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What is a Pair of Gloves for Roofing

Roofing gloves are personal protective equipment used by commercial roofers who rely on their hands to do their work. In fact, OSHA considers roofing gloves a required safety item to keep workers protected from stressful hand activities associated with installing roof sheathing.

In the field of construction, roofing poses additional challenges and dangers. Roofing involves working at heights on top of sloped structures in need of repair or replacement. Roofers have an important job to do, and with that work comes the potential risk of injuries and illness. An abbreviated list of injuries includes lacerations, puncture wounds, repetitive motion injuries, burns, electrocution, and amputation.

Having access to an appropriate pair of safety gloves for roofing work is critical to reducing the risk of getting hurt. Sustaining injuries can lead to expensive medical bills, lost time and wages, permanent disability, and even death. We’ll discuss the different types of gloves best suited for roofing work a little later, but first let’s look at how roofing gloves work.

Overall Best:

Superior Glove TenActivTM Cut Resistant Reinforced Gloves with Grip STACXPURT (Box of 12 pairs)

Designed with construction, mining, and utilities in mind, these cut resistant, puncture resistant reinforced gloves offer an excellent grip.

Palm Coated Alternatives:

Superior Glove TenActivTM 18-Gauge Palm Coated Knit Gloves, S18TAFGFN (Box of 12 Pairs)

The TenActiv S18TAFGFN 18-gauge palm coated knit gloves are made from a lint-free continuous filament year that’s stronger than steel yet stands above the rest when it comes to a superior level of dexterity so important to workers in the construction industry.

Superior Glove TenActivTM Waterproof Cut-Resistant Gloves, S18WTFN

Designed with unpredictable weather in mind, these waterproof 360 degree cut-resistant gloves are perfect for the construction, mining, and utilities industries. Their TenActive knit provides ANSI Level A4 cut and puncture protection, too. Nitrile palm coatings provide a strong and steady grip when handling lightly oiled parts.

General Goatskin Gloves:

378GOBKL Endura Superior Goatskin Gloves | Superior Work Gloves

Endura 378GOBKL Superior supple goat grain drivers gloves are processed with Superior's own oilbloc treatment for excellent protection from water, oil, and stains. 

Great for Cold / Wet Conditions:

Wonder Grip (WG-338) Thermo Plus Waterproof Gloves (Pack of 12)

With enhanced grip and resistance in dry and watery environments, these gloves are a good fit for construction and public works, warehousing packing and logistics, agriculture, the food industry, and more.

How are Roofing Gloves Beneficial?

The first step to avoiding injury to your hands or any other body part is to assess your situation and take precautions before starting a roofing job or any other type of construction-related project. Before you choose roofing gloves it’s important to know what you’re walking into.

Just like hard hats and protective eyewear, slip-resistant boots, and fall protection equipment, roofing gloves provide a variety of added safety and security features for workers like ergonomically correct grip, cut resistance, and weatherproofing (hot or cold), all with flexibility and comfort in mind.

Roofing gloves should be kept nearby and worn whenever dealing with machinery, tools, or when you’re working with roofing materials like asphalt, slate, or wood shingles; ceramic tiles, or metal roofing. Safety gloves also protect your hands from the elements—especially in extreme weather conditions. While cold weather can make roofs slippery, the warmers months can prove just as dangerous with the potential for contact burns on hot surfaces. Sites where hot tar has been applied are another instance when pulling on pair of protective roofing gloves is nonnegotiable.

Why Do You Need to Wear Roofing Gloves

Anyone who works on a roof is at risk of injuries resulting from hand and wrist activity whether from performing forceful or repetitive activities, posture, or environmental hazards like the hot sun or extreme cold. Other dangers include using equipment and tools like a nail gun.

A staple of the construction industry, a nail gun comes in pretty handy for roofers, but brings with it risk for injury and even death when precautions aren’t taken. Even just one puncture wound can cause serious nerve and tissue damage. But there are plenty of other sharp tools and metal objects to be aware of on rooftops, making roofing gloves are essential when it comes to injury prevention.

Burns are another hazard roofers face. Whether from handling hot shingles on a rooftop or electrical wires, it is imperative roofers put as much distance between themselves and the chance of a burn as possible. Roofer gloves are the best way to do so.

Machinery is another hazard workers need to be cautious of, especially when working at extreme heights where attention may be elsewhere. Hands and fingers can quickly and easily become caught in machinery and moving parts. Being on the receiving end of a blade can lead to severe injury and even instant amputation.

Buying Guide

Choosing the right pair of roofing gloves for the job doesn’t have to be complicated. Understanding your work environment and conditions before you begin the job is crucial to knowing what type of roofing gloves you’ll need.

Some considerations to keep in mind when selecting a pair of quality roofing gloves is:

• Safety Level. Without providing the needed protection, roofing gloves are useless. Make sure to always protect your hands.
• Comfort and Fit. Working with your hands all day can be taxing. Making sure your roofing gloves are comfortable should be high on your list. Fit, too, is important as you don’t want your gloves to be too bulky, too tight, or risk slippage while wearing any glove.
• Durability. Depending on how well your gloves are made and from what material will determine how well they will protect your hands and how long they will last.
• Grip. Having a good grip can make all the difference to prevent injury. Factoring in height associated with roofing and a little thing called gravity, being able to hold onto objects can also prove detrimental to other workers, especially those below you.
• Multi-task utility. In some cases, you may find yourself conducting various tasks that require a more diverse glove. You may want to consider multi-material gloves blending different fabrics and qualities based on the type of work you will be doing.
• Breathable. Just as cold and wet can make roofing work more difficult, for workers in warmer or humid environments, having roofing gloves that incorporate breathability can be just as important for both comfort and safety. 
• Price. Like other types of personal protective equipment, roofing gloves come in a range of prices based on need from reusable and long-lasting to one and done. 

These types of severe hand injuries can quickly change a person’s life in an instant.

Care and Maintenance Best Gloves for Roofing

Like any other personal protective equipment, remember to inspect your gloves before each use for wear and tear. This should be standard protocol. Taking that extra time to care for your roofing gloves after each use will help to ensure they are in good shape for future projects. Not only will this practice reduce your risk of injury, but it can save you money, too.

It’s important to recognize what type of material you’re working with before deciding on how to best maintain them to get more bang for your buck. Different materials may dictate specific upkeep.

For example, more durable materials like Kevlar, cotton, and nylon can be machine washed. Roofing gloves made of rubber and leather typically can be cleaned using a dishwasher. 

Conclusion

Roofers face challenging and hazardous conditions. By making time to learn about what roofing gloves are used for, how they work, the different types of materials, when to use them and why, and how to maintain and care for your gloves you are one step closer to increasing your comfort, safety, and productivity on the job.

Choosing durable, high-quality roofing gloves will not only improve your chances of protecting your valuable hands, but also ensure jobs stay on schedule.