Anytime you are doing any sort of work on top of a roof, it's important to follow these basic safety tips.
- Sweep the roof lightly before you start working, to remove tree debris or anything else you could slip on.
- For a secure foothold while working on your roof, rent a pair of roof jacks from your roofing materials supplier. Slip each jack under a shingle in your work area, then nail them in place. To make a scaffold, place a 2×6 across the jacks for your foothold. Once you're done, slide the jacks out and hammer the nails in flush with the surface of the roof.
- On a steep roof, anchor a ladder in place with ladder braces, which hook over the peak of the roof. You can buy these at a building-supply store.
- To keep your hand tools from sliding off the roof, lay down sheets of the soft plastic foam used as cushioning in packages. They'll grip the roof and hold your tools to prevent them from skidding away from you and possibly falling on someone below. Keep bystanders safely away from the house anyway, just to be safe.
- Avoid power lines, as they are not always insulated.
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Use caution and keep safety in mind while working on your roof.
