I actually asked to see their fire plan before they started, just to be safe. They didn’t seem surprised—guess I’m not the only one worried about this stuff.
You did the right thing. Honestly, more people should be asking those kinds of questions. It’s your house on the line, not theirs. I get that there’s supposed to be some “industry standard,” but from what I’ve seen, it’s all over the place. Some crews are super dialed in, others act like they’re grilling hot dogs instead of working with open flame on a roof.
I had torch-down done about five years ago on my garage. The crew that showed up looked like they’d done it a thousand times, but I still kept an eye out the window most of the day. They had extinguishers and all that, but what really got me was how fast they moved from one area to another. I asked them about hot spots and they said they always check twice before leaving, but you never really know unless you’re up there yourself.
It’s wild how much trust we have to put in these folks. I think a lot of people are afraid to speak up or ask questions because they don’t want to seem like a pain, but honestly? If someone gets offended by you wanting your house not to burn down, that’s a red flag right there.
I agree with you—next time I’d ask even more up front. Maybe even get something in writing about their fire safety steps. It might sound overkill, but after hearing stories (and seeing that news piece), it feels necessary.
Bottom line: if you’re paying for the job, you get to set the expectations. If a crew doesn’t like it, there are plenty of others who will take your business. Don’t let anyone make you feel unreasonable for wanting basic safety.
- Asking for their fire plan is just smart—wish more folks did that.
- I’ve seen torch-down jobs where the crew barely glanced at their extinguishers... not great.
- If they’re annoyed by safety questions, that’s a huge warning sign.
- Written fire safety steps aren’t overkill, especially with how dry summers are getting.
- For what it’s worth, I went with a green roof system instead—no open flame, and it’s been solid so far. Less stress, plus it helps with insulation.
I get why torch-down is popular, but honestly, the open flame part makes me nervous too. I was on a job last summer where the lead guy had a fire extinguisher... somewhere in his truck, not even on the roof. That just seems like tempting fate, especially when it’s bone dry out. Is it just me, or do some crews act like safety stuff is just paperwork? The green roof idea sounds cool, but does it hold up in heavy rain? I’ve only ever worked with torch-down and TPO so far.
Yeah, the open flame thing with torch-down always makes me a bit twitchy too. I’ve seen guys get way too casual about it—like, “Eh, I’ve done this a thousand times, what could go wrong?” Well, plenty. Had a buddy who almost set a cedar shake house on fire because he thought “a quick pass” with the torch wouldn’t hurt anything. Fire extinguisher was... you guessed it, in the truck.
As for green roofs, they’re actually pretty solid in heavy rain if they’re built right. The drainage layers and root barriers do most of the heavy lifting. I’ve seen some in the city that handle downpours just fine, but you gotta keep up with maintenance or you’ll get ponding and leaks. TPO’s obviously a lot easier to install and less nerve-wracking than torch-down, but green roofs are kind of their own animal—more upfront work, but they can last if you don’t mind the extra upkeep.
Honestly, I wish more crews took fire safety seriously. It’s not just paperwork—it’s your whole job site at stake.
Honestly, I wish more crews took fire safety seriously. It’s not just paperwork—it’s your whole job site at stake.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked a site and found the extinguisher buried under a pile of scrap or sitting in the cab. One job, I showed up for a final inspection and there was still a faint scorch mark on the siding—turns out they’d had a “minor incident” with the torch and tried to cover it up with some paint. Not the first time I’ve seen that either.
I get why folks like torch-down, especially for old flat roofs, but I’m always a little on edge when I see it in action. Too many guys get comfortable and start cutting corners. TPO or even self-adhered mod bit might take a bit longer, but at least you’re not risking burning down half the block.
Green roofs are cool in theory, but around here (lots of trees, wet climate), maintenance is a nightmare. If you don’t keep up with it, you’re basically growing a swamp up there. Still, I’d take that over a fire any day.