Walking on a flat roof

mark46327

I want to access the side of my house to do a bit of maintenance. However, the only access is via the flat roof of an extension. Is it generally OK to walk on a flat roof?

Thanks

Mark.

ormus

generally yes.

albalad

if in any doubt use crawl boards , anything to span the joists - sheets of ply , scaffold boards etc - better to be safe than sorry.

mark46327

Thanks both. I've got some spare sheets of wood so will use those just in case!

Mark.

extonjoe

I am a buildings surveyor, be careful when walking on a flat roof as it can shorten the life of the covering. even small foot fall movements cause minute cracks in the surface materials this then fills with water in the winter and freezes causing bigger more serious problems in the future. If you have to do it do it on a warm day when cracking is less likely and use soft shoes and boards. Even this cannot always prevent cracks on old flat roof. normal life of a flat roof is twenty years if not disturbed.

JOE

timoran

extonjoe wrote: »

I am a buildings surveyor, be careful when walking on a flat roof as it can shorten the life of the covering. even small foot fall movements cause minute cracks in the surface materials this then fills with water in the winter and freezes causing bigger more serious problems in the future. If you have to do it do it on a warm day when cracking is less likely and use soft shoes and boards. Even this cannot always prevent cracks on old flat roof. normal life of a flat roof is twenty years if not disturbed.

JOE

Thanks for sharing this information with us.I did not know about this