Best Practices this Spring for Cleaning a Roof

Winter is winding down, and your roof may have taken a few snow storms or winter rains throughout the past few months. As freezing weather dies down and spring starts to emerge, your roof is likely to bear evidence of the past few months. Springtime is a great time to decide on cleaning a roof since there is less chance for slips from ice. It’s also right after the winter months that may bring about damage caused by snow or ice. Waiting to or neglecting cleaning a roof after the winter months may result in expensive repairs and heating bills. Before cleaning a roof this spring, keep in mind a few tips provided by Industrial Ladder.

Safety First

First thing’s first, if you are going to climb on top of a roof, you will need the proper equipment. Werner ladders provide the most safety of any ladder on the market, which is why they are the leading seller for industrial uses. If you own a ladder that is damaged in any way, you will need to replace it before scaling a structure to clean a roof. To view our selection of Werner ladders, please visit our website. Additional to a means of getting on the roof safely, you will need safety gear while you are on the roof itself. For the most optimal roofing safety, invest in a harness system. A fall protection kit is everything you need for roofing safety, including a roofing bracket, lanyard, harness, and lifeline. Using a safety harness allows for you to use both hands while cleaning a roof and the ease of mind of knowing that if you do fall, your safety is ensured.

Inspection

Before cleaning a roof, you must first inspect it for damage. Look for anything that could damage the membrane of your roofing or anything that has already produced damage. If you notice damage like holes in your roofing, use a roofing service to provide repairs. Do not attempt to walk on your roof if there is any visible damage or if you do not have roofing safety gear.

Remove Waste

Once safety measures are ensured and inspection have been completed, you can now remove your roof of any debris or waste that could potentially cause harm to the integrity of the structure. This includes tree limbs, trash, branches, leaves, or anything else that may penetrate the roofing membrane upon movement. If there are tree limbs touching the roof, be sure to trim them so that they no longer slide across the surface of the roof, potentially penetrating the membrane or ripping off shingles. Piles of leaves and sticks can hold in moisture, allowing for drainage and damage to the roof. Make sure that while you are cleaning a roof you also pay attention to the debris located in the gutter system. Remove waste found in the gutters to allow for correction of roofing runoff from rain and snow.

Cleaning a Roof

Now that you have the right safety gear, means of ascension, proper inspection, and removed roofing debris, you are ready to clean the roof. A great way to rid roofing of mold, moss buildup, and dirt is a pressure wash system. Each local municipality will have different laws for roofing cleaning measures, so check with your local department to see what your options are for cleaning a roof in your town. If you are unsure or incapable of cleaning your roof yourself, invest in a team of roofing cleaners that are professionally trained for the task.

Roofing Tools and Fall Protection

Industrial Ladder provides many different selections of roofing fall protection and tools on our website. Check out our inventory of materials that you may need for your spring roof cleaning right on the internet. All of our products are shipped to our customers, so once you order your roofing equipment will arrive shortly and your roof cleaning project can begin! Have questions about our products or services? Give us a call today at 1-800-833-0800.

 

The post Best Practices this Spring for Cleaning a Roof appeared first on Industrial Ladders Blog.

from Industrial Ladders Blog http://ift.tt/2mlH1zq
via IFTTT