Archive for January, 2014
Roof Top Snow Removal
According to OSHA each year people are seriously injured or killed while performing snow removal from roof tops. Working on a roof can be dangerous anyways, add snow, ice or wind and the danger increases substantially.
OSHA investigators say falls cause the most fatalities during snow removal from roof tops. Other hazards can occur causing amputations, eye injuries, electric shock, frostbite, hyperthermia and over exertion.
In the past 10 years the 16 deaths from roof falls could have been prevented according to OSHA investigations, with proper safety techniques and training.
Removing Snow to Keep Your Roof From Collapsing
Snow removal can prevent roof collapse or is needed so construction crews can perform deck or roof repair. Methods to remove the snow include snow rakes, shovels, and snow blowers, by either standing on the roof, ladder or the ground. It is not wise to use a snow rake while standing on a ladder to remove snow from your roof; this greatly increases your risk of losing your balance and falling.
OSHA suggests using snow removal techniques that do not require you to go on the roof. Use ladders to apply de-icing materials or use snow rakes or drag lines from the ground.
If you or your roofer must go on the roof, evaluate the extra weight for you, your equipment and the extra snow and be sure to use fall safety equipment. Snow removal can be hard work; we tire more easily in cold weather increasing the potential for exhaustion, back injuries or heart attacks.
Six Men Fall from Roof in Sochi
While clearing snow from the roof of the Sanki Sliding Center, where the Olympic bobsled event will be held, 6 men slid to the ground. Falling approximately 30 feet, one man appeared to suffer a leg injury and was taken out on a stretcher; the other men received minor injuries. According to the Sochi organizers, all of the men were taken to the hospital and treated.
Witnesses said the men appeared to have been harnessed to the building, but still fell to the ground with the snow. Associated Press staff members quickly grabbed shovels and began to dig where the men had been buried by the snow that fell from the roof.
An AP Staffer had phone briefly taken away
Security officers ordered Associated Press staff to stop taking pictures of the men with their cell phones.
The bobsled and luge events will be held next month at the Sanki Sliding Center in Rzhanaya Polyana, 37 miles northeast of Sochi. The opening ceremony for the 22nd Winter Olympics will be February 7th.
The reports don’t indicate how the men were actually harnessed to the building, although it doesn’t appear to have been a very effective safety measure. I could find plenty of references to Russia’s anti-gay laws, the reason many are boycotting this year’s winter Olympics, but I could not find any roofer safety laws like the United States and OSHA.
Sealing Valleys on a Roof
Valleys are where 2 angles of a roof meet creating a V-shape. When you discover a leak coming from your valley there are a few ways you can make the roof repairs.
Closed valleys are where the shingles butt together on top of the metal flashing. To repair leaks in this type of valley start at the bottom and slip a piece of flashing in the shape of a diamond under the butted up shingles. Overlap the pieces of flashing at least 2 inches. Nail each shingle and cover the head with roofing cement.
Metal flashing allow water to flow down the valley
Open valleys have the flashing exposed and the shingles end at the flashing edges. To seal make sure there is no debris in the valley. Check that the roofing material is cut in a straight smooth line on each side. The distance between the shingles should widen from the ridge to the eave at 1/8 inch per foot of valley. Lift each shingle and use roofing cement to coat the area that lies on the valley. Use a cartridge gun to run a bead of roofing cement down the valley next to the shingles.
If you need to patch a valley flashing cut a piece of sheet metal the same gauge as the original flashing. Cut a patch larger than the damaged area and wide enough to slide under the shingles. Apply a bead of roofing cement around the outer edge of the patch slide the patch under the shingles on one side and then the other. Put more roofing cement on the top and bottom of the patch where it lays over the original valley piece. Smooth the cement so water can flow uninterrupted down the valley.
You can also check online for video tutorials on how to repair your flashing. As always be careful if you go up on your roof to do any repairs yourself. If you are in doubt, hire your local roofer to make the repairs for you.
Worlds Largest Vinyl Record on Roof Top
Through the end of January for a publicity stunt, the Inglewood California Forum will have a 407 foot diameter vinyl record on their rooftop. Hotel California by the Eagles is spinning at 17 MPH, actually just the center is spinning. The record will stay up until the end of the month to commemorate the eagles being the first band to perform at the Forum since the renovation. When the month is over, the record will come down and the standard white roof materials will once again be visible.
The Inglewood Forum spent 100 million dollars to renovate the iconic building in Los Angeles. The LP was designed and built by New York Marketing Company Pop2Life. The roof top record required 25 tons of material, 15 LED lights, 1 mile of aluminum framework and over 5 acres of printed vinyl.
The Forum is the country’s largest indoor venue focusing on music and entertainment. The Forum was first opened in 1967 as a home for the Lakers.
Roof Top Record Tiles
On a related note, Jayefull and Matt Glassmeyer are using recycled records and CD’s to tile roof tops of porch overhangs, sheds and other semi enclosed areas. Considerations on which material to use could be that CD’s reflect the heat while the black vinyl records absorb it.
While the material cost is low, performing roof repair on vinyl tiles could be quite a hassle since you can’t nail directly into the CD’s or records due to the brittleness of the materials and they break easily.
Using records may not be a trend for your home, but they are working out fine for people who have used them on their garden sheds and overhangs.
Repairing a Roof with Roofing Cement
If you have limited or minor damage to your roofing system you may be able to use roofing cement as a short term fix for your roof repair. You can apply roofing cement when replacing missing or damaged asphalt shingles to hold them in place, also to reattach buckled shingles and patch cracks or small holes. Put roofing cement over exposed nail heads to prevent water leakage.
Checking your roof materials, around flashings, joints or skylights for cracked or weathered roofing cement, if the seal is bad, the cement should be reapplied.
The wood on your roof is very sensitive to excess moisture, and can create many problems. Examine sheathing, rafters and joist to locate areas where excess moisture is an issue. If the water has caused structural damage you will need to repair or replace these areas.
Use a Moisture Reader to Find Problems
Moisture meters are used to measure the percentage of water in a material. If the meter shows more than 18% moisture content the area will more than likely need to be repaired or replaced. You can find moisture meters for under $20.00 to well over $500.
Roof cement is a multi-purpose adhesive and patching material. Be sure to use gloves when working with roof cement as the chemicals involved are asphalt, refined mineral spirits, plasticizers and non-asbestos reinforced fibers. Different formulas are made for dry or wet surfaces, for roofing purposes be sure the label reads it can be used in wet, cold conditions.
New Roof for Provo Carriage House
Made possible by donations and volunteers, Provo’s Pioneer Village carriage house has a new roof. It took approximately 4 hours to replace the old metal roof; the tin roof was loud and did not provide enough protection from the elements.
Improvements are paid for by donations since Pioneer Village does not charge admission and is run by volunteers. Several private donors and two local companies made the new roof a reality.
Generous Donations and Volunteers
Tracy Eliason at Custom Tech Roofing of Payson was invited to bid on the large carriage house re-roofing project. After Mr. Eliason talked with Mike Baker of Interstate Roofing Supply of Provo, they agreed to donate the roof materials and services of an expert roofer to supervise the volunteers on the roofing project.
Located in North Park in Provo Utah the village has the original structures from the settlers of 1849. The village has the Turner Cabin, the Haws Cabin, a school, a granary, wood shop, blacksmith shop, an authentic general store, rare artifacts and tools and various pioneer wagons.
The Pioneer Village plans to use the carriage house to host activities. Pioneer Village is open 6 days a week and is free to the public. On Saturday afternoons a special community showcases events telling the story of Provo’s pioneer settlement. Sons of Utah Pioneers Brigham Young Chapter sponsor Pioneer Village.
