The safest way to work on a roof is by hiring a roofing contractor. They have years and years of experience and can get the job done efficiently, quickly and properly. If you want get work done on your roof done by yourself, it’s crucial that you are as safe as possible. Be sure to read some of our safety tips because taking the needed safety steps can only help you stay secure and under control.

1. Don’t work on a roof all by yourself. In the case that something bad happens, it’s imperative that someone else is there to help.
2. Avoid working in any really rainy or windy weather. It’s dangerous enough working on a roof on a blue sunny sky day. Wet leaves and moisture will make it very difficult to navigate around and could cause you to slip.
3. When using ladder and making your way onto to the roof, be sure that the ladder is solid, secure and level to the ground.
4. Don’t get distracted. Pay attention to the roof and keep surrounding distractions to a minimum. You can do this by telling the people around you that the work is very important and you want to be as safe as possible.
5. When getting onto the roof it’s important that you are equipped correctly. Wear sturdy shoes that have good traction; this will prevent you from slipping. Also, use a hardhat and safety glasses.

If you are uncomfortable with the height or your roof and you know your limits, don’t try to be hero. Know your physical limitations and reach out to a professional.

The Rhode Island Slate Roofing contractors have been providing there range of roofing services throughout the state of Rhode Island & Massachusetts for many years. For further questions, please feel free to reach out. We can be contacted over the phone at 401-225-2003 or through our online contact form.

Before digging into the signs and symptoms of having ice dams, it is important that people understand exactly what they are. An ice dam is a barrier of ice that forms on the edge of a roof which in effect prohibits any water from draining off the roof. The water then builds up and can result in home leakage which then can cause damage to your walls, ceilings, insulation and more.

Ice dam removal is very dangerous, so we often suggest hiring a professional. With wet, cold and snowy conditions, inexperienced people can see themselves slip and fall from dangerous heights. If you are suspicious that you indeed have an ice dam problem, there are some things you can check before reaching out to a professional.

Leaking: If you notice any water leaking into your home, it can be generally visible from the ceiling, window trim, or top of bay windows.

Icicles: With no visible leakage within your home, these Icicles will be on the seams-joints in siding.

Icicles or dripping from the soffit: Water dripping or icicles hanging from your exterior soffit is a bad sign. This will often occur without any visible leaks inside.

If you don’t have any of the signs above, there is a good chance that you don’t have an ice dams. If you notice either of these issues, reach out to a roofing professional.

For any further information about Ice Dams and this upcoming winter, please feel free to give us a call at 401-255-2003 or fill out our online contact form.

Buying your first home is such an unbelievable and exciting experience. Many factors that you take into consideration include location, size, value, and structural condition of the house. After you purchase the home, it is important to take a deeper look. The first thing you should look into is the roof.

There are often times where roofs get overlooked, and minor problems for past owners, turn into major problems for you. If you have rented for your whole life, this is the first time that the integrity of the roof is 100% your issue. Here are a few helpful things you should look into regarding your roof.

Inspection Report

Be sure that you are closely paying attention to the inspection report and not missing any red flags that come with the roof. Don’t overlook any issues that are mentioned in the report. When dividing up the financials of the new home be sure to take into consideration any issues that may arise.

Roof Condition

Always being knowledgeable of your roofs condition is important as a homeowner. As you see any roof problems arise, act and repair before it comes back to hurt you. Roofs are made out of many different types of materials. No matter what material it is, a small, unattended repair may lead to larger, costly repairs.

Warranties and Policies

It is important to know whether or not the roof of your new home is under warranty or not. Often, large homes have roof warranties that are not transferable, but it’s important that you’re covered in the case something goes wrong.

For first-time homeowners with further questions, please feel free to contact Rhode Island Slate Roofing at 401-225-2003 or through our online contact form.

With winter right around the corner, Rhode Island Slate Roofing figured this was a great time of the year to inform its customers of the importance of roof snow removal. With the horrendous snowfall totals, that the New England community endured this past winter, we saw too many roof leaks and collapses occur. Here are some safety tips regarding snow and ice accumulation on roofs.

Older and more flat roofs are more susceptible to serious roof damage from heavy snow coverage. As snow sits on roofs, especially flat ones, it compacts together and becomes more dense. Most residential roofs should be able to handle around 20lbs per square foot of snow before they start to become over-stressed. Below are some average numbers on average weight per snowfall amount.

Fresh Snow: 10-12 inches of fresh new snow totals around 5lbs per square foot of snow.

Packed Snow: 3-5 inches of packed and old snow also equals around 5lbs per square foot of roof space.

Ice: 1 inch of ice equal 1 foot of fresh snow.

Two feet of old snow and two feet of new snow can weigh upwards of 60lbs per square foot.  After reading these numbers above, you can understand how much pressure homes were under last winter. With storm after storm hitting an area, it is important that your roof is relieved of some of its stress.

For further questions about snow removal this winter, please feel free to give Rhode Island Slate Roofing a call at 401-225-2003 or through our online contact form.