The roof is one of the most vital parts of any commercial or residential property. The roof keeps rain out; when it snows, your house stays warm, and without a solid shelter, you’re basically homeless.
When roofs decay, they become dangerous, making having a professional inspect them essential for maintaining safety on your property.
This article will cover the tools used by professional roofers to inspect and maintain residential roofs and commercial, industrial, and other large-scale roofs.
Tools used by professional roofing companies
There are tons of different tools that help provide professionals with the information they need to make an educated assessment of your roofing system.
Some common tools used by roofing professionals include:
1. Telescopic Ladders
One tool used by roofers is telescopic ladders. A full-sized ladder can be cumbersome to use in places where there isn’t enough room for traditional steps to fit. Telescopic ladders are a great solution to this problem.
Their ability to telescope up and down with ease makes them an indispensable part of getting onto a roof safely and securely. Once on top, these ladders can be quickly unclipped from the permanent anchors they’re attached to so that they can be totally removed or re-positioned as needed.
They’re also easier to store because they can retract into a much more compact size when not in use. Telescopic ladders are even designed for use with cradles to allow the user to work on steep roofs near gutters, ledges, and skylights.
When it comes time to get off of your roof at night, telescopic ladders are great because they can be collapsed quickly for easy transport down from tall buildings. As a result, telescopic ladders are one of the most vital parts of a roofer’s toolkit.
2. Walking Planks
Walking planks are large boards attached together with a handle or rope for stability. They can be used to walk on during repairs, inspections, and flat roof installations.
In addition, walking planks can help keep you dry if the ground is wet, so you don’t have to worry about slipping and falling off of your roof.
Most roofing professionals have their own personal plank they like to use during ups and downs on roofs because it’s easier than lugging around an entire wood ladder.
3. Carrying Ropes
Carrying ropes offer another way for workers to stay stable while working on a roof. There are several different styles of carrying ropes depending on what kind of work the worker is doing, but typically they’re made from plastic or steel wire and come in various sizes.
Carrying ropes can be used to attach tools and supplies to the roofer’s person as they work, which helps prevent them from falling or being blown away by the wind. Some roofs are too dangerous for workers to tackle alone; that’s where rope access comes in handy.
Rope access is an efficient way for workers to get up on a roof without using a ladder. It also reduces the risk of workplace injuries because there’s no need for dangerous footing or climbing equipment like harnesses and hardware.
4. Roofing Visor
Another common tool used by roofers is a roofing visor. Visors help you see better, but they also protect your eyes from the harsh sun and unfavorable weather conditions.
In addition, visors provide eye protection so that professionals can get a good look at your roof without worrying about what might be in their line of sight blocking their vision. Visors come in different styles, so choose one that fits your needs best!
For example, a broad-brimmed visor provides solid side protection, while a bucket-style visor is perfect for working underneath an eave where there isn’t enough headroom to accommodate a brim.
5. Climbing Equipment
Another tool used by professionals is climbing equipment. There are several different types of climbing equipment available, and professionals will use whichever style they prefer or whichever type works best for the particular job at hand.
The most common pieces of climbing equipment include lanyards and lifelines, insulation shields, roofing boots, figure 9s, adjustable rope straps, and fall protection kits.
6. Preventative Measures
Not only do roofers use tools like telescopic ladders to repair problems with roofs; they also take preventative measures that help prolong the life of your roof such as high-pressure washing, shoveling snow off roofs in winter months, installation of gutter guards, so leaves and sticks don’t clog your gutters, and inspecting roofs monthly to catch problems early.
Conclusion
So now you know that when you bring in a roofing professional to keep your roof in good condition, you’re making an investment that will pay off in the future by saving you time and money because your roof won’t need to be completely replaced until much later than if it wasn’t maintained at all.
As with any job, one also needs patience with many years of experience under their belt to build a successful career as a roofer. We hope that this article has shed some light on the tools used by these professionals. Thank you for reading!
