Is It Safe To Walk On A Flat Roof

In a 2014 study conducted by the bureau of labor statistics there were 647 fatal falls from roofs roofers are trained to walk on sloped surfaces so contact a roofing professional first if you are planning on doing repairs to your roof.

Is it safe to walk on a flat roof. Your roof seems like it should be strong after all it needs to be able to withstand massive gusts of wind pelting from hail dosing in rain that can add hundreds of pounds of weight and so much more. Sometimes you need to be able to access your roof. Crouch down slightly to walk down a metal roof safely. Metal flat roofing flat or low slope commercial roofs can also be covered with steel zinc aluminum or copper.

But they re not really made to be walked on. The majority of flat roofs are not built to withstand the pressure of being walked on and doing so may cause weakness over time not only making it a health hazard but also putting your investment at risk. It s something that seems like it should be so simple and yet presents so many risks. First off we don t recommend that you walk on your concrete tile roof if you can avoid it and neither do tile manufacturers.

However standing seam or screw down metal panels are not practical to walk on. Also see building safety hazards guide and see our list of inspector safety articles at home inspection education services safety articles. Generally speaking it is as safe to walk on a metal roof 30 or 50 years after installation as the day it was installed. Every time you walk on the tiles you put stress on them that can crack them or loosen them.

Walking on your roof. Cleaning your roof without walking on it. Walk up a steep roof sideways. Walk up a roof and lean your body over towards the roof to help maintain your balance.

4 steps for walking on metal roofs the first thing to do is check the manufacturer s advice for their recommended method of walking on that particular roof product. Walk up or down a slightly inclined roof by walking as you would on the ground but slowly. People ask all the time if it s safe to walk on their rv roof to perform maintenance view a beautiful sunset or watch a nascar race. The answer depends on several factors such as the rv manufacturer s recommended weight limit the type of material used to construct the roof system and the condition of the roof.

The steeper the metal roof the more you ll need to lean over. Sure concrete tiles are strong. They can easily bulge and cause leakages that will be costly to repair.