The thread CAG started abot being afraid of heights got me to thinking about this. Thought I’d start a new thread so I didn’t hijack his.
I got stranded on the roof of a pole barn once. I was putting a coat of paint on the old tin roof on a fairly remote building that belonged to my Dad.
I set up the ladder, and carried the paint and stuff up to the roof. I thought briefly about tying the ladder to something since it was windy. But for some reason I didn’t.
After I had painted for a while, a gust of wind blew the ladder over. Wasn’t really much I could do, so I just kept painting. (I had a 5 gallon bucket of the paint) I figured someone would come by before I finished.
After a couple of hours, no one had come by and I ran out of paint. There weren’t any houses within eyesight and it was long before cell phones were popular. So I was kinda stuck.
I thought about various options, but none of them looked particularly attractive. The sidewalls were about 14′ tall so jumping wasn’t an option. I thought about trying it anyway, as one side had some wet mud/manure in it. But jumping into that didn’t appeal to me.
Eventually, I came up with a plan. There was a tree about 4′ or so off one corner of the building. I figured if I jumped over to it and wrapped my arms around the trunk, I might be able to hang on and then slide down the trunk.
It took a while to get up the nerve but I eventually did. Jumped off the roof and my chest slammed into the tree. Managed to do it without smashing my face into the trunk, or letting the trunk hit me in the balls. Then I slowly slid down the trunk to the ground.
I set the ladder back up (Tied it off this time, too) and retrieved the stuff I’d left up there.
Hopefully I won’t have to do that again anytime soon…….
Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes.
Replies
Boss- that was rich.
Did one similar with a shingle job but I lucked out with a limb instead of the trunk. Wish there were a video of your escapade.
Man, that reminds me of the time ( the LAST time, believe me ! ) I left the ladder up against the house while I ran to the hardware store for something. DW and two year old son came home from school / daycare / grocery store. While DW was luggin the groceries inside, the boy went exploring. Soon, she started looking. Calling his name . . . then, " I up here ! " Oh sh** ! Yep, he's on the roof.
Wife was in her school teacher clothes, long skirt, whatever. She stepped up to where she could see the roof top. Come here !
" You can't get me ! ! "
It took a long time to get him to come to her. I was in deep trouble ! Thanks for the reminder, Boss.
Greg.
Maybe it was a foreshadowing of things to come - I did something like that when I was a kid.
My Dad and his Father were putting tin on our barn, back when I was about 3 or 4. The had torn off the old wood shingles and were replacing some of the rotten purlins before the tin went on.
Keep in mind this is a HUGE barn - 60 X 80, with roughly an 8/12 roof and 12' sidewalls. IT's about 30' tall at the ridge.
My Brother and I walked down to the barn to see what was going on. Pretty soon Dad turned around to find my Brother and I right behind him about halfway up the roof, climbing up the rotten purlins.
Nedless to say he wasn't too happy. He found a safe place for me, and told me not to move while he carried my Brother down. Then he came back and carried me to the ladder. He told us in no uncertain terms we were NOT to come back up there. I think it shook him up quite a bit.
After they got the purlins fixed, he let us climb back up and sit on the ridge a while. Haven't been back up there since.God must love stupid people - He made so many.
I had a similar experience. My ladder blew down. Hours went by and no one was in sight. I wrapped my extension cord around the chimney and pulled as hard as I could on it to see if I could break it. Seemed solid enough so I did a rock climbing maneuver I learned and as fast as I could I repelled down the side of the house.
Be a climber , be a heavy extention cord
Namaste
andy
"Understanding yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth"
Alan Watts
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Maybe you should change your screen name to "Roof Tarzan" : )
No offense to boss, but the image that came to my mind was the opening credits to "George of the Jungle". Watch out for that tree. I might still be up there. I guess I could never be Jackie Chan.
Scott
Hah, that's what I thought of first. Thought tarzan might be more universal.
Never stuck on a roof - but how 'bout up a tree? Back when I was young and stupid, I was sent off to the Army Ranger School. Survived the first two weeks nicely, including crossing a flooded creek in 20 degree weather and having the safety on my rifle freeze in the "on" position and my clothes turn to ice. Last day was an obstacle course. All sorts of obstacles that included heights, and my acrophobia will match anyones'! Got to the top of one obstacle about 20 ft up and got hideously stuck! Couldgo neither up nor down. There I am, arms & legs wrapped around that tree in a death grip. After a few minutes, SFC Milton Lockett, tougher than a python's grip; harder than granite; meaner than a junkyard dog w/a burr in its paw, shows up, looking up at me and making nasty comments. He just squatted down and watched. He told me at one point that if I didn't come down he'd come up and throw me down. I told him to bring a saw - I wasn't going to let go of that tree. After a while, a general comes wandering by, stands and chats w/ Lockett a while and wanders off. After 2 hours, I managed to inch my way down.
I was summarily tossed out of the school - but sentenced to be turned back to another class, 2 months later. Twice a day, 7 days a week, I was sent out into the obstacle course and worked on it. On the last day before the next course started, I successfully negotiated the last obstacle. All went well till the last week of the 9 week course - rock climbing. Was climbing a rock face, fell and destroyed a knee, was med-evaced and never did finish the course.
It has gotten worse - can only cross the Mississississippi River on two bridges - even as a passenger. The Rock Island, IL Gummint bridge at 6 ft above water level & the Vicksburg bridge. I leave roofing to others.
DonThe GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
I was working in South Miami (Dade). Partner and I put up a 38' ladder on a 3 story. We lugged up what we need to work.
When we headed back to the truck we discovered the ladder missing. Saw two Cubans carrying it down the alley way. Fire department to rescue.
Once on, once under.
I was touching up final details, and let my other two hands go to lunch. The ladder is on the front side of the house to make a shorter route up to where we were working (as opposed to through the gate, around the pool and past the spa). HO comes home for lunch and see that ladder, but not the truck. He, helpfully, takes the 'attractive nuisance' down from the front of the house, and leaves. Me, I'm absorbed in the work, oblivious to all around. Until I get finished. Grab up all of the tools & mess and go over the roof to find . . . no ladder. Improper language follows, in several languages. So I find a comfortable place to sit, next to all of the gear, and watch the neighborhood go by (I'm not keen to drop into the holly hedges around the house). It was a nice day. Several people wave as they drive by (including the PD). The hands get back and are laughing themselves silly seeing the boss sitting on the roof, stuck. Until I pull paychecks out of my pocket--"We better get the boss down, yes sir." Except, the ladder is not there. It is in the unlocked garage, but the door is closed. Ok, send a hand back for the other ladder in the shop. Get off the roof, finally. About eight that night (on Friday night, too), I get this call "When are you going to get your ladder?" Mental gear shifting is not working. "What ladder?" "Your ladder, the one I put in the garage so no one would climb on the roof or take off with." Oh, that ladder.
Got stuck inside a roof, too. Was working by myself, putting in AV wiring. Access to the attic was a scuttle in the garage. The scuttle was not as wide as the ladder, so I had the folder underneath the scuttle. HOs teenager comes home and sees a ladder in 'her' spot of the garage, so she moves it out of the way to park. Parks the car, closes the garage door and turns the stereo on (which I can hear in the attic--common enough, I take no notice). Wiring is done, note that there is no daylight from the scuttle. Look through, no ladder, car instead. Try the house number on the cell phone--answering machine. More than certain that using the red Fiero for a ladder would be both unappreciated, and unwise. Wander across the attic to where the music is loudest, and bang on a joist with the 14.4V drill (hammer? I don't need a hammer banging into things in the attic). Do this for a while. Finally, I try to syncopate my pounding to in-between the music from below. Music dies, muffled voice "Hellloooo . . . ?" Conversing through ceiling is fun. Yell "Go. To. Garage." in my best trained-by-Uncle bellow. Get an "Ok." Not sure how I will be greeted, I go back to the scuttle. Hear a "Yes . . . ?" from the garage. "I'm the guy doing the stereo stuff--you moved my ladder." "Oh, yeah, it was in the way." "Could you move your car and put the ladder back?" "Huh?" "Yeah, I'm finished up here, and I wasn't planning on living in your attic as a gnome; can you move the car?" "You want the ladder?" "Yes. I want the ladder." "I'll have to move the car, then." "Yes, please."
The girl, was she blond?View ImageGo Jayhawks
LOL At the time of 'rescue,' I believe she was. Was red, and two different shades of brunette, too (that only over four days).
That was rich! Talking to teens can be so challenging sometimes. LOL.
Excellence is its own reward!
First week on the job with roofing contractor. I guess it's a right-of-passage thing; but we're all working close, up the stair-step pattern, fast and furious, going like hell. I go to move on up the roof and I can't! I'd been stapled to the roof through my tool belt. The boys got a great laugh out of this. I just pulled out a smoke, acting as if nothing were wrong, and took a break.
Never repeated above as it seems a bit dangerous. So is smoking!
regards
Never stuck on a roof but nearly stuck in a tree, about 18" dia. 25 ft up. Had harness on, cut off big maple branch which fell where I'd intended, but it bounced off the springy end and knocked the ladder over. Wrapped legs around tree, undid harness and finally slid down.
One thing I've considered for my roofing job is the possibility of ending up over the side hanging from the safety line. To deal with that possibility, I bought a second fall arrester with 5 ft of strap. The idea is that I can keep the main rig as is, and use the second grabber and strap for one foot. By holding myself up in the foot strap, I can slide the main arrester down, then move the other one down, and inchworm my way to the ground.
-- J.S.
Twice.
Both times while measuring a roof. The first time I was only nineteen. It was a 7/12, badly worn, I just put my ladder up in the middle of the roof and quickly scuttled to the ridge. Took my measurements and went to scoot back down to the ladder, and discovered that the worn loose granules were like marbles-once I was going to start down, I was not going to stop. No one home, so I waited up there about a half hour 'til I saw a neighbor woman and asked her to move the ladder to the end of the roof where I could hang on to the edge while I crawled back down.
Fast forward about 22 yrs. It was a ranch house, no one home and I didn't tie off the ladder. Wind blew it over. No one in sight. No trees. But it was a light ladder and I was able to get the end of my tape hooked on the ladder and puul the end up. I won't lie-it took at least 15 tries before it worked.
John Svenson, Builder, Remodeler, NE Ohio (Formerly posted as JRS)
On at least two occasions I was able to tie a loop into one end of the extension cord that powered the radio, hook the loop over the ladder and pull it up.
Climbed down a TV antenna tower once.
Once, on a torn off roof, I was able to pull up a deck board and climb down into the back porch area (unfinished ceiling).
Maybe by now I've learned to tie the ladder off. But I wouldn't put any money on it.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
I remember once drunk at 16 at 3am, climbing the wrought iron post on a girlfriend's front porch to see her at her bedroom window while standing on the porch roof. Not too smart in that her parents bedroom window was on that same roof 2 yards away. Roar!
Edited 4/3/2003 10:37:56 PM ET by rez
lol story could have been better if you had accidently knocked on their window instead of hers. :)
I did that when I was 17 and went over to pick up a girl after her curfew. Tossing rocks very gently at "her" window to let her know I was there. Next thing I know her dad is hanging out the window screaming and cursing, fortunetly I was in a shadow and the car was parked a few blocks away, I just ran like hell and he never knew it was me.View ImageGo Jayhawks
Got stuck in one of those portable hydraulic manlifts once. Crew had gone to lunch, I was finishing up "just one last thing." I'd been in the thing all day, and was comfortalbe there alone. On the outrigger legs, are limit switches...if the leg isn't down tight, it cuts off the machine....i was in the mist of swiveling around to set down and get out...when the limit switch breaks contract due to the leverage of the arm, and the machine shuts down....simple enough, there is an emergency down switch on the control panel in the bucket...start down....boom is right over a post.....so I'm stuck in the air, boom sitting on an 8x8, until the crew comes back from lunch. THAT was a long hour.
All the stories are a heck of a lot funnier now than they were then, wait, they were funny then too.
Here's mine.
Early one spring I thought I would get a head start on some second story windows. The place was a full 2 stories and the front had an overhang on it that was above the first floor. Not having anything more than an 8' step ladder at the time, I decided it would be safest and easiest to just climb out the second story bedroom window that faced the street to clean the outside of those windows. I quickly discovered that the windows self lock when slid in the closed position. So there I stand, stranded, balancing on a 14" overhang, with a bottle of windex in one hand and my *&^% in the other. The problem was that I was the only one home this particular Sunday AM and didn't expect the wife home for a few hours. The real problem was that I was the neighborhood ballbuster and my fellow neighbors would razz me about this to the point of moving, I was sure of it.
So there I stayed, pretending to clean windows, frames, gable vent, siding, anything in reach, with an empty Windex bottle until my wife got home. All the while neighbors pass by on a leisurely Sunday stroll through the neighborhood. About an hour and 1/2 later my wife pulled into the drive and I nonchalantly asked her to go upstairs and open the window from the inside as it seemed to be stuck a bit. No one the wiser. During the week I mentioned to one of the neighbors that we should get out to the links on the weekend for the first round of the year, his reply was "thanks to you my friend I will be up on the roof cleaning the windows and siding as per orders from my wife!!!"
Built an office/warehouse for Tombstone Pizza, approx. 120'x170' with a 20' wall. The roofer informed me the late afternoon the day before they were starting, that the carpenters had not filled the perimeter parapet walls solid with backing for their "special" coping. So I called my wife and told her I would have to get material up on top, cut it in and anchor it, and that I probably wouldn't be home until after midnight or 1:00. It was summer, overcast so the city lights reflecting off of the low clouds gave me great light to work by.
By about 10:30 I began to see lightning. At 11:00 the frontal gust, about 50 mph, came through, blew the treated 2x8's I had standing against the wall against the ladder, which I had wire tied to a 8d, and down went everything.
Now it really began to spark and start to rain. Can you say no paddle. There was a roof hatch, but it was fastened down from the inside. I took one the 2x8's I had already brought up on the roof and started prying the hatch lid. Fortunately the lid was attached with a bent 8d nail, which finally broke. I got the lid open, but the inside permanent steel ladder hand not been installed. I let myself down, grab the bar joist slithered over to a column and down.
When I got home about midnight my wife said, " Glad to see everything went better than expected, I didn't think I'd see you till 2 or 3. Never work alone if possible.
this story sort of goes along the same lines as being stuck, but its not quite the same. i was boxing some windows on an addition that my compnay put on to an office building (this was a couple years ago), while the roofers were putting on that metal roofing with the hidden fasteners. therefore they had nothing to really walk on. since the roof was a 16/12 pitch they decided to tie themselves with ropes to eachothers trucks, which were parked on the other side of the building. so ofcourse lunch time comes and one of the roofers hops in his truck and heads off to the store. meanwhile we hear this really loud screaming... we looked up to see the roofer gliding up the roof attached to the rope. luckily for him just as he reached the ridge the guy driving realized what was going on. he put the truck in reverse and let the guy untie himself. it was one of those things you just have to see. it was so funny, yet so scary for a second. hard to explain i guess.