Need to get on the roof?
 

I have no fear of climbing an extension ladder and stepping off onto a shingle roof. (as long as the pitch is not bad)
Getting off the roof onto the extension ladder is a whole other problem for me. The ladder always seems unstable (wants to slide)

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.

Available on Amazon.....

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQGDK4QR?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_detail s


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1718830715.jpg

Here's a pic of it being used.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/...AC_SL1151_.jpg

Nice.

But I'd just wait around for Roof Girl to turn up and I'd pretend I was doing some gardening.

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

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1311450170.jpg

My buddy could have used those a few months ago, he called me and said he was trapped on the roof when the wind blew the ladder over!!

Ypu can also use a #11 vise grip C-clamp around the tread to the gutter.

^^^ Just one of them will work....it's a strong connection. (don't need two)

Aluminum ladders are so light that they can be blown off easily.

What if the tread doesn't match the gutter height?
These hook onto the ladder rails.

What’s the point if you take all the fun out of it?

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

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

Speaking of climbing onto the roof ...

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^^^ Onto the roof is easy.....it's the 'back down' that's treacherous.

That looks like a heavily modded caulk gun.

^^^ One ratcheting bar locks onto the gutter. The other ratcheting bar locks onto the ladder.
There is also a velcro safety strap that can be used as an extra stability of ladder.

No caulk. :)

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.

This house was a drive under, so it was very tall.

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.🤪

Funny that this happened to me recently. Second story to clean gutters and inspect the roof. When it came time to get back on the ladder I turned girly. Just couldn’t get myself suck it up and get on the ladder. Luckily I had my cell phone and called a friend. Someone hold the ladder still makes a world of difference.

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[QUOTeE=Bugsinrugs;12269057]Funny that this happened to me recently. Second story to clean gutters and inspect the roof. When it came time to get back on the ladder I turned girly. Just couldn’t get myself suck it up and get on the ladder. Luckily I had my cell phone and called a friend. Someone hold the ladder still makes a world of difference.[/QUOTE]


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.

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.[/QUOTE]

I do the butt wiggle down to the eave so that my feet are out ahead of me. Then I slide into the ladder rails feet first with my back to the roof. YMMV

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

I don't know if I could do that.

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!

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.

^^^ 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.

Proof the internet never forgets...

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

I officially designate you "Roof Boy."

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.

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.

Bok bok bok...

^^^ yep...but still alive.:D

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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1718914837.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1718915956.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1718916322.jpg

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

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 :p

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