Walking on roofs?

I see lots of the folks on YouTube washing roofs and walking on them. I also see some photos posted by folks on this forum that certainly must have been taken when walking on roofs, or while using their jet packs.

My insurance specifically prohibits my employees from walking on roofs. If one of them falls off, probably won’t be covered. Our insurance folks do specialize in the exterior washing business so it’s not that they are off base as far as that goes.

So what gives with the roof walkers? Is there some special rider to put on our coverage or are some of these folks in for a real whizzbang of a ride, WHEN someone falls?

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Most are stupid, don’t care or don’t know. If they are owner operators OSHA does not apply to them, only their employees.

I’m assuming you are talking about walking a roof without harnesses

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It’s all about what the insurance company allows.

Some allow it, some don’t.

I had to shop for a bit to find a company that would allow me to get on the roof.

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They have no idea.

Zero.

If they learn, it’ll be the hard way.

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Yep, and we maintain strict policies that every employee signs off that they were trained on. Everyone takes OSHA-10 before we allow them out of the office, and no one goes on a roof without a full harness setup, or they’re fired.

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I asked my agent about roof washing, she said I’m covered but premiums would go way up if I walk the roof.

I need to find a different agent though, our current one doesn’t know how to insure washers.

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Mine was maybe $200 more.
That was easily worth it to me.

Per month??

Per year

That’s quite reasonable then.

My insurance doesn’t make a distinction. No walking on roofs, period. I’m probably OK with that for now. I’m not a big fan of walking roofs. I’m always concerned about the slip factor once you lay down some SH & soap. Even with a harness. Seen some pretty wicked injuries from folks falling and the harness cutting off circulation.

Guess if I want to walk roofs, I’m gonna have to pony up the extra premium and train up and harness up.

I’d never get on a roof to clean it. I kinda think cleaning roofs is gimmicky personally. We get on roofs to clean out gutters. But cut out 90% of gutters in the last year.

It’s not gimmicky. It’s oftentimes because the customer’s homeowner insurance company requires it or else they’ll cancel their policy. I recently cleaned a roof because of a letter my customer received from their insurance company. That’s something that doesn’t happen all that much where I live but It’s huge in the Pacific Northwest. I can post up the letter later if you’d like to see it. I’ll have to blank out some info first.

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People around here get those letters also. I lost a community that I pressure washed because they got the letter and I wouldn’t offer the service. Lobbyist push for that crap

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It’s a thing here in Louisville, rich folks don’t like to see the black streaks on there $1.3mil house.

I agree with the lobbyist push crap. I also don’t want to see people have their homeowner’s insurance canceled or rates go through the roof. I’d rather clean it for a reasonable price so they don’t get dropped and so some other company doesn’t come in and charge them an arm and a leg. When I see a letter I charge peanuts cause I hate insurance companies. Like @dcbrock I also get people who want the moss and black streaks gone. By the time it’s moss most shingles have damage. It just attacks the shingles causing them to lose grit. Cleaning can definitely extend the life of the shingles. Come on William. Finally admit it. You’re wrong for (cough) once (cough). It’s no gimmick. :grin:

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I like you too much to argue with you :slight_smile:

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Dang I wish you liked me :joy::joy::joy:

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It’s definitely a thing, and you can do some major good for folks avoiding having to replace their roof too soon (a lot of unscrupulous roofers will just tell people the streaks mean it’s time for a new one…)

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I doubt lobbyists have anything to do with it, it’s not a gov’t thing (for once), but the actuarial nerds at the insurance companies finding ways to drive down claim costs…