When you rely on your home to provide you with comfort and shelter, you can't take any risks with its ability to keep water outdoors where it belongs. Great roofing is instrumental in the fight against the elements, because it helps to create the kind of environment you need to keep your home and family safe. Unfortunately, there are many homes that don't have strong, reliable roofs, which can cause problems in the long run. On this website, check out excellent ways to spot roofing problems and resolve them quickly. After all, your home is your most valuable asset, so protect it now.
When the time comes to install a new roof on your commercial building, one thing you don't want to overlook is the safety of your customers and clients. It's imperative that you work with the roofing company to develop a plan that ensures that those entering and exiting the building below are safe and in no danger from falling roof materials.
1. Request a Teardown Chute
During a roof teardown, the old material is ripped from the roof and tossed into a dumpster below. This leaves the risk that some materials may go astray and cause injury or damage. A teardown chute is simply an enclosed chute that connects to the side of your building. The top of the chute is at roof level, and the bottom enters into a dumpster below. The main benefit of using such a chute is that there is little danger of the old roofing materials falling on anyone below if they are instead dropped down the secured chute and into the dumpster.
2. Schedule for Fair Weather
Wet or icy conditions on the roof increase the chances of an accident, both to your roofers as well as to anyone below. A slick, flat roof increases the chances that materials or tools will slide off the roof and possibly fall on someone below. Or worse, a worker on the roof could slip and fall off. Plan to have your new roof installed in spring, summer, or fall, when temperatures are relatively mild and dry.
3. Opt for After Hours
You can minimize safety concerns and inconvenience to your customers by having the most invasive roof tasks completed after hours, such as in the morning before you open, in the evening after you close, or on the weekends if you are closed. The dangerous tasks likely involve tear-down and material placement on the roof, so having the roofers do this the night before or in the early morning before starting the job can help prevent a lot of safety risks.
4. Limit Accessibility
If possible, limit accessibility to the perimeter around the building, where material is most likely to fall and cause injury. Use safety tape, cones, or a temporary fence to create a buffer zone between the building and the surrounding sidewalks and parking lot. Use the buffer marker to funnel customers into a main entrance. Your roofing crew can then be careful to avoid placing anything that could pose a danger on the part of the roof directly above this sole access area.
Contact a commercial roofing installation service for more help.