Prepare for Father Christmas by repairing your roof

Believe it or not, Christmas is almost upon us again. Colourful decorations are popping up on city streets, children are making last minute additions to their lists of desired presents, and department stores and supermarkets are dusting off those well-worn Christmas carol compilations one more time.

What better time then to cast your eyes upwards, and think about the safety of your roof? Whether you're taking advantage of the summer weather to clean out your gutters, or simply preparing for the imminent arrival of a reindeer-drawn sleigh, get down to your local Kennards Hire for all you need to make repairs on your roof.

Take the first step

Obviously, the first thing you need to do is get up there and check on the condition of your roof. While getting on to the top of your home might seem like an easy operation, it always pays to keep your safety in mind. Safe Work Australia reports that in the eight years to 2011, 37 workers were killed as a result of falling from a ladder, so make sure you have the safest tool on hand.

The last thing you want is for Father Christmas (or anyone else) to come crashing through your ceiling while on their way to your chimney, so a check-up of your roof's health should be something you perform as part of regular maintenance. At Kennards Hire, we have an assortment of ladders to meet every ascension need. From simple two-foot step ladders right up to 35-foot extension ladders, no matter the height of your roof, we have what it takes to get you up there.

Get to work

So, you've had a look at your roof and assessed that there is work to be done. Depending on the size of the job at hand, moving yourself up and down a ladder all day might not be the most ideal way to make use of your summer afternoons. If you're going to be spending plenty of time working on or around your roof, maybe you need to consider setting up some scaffolding.

For bigger jobs, whether replacing some spouting, painting or reinforcing your eaves, make sure you have stable footing by setting up scaffolding, or even a trestle for when you require added mobility. Minimising the risk of falling is the most important thing you can do, so working on as large a platform as possible is recommended.

Lock it down

Some of the most common problems you're likely to encounter on your roof, particularly in parts of Australia vulnerable to Mother Nature's wrath, are due to loose or otherwise deteriorating materials. The best thing you can do in a situation like this is to replace any ageing roof elements, be they tiles or metal sheets.

To reduce the risk of having further problems in the future, it's vital that everything is nicely fastened in place on your roof. Luckily, at Kennards Hire a whole range of nailing, stapling and fastening options is available, which should help you ensure everything is tight and secure.

Even if the job isn't as drastic as replacing whole sections of your roof, defending your guttering from the buildup of stray leaves and debris can protect you against future problems with sagging and leaks. Why not consider installing a gutter protecting mesh system, with the assistance of one of our various fasteners?

Want more advice?

It doesn't matter if you are replacing a few broken tiles or painting a more inviting chimney before Christmas, at Kennards Hire we have all the equipment you need to make repairs to your roof. Come in and talk to one of our experts, and get the festive season off on the right foot.