Maintaining and cleaning your gutters is a critical part of the exterior maintenance of your home. This is a job that you can do yourself provided you do it safely. Here are some safety tips you before starting the job.
1. Be sure to use a sturdy ladder and be sure it is resting firmly on level ground. Clear away any straw or mulch if your ladder will be resting in a flower bed.
2. If you are using an extension ladder and have to lean it against the gutters, cut a small 2×4 at least as wide as the ladder and place it inside the gutter. This will give you a firm area to lean the ladder against and reduce the risk of damaging the gutter.
3. Once you’ve climbed the ladder, keep your hips square over the ladder to maintain your balance. You should never lean away on either side of the ladder.
4. When climbing the ladder you should not stand on the top 2 steps of the ladder. It is easy to lose your balance when standing on these two steps.
5. When working from the roof, never lean out over the gutter. You may want to purchase a safety harness and secure it to a sturdy item such as a chimney.
6. Don’t attempt to work on a roof during wet, icy, or windy conditions.
7. You should wear shoes with non-slip soles like sneakers or work boots while working on a ladder or working from the roof.
8. Always wear heavy duty work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal corners and screws sticking through metal surfaces.
9. Always wear protective eye wear or safety glasses to protect your eyes. Gutters will contain many small particles that could get in your eyes causing you eye damage or to lose your balance.
10. Never work around or near power lines.
By following these safety tips when cleaning your gutters you’ll do it safely. Safety is the most important thing you can do when preparing to do work to your home.
Hubert Miles is a blogger for many websites and the webmaster of Lake Homes. Get more information on Lake Houses websites.
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