. Disadvantages: a solid base is required, which increases the cost of the roof.
How to remove snow from the roof of a private house?
With the onset of winter, you have to take measures to remove snow from the roof, since the safety of others depends on this. You can clean the roof yourself, but it is important to remember that there are strict standards of the cleaning process and its safety. How to properly organize the work, which cleaning method to choose – you will find answers of these questions in this article.
Method 1 – cleaning the snow from the ground- To implement the plan, you must have a special scraper made of hard plastic or aluminum. With its help, you can safely remove snow from the roof from edge to ridge, breaking it into small fragments.
Method 2 – with the help of rope- To implement this idea, take a strong rope (the length should be equal to two slopes) and tie a small hammer to one end. Find a comfortable position and carefully throw the weighted end over the ridge. After your friend grabs the other end, you can start the main process. This cleaning principle is similar to sawing: with neat, but at the same time persistent up and down movements, it is necessary to separate the snow from the roofing, gradually moving from one edge to the other.
Method 3 – a snow-removing frame- With the help of a special frame made of an aluminum profile with a pointed edge and a long train, the whole snow can be completely removed in a couple of hours.
Method 4 – cleaning with a shovel-It is the most common method.
5 ways to keep the roof in perfect condition
- In spring and autumn, perform a preventive inspection of the roof. Pay attention to the condition of the installation openings, gutters, funnels and drainage system. Check them for corrosion and holes.
- To avoid excess moisture on the roof, regularly clean gutters and funnels or use special grids to protect the gutter from contamination.
- If an abnormal amount of snow falls, clean the snow from the roof.
- In summer, clean the roof with a soft brush or automatic cleaning stations.
- To prevent your roof from becoming a habitat for mosses, lichens, algae and other plants, twice a year – in spring and autumn, treat it with a roof antiseptic.
By following these simple instructions, you will prevent your roof from collapsing. And for many years it will delight you with its presentable appearance and reliably protect your home!