Need to get on the roof?

[LWJ]

Wow. What a game changer.

I work with contractors on their insurance. I know many many cases with roof-fall injuries. Some folks never recover.

Thanks!

[stevej37]

For as simple as the thing is...$70 seems a little high.
Someone will see that and build and sell them for less.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by stevej37

For as simple as the thing is...$70 seems a little high.
Someone will see that and build and sell them for less.

Or just admit your roof days have passed.

I'll still go up the ladder, just not going on the roof.

[stevej37]

^^^ I have a dormer on one side of the house that sometimes needs cleaning. The roof is a low pitch near the dormer which makes it easy to walk around with no fear.
The rest on the roof is too steep...I won't get on it without a throwing a rope over the peak and securing it.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I think she already has the word on any Pelican roof job.

Proof the internet never forgets...

[Bugsinrugs]

I just had a standing seam metal roof installed. No more screws to tighten every year. I do clean the two wood stove pipes come fall. That tool looks to be in my future.

[fastfredracing]

Its hot out . You wont find me on any roofs for another few months

[Deschodt]

it's a good idea...I even went looking..
But $70.. I will stick with the strap that I loop from the ladder to one of the pipes sticking out of the roof convenient near the gutter (plumbing vent?)

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ Yeah...I just love taking a 12 ft fall into my lawn.

I don't think a monkey-roll works when falling straight down.

Just pile up a bunch of those walnuts to break your fall!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I can relate. About 30 years ago I had to go up on a roof to cover a chimney. Unfortunately, I had to take an extension ladder to get on the back deck, pull the ladder up to get on the shed roof sunroom, then pull the ladder up to get on the roof of the house.

I'm not afraid of heights, have never had a problem, but ^that^ sounds like someone else's problem to me.

It all went according to plan, until it didn’t. As I was transitioning off the roof of the house to the ladder to get to the sunroom, the ladder slipped and twisted. I fell off and landed between two skylights. My knee or hip, broke the OSB underneath the shingles.

I lay there for a minute or two, but being in the middle of the summer, The roof was scorching hot and I had to get up. Fortunately the latter didn’t slide off. I used the ladder to get down on the deck and from there down to the ground.

I was by myself and shaken up pretty good.🤪

Bang Ding Ow! It sounds like the roof did the giving so no part of your body had to. You make no mention of anything being broken, so that's great. Glad you didn't go through a skylight.

In our old house (2 story, hip roof) I was quite comfy getting on the roof. I could use the privacy fence next to the garage to get on the garage, and then from the peak of the garage could get on the second story roof. It was fine to walk around. I installed weather station gear up there by strapping it to the top of the chimney (anemometer and vane). I did get much more careful when standing right on the edge.

I've been on the roof of our current house once, and wasn't a huge fan. It's a 7/12 pitch, and 30º feels pretty steep when you're walking on a 2 story, pier and beam house.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Yes...it's something about transferring ones weight from the sturdy roof to the wobbly ladder that makes me hesitant. Going up is fine....back down is not.

This thing adds stability to the downward part.

Yep, the transfer on the way down is definitely the part that feels the most dangerous.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I bought one of these last week and it's a game-changer. Solid, secure, and extension ladder makes it so much easier. It's basically a bar clamp with two grips....one for the gutter and one for the ladder. I have gutter screens and it works fine with those.

I officially designate you "Roof Boy."

[911 Rod]

15 years ago I did a metal roof on my 2,000 sq/ft side spit by myself with some help from friends with the sheets.
Spent many hours trimming back the shingles and laying the strapping. All went well.
The final thing I had to do was the ice guards. I found myself reaching down to screw them in as I was not comfortable getting closer to the edge even though I been at the edge many times.
Something in my head had snapped and I was suddenly fearful.
After many years on roofs, I can no longer do it.
Sucks getting old.

[stevej37]

To make a fall off my roof even worse....there is a 3-4 ft border of stone and small rocks around the whole roofline. Not much 'give' to them.

[Steve Carlton]

Bok bok bok...

[stevej37]

^^^ yep...but still alive.

A few years back, I had to do some work on the steepest pitch of my roof. I needed both hands for the work, so I took two 12ft 2X4' and joined them for a total of almost 24 ft. I nailed stepping cleats to it and a one foot lip at the top. I slid it up the roof on it's smooth side and flipped it over so the lip was over the peak.
I could then easily walk up to the work area and didn't have to hang onto anything.

[pmax]

[911 Rod]

Difference between an asphalt roof and a metal roof is if you sit or kneel on a steel roof you slide to the bottom.

[gacook]

I grew up the son of a roofer. I've been up and down so many ladders onto and off of so many roofs (often carrying heavy buckets or bundles of shingles) that I have no issue going up and/or down ladders.

BUT as I've gotten older, I DO always use ladders now. I used to just pull myself up onto the roof and then jump back off if we threw a frisbee up on it or something. Till I fell and broke my wrist (getting older sucks).

A few days ago, the neighbor's kids (boys around 10-12) went up on their roof for some reason using a painter's ladder (A-frame). I was out watering and saw them trying to get OFF the roof, and they were obviously scared. Went and held the ladder for them. I'm sure they'll think twice about using that type of ladder again--maybe

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^
Ok...you go down the ladder facing outwards??

I don't know if I could do that.

Bump your butt on the treads on the way down. It does help if you have a round butt and not a flat butt.