Your roof is your home’s chief asset. If you’re a do-it-yourself or DIY type of person who watches all YouTube tutorials and home renovation television available, you might be tempted to pull out the ladder, grab some tools, climb your way up and get to work on the roof. However, before you consider climbing onto your roof, consider the associated risks to this “quick fix.”
According to the Government of Alberta’s report Workplace Incident Fatalities Investigated, December 2015, construction and construction trades represented the highest number of incidents amongst all sectors with 16 fatalities in 2014, down to 8 in 2015, with another 8 as of August 2016. In the 2015 report, the first incident listed was January 2015 when a worker was completing roofing activities and fell from the roof.
Statistically speaking, roof jobs are among the most dangerous jobs a homeowner can brave. In the U.S., roof work has an injury risk 5.9 percent greater than other jobs, even for experienced professionals, with a fatality rate of 29.4 per 100,000. Research shows that one-third of all construction fatalities are the result of falls from roofs. While licensed roofing contractors are not immune to these dangers, experience, training, along with proper tools and equipment lowers the risk of injury.
In addition to the risk of falling off a ladder and being injured or worse, you could be injured from not wearing the right clothes, boots, safety equipment, or tools. Other concerns with DIY roof repairs is that it’s not always easy to see the problem, or where it originates. You may not know how to actually repair the specific problem properly. You could also use the wrong materials.
Replacing a roof is a highly technical undertaking, requiring more than nailing in individual shingles; it involves many components from insulation to flashing. The integrity of your roof also affects the energy efficiency of your home – poor workmanship or the wrong shingles can damage insulation or framing under the roof and void your warranty too.
Edmonton Roofers
Experienced Edmonton roofers like ours at A. Clark Roofing and Siding LP also work with your homeowner’s insurance if the damage was caused by a natural disaster. We offer a 5-year workmanship warranty on a variety of roofing systems, from asphalt fibreglass shingles to metal tiles. We are fully licensed and insured and carry full WCB coverage for all our technicians. If you have questions about your roof’s condition, contact A. Clark Roofing & Siding LP for a free quote at 780-465-7571 today.
