Roofing Tools, Drains and Resources

Note: Before you begin to assemble the Turbo-Rail fall protection railing, it is important to read all safety warnings and information in the Garlock Turbo-Rail Operator’s Instruction Manual carefully. 

The Garlock Turbo-Rail fall protection railing system creates a sturdy perimeter that prevents accidents while working near roof edges. The Turbo-Rail is OSHA-compliant and does not need to be bolted to the roof deck.

The following instructions will walk you through how to install a Garlock Turbo-Rail fall protection railing system to a parapet wall. These instructions were written using information from the Turbo-Rail manual and from Hy-Tech professionals.

To keep roofing crews safe, all roofing job sites must have a fall protection railing in place. The Garlock Turbo-Rail fall protection railing provides comprehensive, OSHA-approved protection around the entire perimeter of a roof edge. It installs quickly and easily by clamping on to a parapet or slab floor. 

In this post, we’ll look at how to prepare the Garlock Turbo-Rail for transport and hoisting to your roof deck. If you need instructions on how to install the Turbo-Rail along a roof edge, check out these assembly instructions for the Garlock Turbo-Rail Fall Protection System.

The Garlock Ultra Cutter is a powerful commercial roof cutter designed to effectively slice through flat, level built-up roofs for reroofing applications. To maximize its performance and ensure operator safety, it is important that the machine be set up and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The following offers an overview of the Ultra Cutter’s controls, along with pre-use checkup, prep and operating instructions. In addition to this post, we recommend that all operators thoroughly read through the operating manual before using, as it contains details on important safety precautions.

Garlock Ultra Cutter Controls Overview

Before operating, familiarize yourself with the Ultra Cutter’s controls, all of which are detailed below:

With proper operation and regular maintenance, high-quality power tools can last well beyond their warranties. Unfortunately, tools with advanced electronics and circuit boards—such as the Leister VARIMAT V2—also require the right power sources for maximum life and performance. 

When using an AC-power commercial portable generator, the consistency of the electric current is specifically important. On most generators, this is listed as total harmonic distortion (THD). The higher the THD, the greater the fluctuations in current flow. If THD is too high, it will overheat critical components, and if it is too low, it will negatively impact performance.

In this post, we will explain total harmonic distortion’s impact on power equipment, and detail what you need to consider when purchasing a commercial portable generator for your construction site.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a federal body that creates national safety regulations, requires installation of “guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems” around roof edges from which workers can fall 6 ft. or more. 

The Garlock Life-Link Cart is a roofing fall protection system for up to 3 contractors working at or near a roof edge. It is only intended for work performed on flat, level roofs with a maximum pitch of 0.5 in. over 12 in. (0.5:12).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fall protection regulations in place that all construction workplaces must meet. These requirements are designed to prevent workers from falling off overhead platforms or elevated workspaces, and compliance often requires purpose-built equipment.

To ensure your roofing employees are safe, we’ve put together the following checklist of commercial roofing fall-protection equipment.

There are 3 main types of flat-roofing systems: built-up roof (BUR), modified bitumen and single-ply. Each system is designed to waterproof the roof and protect it from sun, rain, snow and more. This prevent leaks, mold and rot—all of which can weaken the roofing structure and cause costly damage.

To help you evaluate your options, we’ve detailed all 3 roofing systems below.

Built-Up Roof (BUR)

Around for more than a century, BURs were the most common flat-roofing system until the advent of single ply. BURs use multiple layers of tar and gravel to create a watertight seal over the roof, which protect bottom layers from damage.

Commercial cast-iron roof drains are often subjected to heavy weathering and regular wear and tear. As a result, their parts—including domes, rings, sump pans, and clamps—sometimes break, crack or rust over time, and need to be replaced.

To purchase a replacement part, you need to know the make and model of your original drain. To start, it is best to look for any raised or stamped part numbers that may be visible on the old ring or dome.

Unfortunately, if the drain has undergone extreme damage, this can be difficult to determine. The good news is there are ways to find out this information by looking at the drain’s color and dimensions.

Below, we’ve outlined the drain characteristics that will help you identify the make and model of a roof drain, which can then be used to purchase a replacement part.