A branch on your shed roof, shed roof repair or improvement. There are any number of reasons to go onto your shed roof, but is it safe to do so and what are your risking. Really the questions boils down to this: Is your shed roof too weak to hold you.
No, it is not recommended that you stand on your shed roof. Given the purpose of a shed and its structural design it is not safe to stand on your shed roof unless it is specifically designed to do so by a professional builder to be strong enough to hold your weight.
The strength of your shed roof is not just due to design, but other factors that may make it unsafe. Below we will unpack what could go wrong and why we say that you should not stand on your roof.
Limitations of a shed (and the main reason why you can’t stand on the roof)
The main reason why we cannot recommend anyone stand on their shed roof is that Sheds don’t need a permit. This adds a degree of uncertainty to the vast majority of shed owners out there.
There is no guarantee that the structure of your roof can without your weight unless it was specifically designed to do so. This will likely only be the case if you had it built yourself, or you have the plans for it.
To give an idea of how dangerous it can be, this paper published by the CDC states that over 10,000 serious injuries occur due to roofing or ladder related accidents in the construction industry alone. safety at such heights is critically important and you should absolutely know that when you set foot on anything it can hold your full weight and it is stable.
Why you shouldn’t stand on roofs
Roofs, in general, are not designed for people to be on them. Here is a list of reasons as to why you should avoid standing on your roof:
- Roofs Pitches Are Dangerous
Roofs are slanted planes pointed towards the ground with no safety barrier between you and the ground. The greater the slant, the more surface friction your shoes need to have to grip safely to the surface. There is no guarantee that your roof even has a surface that is easily gripped to as it may have worn away due to age, or may be covered with moss, algae, or debris that will lessen the gripping ability of your shoes.
- Roofs Are Not Structural Designed To Hold Your Weight
When designing a roof, architects and engineers only consider the certain loads that they anticipate the roof will be under. The vast majority of sheds are designed for mass production, which generally means what is the cheapest way to design a shed. When you start cutting costs with materials, which is generally the first to go, you generally get weaker until the designer cannot go any further because they are only compensating for the basic wind, rain, snow, sleet, etc.
- Roof Surfaces Are Not Designed For Foot Traffic
This is two fold. While the roof may have degraded to a certain degree leaving your footing uncertain as described above, you may also just damage the surface of your roof allowing moisture in and ruining the roof all together.
- Standing on roofs may damage it
In relation to all of the points above, if you don’t know what you’re doing up there. You’ll end up causing more damage that could lead to more problems like water leaking in, heat loss, pests, etc.
With all these said, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t stand on your roof if the need arises. Certain scenarios like repairing a tile-finish or cleaning your gutter will require you to stand on your roof. Just make sure you know what you’re doing while you’re up there to prevent any accidents/further damages to the roof.
How to safely work on a roof
Now that we’ve just tackled the different concerns that come with working on your roof. We’ll now be going into the safest and most efficient measures that you can take to make working your roof much easier.
The following is what you can do to make working on your roof easier and safer:
- Attire
In any construction project, proper work attire should be followed. A good rule of thumb is to protect the skin(sleeved shirts, pants, boots), the head (hardhat), and, if needed, the eyes. You need to pay particular attention to your footwear and get very grippy boots that have a high friction coefficient(ie they grip really good)
- Picking the right time
Obviously, you wouldn’t want to be on your roof while it’s raining or when it’s extremely hot. Time your work hours during the late morning to avoid the early morning dew causing it to be slippery and be careful of the mid day heat which can increase the chances of a fall if you don’t stay hydrated or are not used to the heat.
- Fall protection
This is not optional. This could be a ladder close by, a rope attached to hold you up or a person that is there to help. You should always have someone that knows you are on the roof and is close by. If you were to fall with no one their than it could be hours or more before someone find you if you have no way to communicate.
- Safety Harness
You can also use a safety harness while working on your roof. Secure the line on a solid object and make sure that the safety harness is at the appropriate length at all times. I have secured a harness to myself and roped the other end over the top of the roof attached to a nearly immovable object like a tree or car. Just make sure that the rope is secure enough to hold you.
- Securing a ladder/scaffolding
Unless your roof has a design that allows you to access it from inside, you’ll most likely need to use a ladder or scaffolding to get on it. Remember to secure these as the last thing you would want is for them to get out of place and end up stuck on your roof.
- Knowing your limits
Some repair jobs aren’t DIY-friendly. It may cost you more, but hiring a handyman to fix your roof problems might be the best decision for you. Just think of it as an investment that will save you time and money from future repairs.
- Clear the area
Since roofs are an elevated space, there’s a possibility that your tools and other objects could fall from them. Ensure that your roof is clear of any loose debris and that the area below where you’re working is cleared of people and other objects(ex. A car).
Best way to access a shed roof
If you’re reading this article or if you looked it up, we’re guessing you need to do something for your shed roof.
The best way to access a shed roof is with a ladder or scaffolding. With the average shed size less than 200 sqft, almost the entire roof should be accessible by hand while on a ladder. Since shed roofs also have such a simplistic design, you can easily see the entire roof from either side.
Another method of getting up to your shed roof is by using scaffolding. Scaffoldings are elevated platforms that provide an elevated workspace for construction works. Compared to ladders, scaffoldings are safer and more efficient, but they are also harder to set up and are more expensive.
To access a shed roof, you’ll only need one platform for scaffolding that’s elevated around 8 ft( around 2.5m) off the ground. Depending on the repair job, you can even just use a table/chair to fix something for your shed roof.
Common problems of shed roofs
In this section of the article, we’ll discuss the different issues/needs that come with having a shed roof. The following are the most common problems that homeowners have with their shed roofs and a brief solution for these problems.
- Leaking
Leaking shed roofs are often caused by a deterioration in the material or by incorrect installation. The easiest way to fix this issue is to caulk the gaps that water can pass through. Remember that every gap should be filled as water will always try to find a way to get in.
If you are having moisture problems in your shed than the roof may also not be the issue. Check out this article we wrote about what may be causing that moisture in your shed.
- Termites
Termites are a common problem for wooden sheds. Houses often come with anti-termite protection. Unfortunately, sheds are separated from the house and right smack in the middle of the outdoors, making them even more vulnerable to termites.
Termites mainly live in warmer climates that are relatively moist as well. If you live in the US the south, west and southwest is where they can generally be found.
The most common and cost-effective solution is to have the soil surrounding your shed, as well as the wood of the shed itself, treated with anti-termite chemicals.
- Mold
Mold is often the result of poor ventilation or poor insulation. The lack of these two causes the environment within the shed to be damp, which causes mold.
The solution for this problem is to control the moisture forming within your shed. This involves identifying the root causes of said moisture and having it fixed up.
- Misinstallation
Since sheds are one of the only structures that can be built without professional guidance, many DIY projects end up having some sort of misconstruction that ends up causing problems down the road.
This can be particularly dangerous as many people think that building a shed is no big deal and you can save money by using different or weaker materials.
There are places not to cut corners on your shed like whether you can use 2x3s for your shed or others. If your shed is wobbly than check out our article to stop that sway in your shed so that your wobbly shed won’t fall down.
It’s a good practice to always have construction tools and some extra materials stored if you need to do any repairs. Ensure you have enough caulk, nails, and adhesives, as they are a must for any DIY repair job.
Conclusion
In conclusion, shed roofs are easily accessible and do not require you to stand on them to install finishes or do repairs. Sheds and shed roofs are not designed to handle heavy loads, and you may end up further damaging your shed and shed roof.
Working on roofs will require you to follow safety precautions and preventive measures. Some jobs are just not DIY-friendly, especially those that are roofing-related, and it might be a better choice to hire a handyman instead.