While it is OK to walk on your roof, it is not recommended and should be avoided whenever possible. Though you might be able to fix the leak or hang Christmas lights as a homeowner by walking on your room, there are serious safety and insurance risks involved in stepping onto your roof yourself.
Is It Safe To Walk On Your Roof?
Incorrectly walking on your roof is dangerous and can lead to serious injuries. Even something as small as a loose shingle or missing nail can cause you to slip and fall, which is why it’s always best to have a professional roofer check out your roof before deciding whether or not walking on the roof yourself is safe.
In addition to risking falling, you may damage the roof or notice other issues that a trained professional should handle.
Professional roofers know best when conditions are safe, and you should not walk on your roof if they tell you that it isn’t. It is generally not a good idea to stand on your roof. For one, you may damage the shingles or even slip and fall due to either wetness or algae build-up (if this is an external problem).
Additionally, if you are not trained properly on how to recognize safety concerns regarding standing on roofs, there could be significant physical dangers. After it rains it can be very slippery, and damaged shingles could result in you slipping if your weight is unevenly distributed around the roof.
Can You Damage Your Roof By Walking On It?
As touched on earlier, you can damage your roof by standing or walking on it. If the shingles are damaged they may buckle under your weight and present a potential safety hazard such as slipping. In this case, you should have them replaced to avoid future injuries.
Walking on the roof could also cause other issues like leakage from an improperly fixed shingle that was not replaced as well as you should have. You may also damage nails, gutters, downspouts, and other roof features that are not meant to bear weight.
Can Walk On Your Roof Void Your Insurance?
If you have homeowners insurance, walking on your roof may void the policy. When it comes to physical damage such as a leak or broken shingle due to faulty installation (or even from stepping on one of these), this could be considered an intentional act and result in your homeowner’s insurance being voided.
If you have walked on your roof yourself, insurance companies may not honor any other claims you make for it.
What Can You Do Instead Of Walking On Your Roof?
The safest thing to do when you need to walk on your roof would be simply hiring a professional. They can handle checking for damages and other safety concerns as well as helping with installation or roof repair work when necessary.
Many homeowners will hire professionals after they have tried doing some of this themselves only to cause more damage or to realize that it was not something they should have attempted themselves.
To clean gutters or hang Christmas lights, a bigger ladder is preferable to walking on the roof. You can also try extendable gutter cleaners or tools made to help you hang Christmas lights in a safer manner.