Are you considering investing in new roofing equipment?
Equipping your roofing contracting team with the right tools is crucial for efficiency, safety, and the quality of your work. We’ve compiled a list of 4 must-have tools that every roofing professional should consider. And remember, every piece of roofing equipment you use must comply with OSHA regulations to ensure a safe working environment.
Ready to gear up? Explore our complete range of roofing tools and equipment here today!
1. Guardrail Systems
One of the most important roofing tools you can purchase your team is the guardrail system.
They are essential because they prevent workers from falling off the roof. They also offer a secure and stable platform for workers to stand on, which reduces the likelihood of slipping or tripping. Guardrails not only increase safety, but they help employers comply with relevant safety regulations and standards as set by OSHA.
Open-Edge Guardrails
There are several different types of guardrails. One of these is the open-edge guardrail system.
Open-edge guardrails act as safety barriers to prevent workers from falling off the edge of the roof. They typically consist of a railing system that is attached to the roof and extends upward, creating a barrier to prevent workers from falling off the edge.
Vertical Guardrails
A vertical guardrail system is designed specifically for low pitch roofs, masonry, and parapet walls alike. It is a unique system, which is meant to be positioned on the outside parapet wall in order to permit construction or roofing work to be done safely to the decking and cap without any interference from the fall protection setup. A quality vertical guardrail system is appropriate for many different applications. These include metal roofs, parapets, stairwells, and skylights.
At Badger Ladder, our vertical guardrails are powder-coated a safety yellow coloration.
Flat Roof Guardrails
A flat roof guard rail system is a suitable choice for many different types of applications. These include flat roofs, metal roofs, parapets, skylights, stair wells, and rake edges for steep roofs, among others. For a flat roof guard rail system, a plate can easily be screwed, bolted, or welded.
The flat roof guard rail system, in particular is designed for using for horizontal surfaces.
Parapet Wall Guardrails
The parapet wall guard rail system is easy and quick to assemble from inside of the parapet. This system doesn’t penetrate the building since the safety bracket locks onto the parapet.
A parapet wall guard rail system complies with OSHA regulations.
Steep-Pitch Guardrails
A steep-pitch guardrail with a post is manufactured and test to meet regulations in order to provide a much safer roofing experience for roofers. The steep-pitch guardrail helps to prevent falls, and has a slide-guard and a toeboard to ensure your workers’ safety. A steep-pitch guardrail interleaves with shingles, and is power coated with a safety yellow coloration.
2. Chicken Ladders
Chicken ladders, also known as roof ladders, are specialized ladders designed specifically for roofers to perform roofing work with ease. A chicken ladder is typically comprised of wide, flat rungs that provide a stable platform for roofers to stand on while working. Not only that, but chicken ladders have hooks or clamps at the top that allow them to be attached securely to the roof, reducing the risk of the ladder slipping or sliding while being used.
If you are a roofer, you should strongly consider a chicken ladder to help improve your safety. Lastly, chicken ladders can even help to improve posture and balance while roofing. This helps to limit the chances of injuries to the neck and back.
3. Roofing Hooks
Another important roofing equipment product to invest in is the roofing hook. Roofing hooks are manufactured for use on roofs, providing a better, more efficient roofing process. For example, roofing hooks provide a secure attachment point for roofers to tie off their safety harnesses, which reduces the chance of falling.
Roof hooks also allow your roofing team to easily navigate on top a roof and access different areas without having to constantly move a ladder. Furthermore, roofing hooks distribute the weight of the roofer more evenly. This helps to reduce stress on specific areas of the roof and extend the lifespan of the roofing materials themselves.
Without a doubt, using roofing hooks improves the overall safety, efficiency, and longevity of your roofing project.
4. Roof Brackets
Lastly, roof brackets are support structures that any roofer can attach to a roof. These help to provide a much more secure, stable platform for you to work from.
A roof bracket usually is a metal bracket that you can attach to your roof (on a metal or a wooden platform). This provides a much more stable surface for the roofer to stand on while working.
Adjustable vs Non-Adjustable Brackets
It’s worth noting that there are both adjustable and non-adjustable roof brackets. The difference between adjustable and non-adjustable roof brackets is the degree of flexibility they offer.
- Adjustable roof brackets. Have the ability to adjust their height or angle, to make it easier to work on different slopes or pitches or to reach different areas of the roof.
- Non-adjustable roof brackets. As their name implies, non-adjustable brackets have a fixed height and angle, making them suitable for roofs with consistent slopes or pitches. Since they have more simple designs, they are less expensive than adjustable roof brackets. However, they may not be suitable for roofs with different slopes or pitches, since they cannot be adjusted and it’s likely the roofer will need to utilize a different bracket for each pitch.
Shop Our Roofing Tools & Equipment
Our roofing tools and equipment are designed to meet the rigorous safety standards set by OSHA and ANSI, giving you peace of mind while working at heights. At Badger Ladder, we provide a wide range of high-quality roofing solutions, including chicken ladders for secure access on steep pitches, durable roofing hooks, and versatile bracket systems that ensure stability and safety during installation or repair work.
Explore our extensive selection of roofing equipment, perfect for all types of repair and installation projects, right here on our website. If you have any questions or need guidance on choosing the right tools for your specific needs, our knowledgeable team is always available to assist you and ensure you have everything you need for a safe and efficient job. Whether you need a chicken ladder or roofing hooks or bracket systems,