Recently, I was on a roof in Louisiana during some stormy weather. While I was walking the roof I found a Spiderman action figure standing independently in the middle of the roof defying the storm gusts! How was Spidey just standing there in the middle of the roof? I had to scale a 200 lb, 30 ft. tall ladder to get on the roof. So, unless a kid was bitten by a radioactive spider, how did it get there? It's amazing how many times we ponder the obscure items we find on a roof!
RoofConnect maintains millions of square feet of roofing. We are on roofs over 15,000 times a year and sometimes our techs find some interesting items. Here are 6 of the more unusual things.
1. Bullets and bullet holes. Our techs send us pictures of roofs that are riddled with bullet holes and have the actual slugs on them from people shooting their weapons into the air. Well, what goes up must come down, and thankfully onto a roof and not a person. “Lead” precipitation is definitely not covered under warranty!
2. Trees and Shrubs. I know that you are thinking, “Hey! Green roofing is not unusual!” However, these trees and shrubs are unintentional. We once removed a 4 foot tall mimosa tree from a roof in Florida that had rooted completely through the built-up roof to the deck. This is why we recommend clearing gutters and drains bi-annually!
3. A clothes line - with the clothes still clothes-pinned on the line.
4. A Santa Suit! No Santa though.
5. Animals. We have certainly seen lots of winged animals, squirrels, and rats. Animal nesting and waste is a serious hazmat and roof condition concern. Owners should take the proper humane and professional steps to eliminate any animal roosting.
6. Garbage and Junk. We have found and disposed of tons of roof junk left by tradesmen, building employees, and litter-bugs. In one serious California rainy season incident, a roof became flooded because a plastic bottle had gotten stuck in one drain, a plastic bag and leaves were clogging another, and the gutter flow was congested from garbage. There was so much water on the roof that a roof collapse was a real possibility. Our tech was able to get the drain and gutter cleared and averted disaster. Get the garbage off the roof!
Most of these finds are the direct result of a lack of awareness and regular roofing management. With the proper maintenance plan, your roof will not hold any surprises for you. Annual roofing assessments are recommended by the National Roofing Contractors Association. Call RoofConnect at (877) 942-5613 and we will help you put a program in place. Visit our website for information on repairs & regular roof maintenance.
Tell us, what are some of the unusual things you have found on a roof?
Guest Blog Contributor:
Mick Handloser, National Account Manager - South Central Region for RoofConnect.Mick can be reached at (877) 942-5613 or via email mick.handloser(at)roofconnect.com
Mick Handloser is a Registered Roof Observer (RRO), and a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association and the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues Inc. He currently manages the accounts in the south-central and southwest U.S. for RoofConnect.
Very nice, in my personal experiences I have found a sawed off shotgun laying in a lower gutter. On another occasion, I walked right on to someone’s living quarters. Fully stocked with mattress, couch, lawn chairs, and a mattress. This person had set up shop just on the other side of a parapet wall where he/she could people watch in the parking lot. Unbelievable!
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