Walking on Tile Roofs

Safe Practices for Walking on Tile Roofs

While it’s always best to minimize walking on roof surfaces, sometimes it’s unavoidable. Extreme caution is essential, as most manufacturers don’t warranty against breakage from foot traffic. If tiles break, replace them immediately to prevent water damage or UV exposure to the underlayment.

Roof safety is paramount. Steep slopes, slippery surfaces, and obstacles like vents, antennas, solar panels, or chimneys all increase the risk of falls. The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance (TRI) recommends hiring a trained roofing professional for any roof access, and always adhere to OSHA’s mandatory “fall protection” guidelines to prevent serious accidents.

To minimize tile breakage, adopt these traversing methods:

• Step on the bottom three inches of the installed tile. This area is supported by the tile beneath it, transferring weight efficiently to the roof deck.
• Orient your feet parallel to the ridge, distributing your weight evenly and walking as softly as possible.
• On high-profile ‘S’ tiles, distribute your weight by placing your heel and toe on the high points of adjacent tiles.
• Avoid walking on hips or valleys to prevent breaking harder-to-replace cut tiles. However, if hips and ridges are set in mortar or foam, they may be safer walking paths. Valleys can also be accessed if tiles are cut back far enough from the center to allow walking on the metal flashing.

Finally, when installing antennas, solar panels, or other roof-mounted equipment, position them to minimize future foot traffic for servicing. When performing work like painting or repairing adjacent walls, protect the tile surface with secured plywood sheets. This distributes loads and prevents damage or discoloration from dirt, building materials, or paint.

See the proper article here Walking on tile roofs