CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Heat continues to be top of mind this week with temperatures on Wednesday reaching 95 degrees in the afternoon. 

What You Need To Know

  • On Wednesday, temperatures reached 95 degrees during a roofing installation training
  • The company hosting the training took additional steps to keep participants safe, including frequent water breaks
  • The training would be helpful for an annual home building blitz in October

Roofing manufacturer GAF hosted a roof installation training for site leaders at Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region. 

“The goal is to give them basic instruction on how to install our system properly so they can lead individual groups of volunteers,” GAF Roofing Academy Instructor Gary Pierson said. 

The training happened during a 95-degree weather day. On the roof, the temperatures are higher with shingles on the roof reaching 140 degrees. 

The participants took steps to cool down, including wearing wet towels around their necks. 

“Volunteers are being exposed to some pretty hot elements so we are trying to rotate on and off the roof about as often as we’re getting drinks,” Pierson said. 

This training will be crucial for Habitat's Carter Work Project in October. Over five days, 750 volunteers will help build 27 houses. 

GAF is donating materials for the roofs and training. 

“GAF’s model is we protect what matters most. What better way to do that to help donate and to help install the roof products on each of these houses during the Carter build," Pierson said. 

AmeriCorps volunteer with Habitat Charlotte Region Rachel Hurst will be one of the site leaders training volunteers to install roofs in October. 

Despite the heat, she didn’t want to miss the opportunity to attend the training. 

“There’s nothing like working for Habitat for the day,” Hurst said. 

The Carter Work Project will help shorten the timeline of the housing project. 

If you have to be outside this summer, the American Red Cross also recommends to wear loose-fitting and light-colored clothing and stay indoors during the hottest part of the day.