Loading A Roof

When laying a new roof, it is important that you get the material to the actual roof in a safe and secure manner. Many people over look this area of the job but it can be one of the most critical to protect the materials as well as the worker’s safety. Many times, the roofing materials can be delivered and placed on the roof, but there is also a chance that you might have to accomplish this task yourself. If so, try to rent a conveyor that allows for ease of movement to distribute shingle loads around the roof. If the conveyor equipment is not up to standards or is unavailable, the next best option is to obtain a willing friend to help you haul upwards of 60 loads of shingles up the roof. This is done by placing two ladders next to each other and loading the shingle packs in a sling attached to each man on the ladder. This is a long and strenuous process but it is much easier and safer than attempting the feet alone.

It is important to distribute the shingles around the roof so that they only need to be moved the initial time. This is also important because if the entire roof’s worth of shingles are placed in one area, the weight can be over bearing and cause flat spots or even a possible cave in. When placing the shingles down, the safest place to set them is on the ridge of the roof. This is because the ridge is the least possible area where the materials can slide off, and its also easier to slide them down to an area that needs covered rather than pulling them up. Although it might not seem too difficult to stack bundles, there is a sort of science to it. Stack one bundle lengthwise on each side of the ridge, then stack three remaining bundles across the ridge on top of the two lengthwise bundles. Repeat this process for one more layer. Once this is finished, move about 8-10 feet down the ridge and make another bundle. This way you can create large square areas where a load is evenly distributed and bundles can also be easily removed.

Although composite shingles were made to be in the elements, they were not made to be in their packaging for too long. If possible, have the shingles delivered to the work area as close to the job build as possible. This is very important because if the shingles are exposed to direct sunlight or intense heat for a prolonged period of time, the adhesive backing can become active and they can glue themselves together. If they must be left on the roof, it is important to cover them with a light colored tarp that will deflect sunlight.