Duravex Roofing Group: Our services include roof cleaning, painting, and restoration, as well as the supply of high-quality roofing materials.

Typically, roof pitches in NSW range from 15 to 22.5 degrees, depending on the materials used and the roof type. However, if the slope of your roof is far steeper than what has been mentioned, it presents a distinct hazard to roofers who must stand on it for the purpose of repairs, painting, cleaning, or restoration.

At Duravex Roofing Group, we prioritise the well-being of our employees and the contentment of our clients. It is important to understand that obtaining professional roof restoration services poses no risk to anyone. In this post, we will demonstrate our methods for ensuring the safety of our tradespeople as they perform high-quality work on extremely steep roofs.

A steep roof has a high slope or pitch.

• Typical issues encountered with steep roofs

• Ensuring safety while working on steep roofs

• Restoration of a roof with a steep incline

• Avoid attempting to perform tasks on steep roofs without professional assistance.

What is the definition of a Steep Roof?

A roof with a pitch of 28 degrees or greater is considered steep and requires certain measures to ensure a safe working environment.

According to Safe Work NSW, a roof is considered an “inappropriate surface to stand on” after it reaches an inclination of 35 degrees. In such cases, more caution is necessary.

If you are uncertain about the degree of pitch of your roof, you can alternatively calculate the slope using standard measures. More precisely, you aim to quantify the vertical increase in the roof’s elevation over a specified horizontal distance. A roof with a slope greater than six inches per foot of horizontal length should be classified as steep and treated accordingly.

Typical issues encountered with steep roofs across NSW

Steep roofs are occasionally essential, while other times they are purely a matter of visual preference. Nevertheless, they do possess certain drawbacks. Here are some of the most crucial factors to consider.

Roofing materials degrade over time and often fail to perform as well as they did when initially installed. – Occupational safety and health

Hazardous work environment:

According to Safe Work NSW, any circumstance where there is a risk of falling more than 2 metres is classified as “high-risk construction work”.

In these circumstances, their protocols require controlling and mitigating risks such as instability, accidental falls from exposed edges, and tripping over objects. Consider the additional level of caution required when accounting for the roof’s slope.

Higher cost of upkeep:

Steep roofs are not only more hazardous to work on but also more expensive to maintain. If the maintenance involves tasks such as painting, tile replacement, power washing, or similar activities, the job is likely to require a slower pace and a crew with greater experience. In addition, the use of safety equipment, such as harnesses or a boom lift, may be required to ensure the task is completed safely, resulting in additional costs.

Incompatibility of solar panels:

Solar panels are typically suitable for a wide range of commonly found steep roof angles. Once the temperature reaches 40 degrees, however, you may experience a decrease in the efficiency of your solar panels. Several variables must be considered, including your residence’s latitude, which directly affects the sun’s angle. Ultimately, it is advisable to rely on your solar panel installer’s expertise and judgment.

Ensuring workers’ safety while working on steep rooftops:

Due to the hazardous nature of steep roofs, it is imperative that you entrust the completion of your task to a certified expert. Avoid the potential hazards of attempting a do-it-yourself project, and do not accept the services of an inexperienced individual who may lack insurance coverage, which could make you liable for any mishaps that may happen.

A professional will implement the required precautions mandated by Safe Work NSW.

Roof work is primarily associated with fatalities and injuries resulting from falls from elevated positions.

Workplace Safety Procedure:

Engaging in work under hazardous conditions requires the preparation of a legally mandated document known as a safe work method statement (SWMS). The SWMS will include strategies to mitigate the many risks associated with the activity. If you are collaborating with a reputable company, do not hesitate to verify that they have a documented Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) in place.

Devices designed to avoid falls:

Roofers utilise several tactics and tools to proactively prevent falls. These measures might range from temporary guardrails that safeguard hazardous edges to safety meshes intended primarily to protect workers in the event of a fall through a roof.

High-level access equipment:

When fall-prevention equipment is not feasible, roofers often use a boom lift to reach the work location. A boom lift is a type of equipment consisting of an enclosed platform that may be vertically adjusted as required. They offer far more stability and fall prevention than climbing a ladder or maintaining balance on a high roof.

Elevating Work Platforms (EWP)  or Work Positioning systems:

Occasionally, a tradesperson may need access to areas of the roof that are not reachable with a boom lift. When it is not possible to utilise guardrails and other equipment designed to prevent falls, workers may use a work positioning system. Typically, these safety devices consist of body belts and harnesses that allow roofers to work with both hands while preventing them from reaching hazardous edges.

Systems designed to prevent falls:

Scaffolding – Fall Arrest System

As a final safety measure, roofers may utilise technologies that prevent or reduce the risk of falls. A frequently encountered example is a catch platform. This is essentially a structure made of scaffolding, fastened with guardrails, and placed near the work area. If a tradesperson were to fall, they would only fall a relatively short distance to the platform. Fall-arrest devices are not intended to completely avoid all injuries, but they can mitigate what might otherwise be a fatal fall into a significantly less severe incident.

What is the method employed by workers to traverse steep roofs?

We previously outlined several key safety factors for roof construction. For roofs that have a particularly steep incline, defined as being greater than 35 degrees according to SafeWork NSW, workers must exercise additional caution.

These rooftops are deemed hazardous to stand on, even with a catch platform installed. Therefore, SafeWork NSW mandates the implementation of at least two out of the following three safety precautions:

• Roofers can operate from scaffolding positioned at the edge of the roof instead of standing directly on the roof.
• Roofers can operate from a roof ladder, which is usually fastened with hooks at the highest point of the roof.
• Roofers can utilise work positioning systems, such as the ones mentioned above, and harnesses.

Roof refurbishment with a high incline / Steep Pitch Roof

Even roofs with a high incline require gentle attention and maintenance. Do not disregard your own tasks simply because they are challenging. Delaying the cleaning, painting, or repair of your roof may reduce its lifespan. A minuscule fractured tile initiates the growth of mildew, such as fungi, which accumulates water that gradually infiltrates your residence.

Engaging the services of a reputable steep roofing business within the Greater Sydney Region, Sydney Metropolitan Area, Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Newcastle will provide you with the assurance that your roof is in good condition and that the workers are protected.

At Duravex Roofing Group, we offer a wide range of services to assist you, regardless of your roof’s pitch. 

• Steep-Pitch Roof Hi-Pressure Cleaning.
• Steep Pitch Roof Restoration and Roof Painting.
• Steep-pitch roof detection and rectification of Roof leaks.
• Steep Pitch Roof Restoration of the roof affected by storm damage.
• Steep-pitch roof restoration, Roof repair, and roof tile replacement.
• Steep-pitch roof ridge capping, re-bedding, and repointing.
• Steep-pitch roof replacement; repair of the roof gutter system.
• Steep Pitch Roof: Total roof renovation, restoration system.
• Steep-pitch roof conversion of Roof tiles to Metal Roofing.

Roof repair on a steeply sloped or high-pitched Roof

Repairing steep tile roofs can be challenging or straightforward, depending on the extent of the damage. Repairing tiles with small fissures is very easy, particularly if they are on the periphery of the roof and can be reached without climbing on top. roof degradation, such as loose or fractured tiles, will require more careful attention. These objects can create slippery conditions for roofers who need to reach the centre of the roof; safety harnesses and other work placement systems are necessary.

Similarly, the process of re-bedding or repointing typically involves the labour-intensive task of removing deteriorated mortar. This task can be physically strenuous; therefore, it is advisable to entrust it to roofing professionals who have received training in modern, safe methods for working on roofs.

Applying paint to a tile, terracotta, or concrete roof with a steep incline

It is important to note that when painting tile roofs, only concrete tiles should be painted, as terracotta tiles are not intended to be painted. If your terracotta tiles are aged and dilapidated, it is advisable to replace them rather than paint them. The process of roof painting typically begins with pressure washing the roof, followed by applying multiple layers of roof paint with a sprayer. Because high-pressure tools are used, both cleaning and painting operations can pose significant risks, particularly on steep roofs.

Applying paint to a High-Angle Metal Roof

The experts at Duravex Roofing Group have been specialising in high-angle or steep-pitch roof painting in Sydney for some time, and we particularly enjoy working with COLORBOND steel roofing. Homeowners concerned about the steep slope of their metal roof may hesitate to repaint it, fearing it will be challenging or impossible. However, as previously demonstrated, qualified professionals can safely work on roofs of any slope when following appropriate safety protocols.

Due to the longer lifespans and warranty periods of Colorbond roofing compared to tile roofs, converting from tile to metal may be a more favourable choice.

Avoid attempting to perform tasks on steep roofs without professional assistance.

Say NO to DIY Steep Pitch Roofing

We consistently advise homeowners against attempting DIY steep-pitch roofing, and this caution is especially applicable when working on a steep roof.

Safe Work NSW implemented these safety regulations for a purpose, not only to cause inconvenience. Their motivation stemmed from the fact that falls from elevated positions ranked as the second most prevalent cause of construction-related injuries and the primary cause of construction-related deaths.

The risk outweighs the potential benefits. If you require steep roof restoration, repairs, painting, or other related services, it is advisable to contact a skilled professional with the necessary equipment and expertise to complete the work safely. Contact Duravex Roofing Group!